Important grouping to Afrikakorps Hauptmann Paul Beck serving with Kanonen-Batterie 902. An untouched grouping available on the market for the first time.
Beck must have joined the Reichswehr around 1934. Part of the grouping was a Reichswehr belt. He served with Inf.Rgt.19 and Beobachtungs-Abteilung 7 pre war as proven by insignia and maker marked gear part of the grouping. Both units were based in Munich. During the Africa Campaign he served with Kanonen-Batterie 902. Part of the grouping was also an officer's Panzer sidecap and Panzer uniform insignia. He must have served with a Panzer unit for a certain time as well. There were Artillerie-Reigment 557 insignia, too. Finally, there were Nebeltruppe Hauptmann boards found in his officer's cases. Beck therefore must have served with smoke troops as a Hauptmann, too.
An untouched grouping of great importance. Only a very few soldiers managed to bring their uniforms and gear home and avoided being captured by the British.
Hauptmann Beck's early artllery visor cap which has has worn as an officer's candicate. Exactly that cap is show on a period time portrait photo part of this grouping. The photo still shows the cap with an EM/NCO type of chin strap and a 1st pattern cap eagle, but you can already see the hand-embroidered officer's wreath badge which is exactly the same as on the potrait. He must have replaced the eagle with a more modern 2nd pattern eagle eagle and of course he has added an officer's chin strap after promotion. The cap came 100% as it is and the eagle is not postwar applied.
Branch: Artillery. Red color piping
Insignia: Hand-embroidered officer's pattern wreath badge. Attached by hand. A 2nd pattern tombak cap eagle. One prong missing.
Chin strap: textbook officer's strap. Correct buttons period time attached.
Lining: Fine light-grey color silk lining. Clear signs of wear.
Celluloid diamond: maker marked. Dry. Damaged.
Sweat-band: Signs of wear. Soft. No damage but fox markings which will clean off.
