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.
Early privately purchased M41 Heer tropical tunic which was issued to Beck in 1941. The tunic comes with a period time photo proof! A 9cm x 13cm studio portrait showing Back as a Oberleutnant wearing exactly the same tunic! It comes with a name tag "Oblt. Beck 1941". The shoulder boards for a Hauptmann of Art.Rgt.557 were probably slipped on by him at a later time. Since the tunic shows only minor signs of wear he must has used it during vacation in Germany. He might have still worn it for traditional reason when serving with Art.Rgt.557 after he returned from Africa.
Tropical field tunic. Period time hand-attached collar tabs. Slighly corroded. The potrait photo shows exactly the same collar tabs. You can easily identify it be comparing the position of them. The portrait shows that Beck had worn a Austria Medal ribbon bar along with the tunic. While the ribbon bar is missing, you can see the two loops which held it once.
Hand-attached officer's breast eagle. Again, 100% the same as shown on the portrait photo. A hand-attached Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon.
Machine-woven AFRIKAKORPS cuff title period time attached by hand.
All tropical color buttons complete and factory attached. Two loops as well as one reinforced whole allowed him to wear a screw-back Iron Cross 1st Class as well as one with pin. His personal screw-back Iron Cross were still part of his grouping.
One hole was pulled through the lining to allow a dagger hanger to go through the lower pocket.
