Important grouping to Oberwachtmeister Karlheinz Cares who served as a German Kriegsmarine soldier serving in Japan.
Part of the grouping is an extremely rare Auxiliary War Badge from sterling silver made in Japan. See next lot for another Auxiliary War Badge issued to Cares.
Scarce hardcover Soldbuch stamped "Ersatz-Soldbuch fuer Ostasien". A type which was only issued to Ostasien troops when the original Soldbuch was lost! This Soldbuch has number "1" written on the first page. The Soldbuch was issued on 14.4.1944 by "Leister d. Aussenstellen beim Marineattaché Tokyo i.V.". It is "Deutsche Botschaft Tokio" (German embassy Tokyo) stamped.
The stamps are different to normal German stamps and might have been manufactured in Japan. The Soldbuch was certainly also printed in Japan.
His rank was originally an Oberbootsmann, however there is a 1.3.45 dated note "umernannt z. Oberwachtmeister" confirming has rank was changed (not promoted) to an Oberwachtmeister.
Awards noted on page 4:
Iron Cross 2nd Class, Auxiliary War Badge (H.K.Abzeichen = Hilfskreuzerabzeichen). War Merit Cross 2nd Class
Late, 30.4.45 dated note by Marineattache Tokyo!
Very nice condition. Extremely rare.
Auxiliary War Badge from real "Sterling" silver. A typical "wide pin" type known to be manufactured in Japan for a very low number of German troops. "Sterling" marked. Minor bits of original finish remaining.
Very nice condition 2.
See next lot for his second Auxiliary War Badge!
Part of the grouping is a personal card of Cares in German and Japanese. Two ribbons as well as three embroidered wreath badges for his visor cap.
There is a old (period time?) photocopy of his "Taufschein". A German sailor's tradition. The document provides interesting information such as that the ship he sailed with was "M.S. Doggerbank". Furthermore, it was issued at "Yokohama" (Japan) on 23.7.1943. Note that the date of issue was later than the "Taufe" took place (1942).
M.S. Doggerbank was originally a British ship which was however captured by the Germans during WWII. It was serving under German flag when sunk by a German (!) U-Boot on 3.3.1943 by mistake! U-43 did assume it was a British ship.
There was only one survivor of M.S.Doggerbank. Cares was not on board at the time the ship was sunk. He must have already served in Yokohama, the city the document was issued.
There are numerous Kriegsmarine buttons as well as rank pips and various other uniform accessories to him as well as original photos.
There are about 100 original photos all taken on board. Most of them are on Agfa Brovira paper. The photos could have been taken at the M.S. Doggerbank serving in Asia. One portrait shows a comrade with Iron Cross 1st Class. It comes with a nice stamp of a Japanese photo studio to the reverse.
Furthermore around 60-70 postcards. Many of them bought in Japan.
