Theatre made Afrika cuff

[Patrick W]

Hi Guys

Just found this rather interesting Afrika cuff, well worn and faded. The lettering has been done with a sewing machine but by hand rather than following a pattern. Nothing glows on it, I really like it I think it has great character. Anyone seen a field made one before?

Thanks

Patrick

[Patrick W]

,,,

[vacollector]

Field made awards are not really IMO that common. I have heard of awards made in PoW camps like the Lappland Shield or local awards being made of troops like the Metz Cufftitle. Being that the Afrika Cufftitle has been around since 1943, presents some unique cercumstances. You would need something to back up the claim that this was made by a German soldier who was awarded the Cufftitle. Soldbuch, photo or PoW papers. You need more to back this up.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Not so sure about this one. The Afrika Ct was not worn in Afrika, as they came out to late to make it over before the surrender. So if it is field made it would have to have been made in Europe. These were easy to aquire if one had service in Afrika though rarely worn in Europe. Why would a solder need to have one made ?

There were quite a few Afrika Ct's made in Pakistan in the 70's, some having a bullion type lettering. None of these variations have been documented by photographic evidence from the War. So very doubtful.

[afrikasandman]

this thing looks like it was made out of a burlap sack. In my opinion its a poorly made copy. These are very common cuff titles and I would just run away screaming. Matt

[Bond]

Looks all wrong to me.

Regards,

Jerry

[Joe B]

Alot of time and effort went into making this copy of a common , easily aquired cufftitle ( we see at least 3 a month for sell on this site alone ). In my opinion this is a POW made cufftitle ...It is sloppy made ...anyone with a few years of collecting experance will tell you that . Why make a copy of a common cufftitle that could be discounted by a child ? I feel that yours is period ...1944 to 1946, however made for a POW to look good in a photograph sent home .

Value ... $35 to $125 dollars ...... That is if nothing glows or melts !

[karamell]

Looks bad to me..Honestly I doubt to be period made.

[Patrick W]

forgot I'd posted this, thanks for the comments. The thing is completely hand made which is unusual for outright fakes due to the time/work that needs to be employed- the question is obviously when? I still like it

[Tim O'Keefe]

forgot I'd posted this, thanks for the comments. The thing is completely hand made which is unusual for outright fakes due to the time/work that needs to be employed- the question is obviously when? I still like it

Hi Patrick

Well its possible its a POW piece. But the Afrika CT did not make it over to Afrika before the surrender. So of all the Germans captured in Afrika before and up to May '43, none would have ever seen it before....

The earliest i have seen these used is in Sicily, post Afrikan campaign.

Whats important is that you enjoy it

[90th Light]

There are veteran brought back soldbuch's from Afrika with the 1943 dated entry for the "Afrika" CT in them. To date, no photos of it being worn in Afrika have ever surfaced. This is after an extensive close up photo examination of many, many German veteran photos of the time.

Thus leaving the question, did they have the official "Afrika" cuff-titles in Afrika before May 43 ??? (So far it does not appear that they did).

A field made example however, to make up for the shortage or a POW camp put-together of course remains an unverified possibility,

Chris