Rommel's PanzerArmee Afrika stamp

[dakcollector]

Greetings and Happy Holidays!

I've been given a chance to evaluate a personal stamp supposedly used by Rommel as "Oberbefehlshaber der PanzerArmee Afrika".

In starting this thread I will attach images of the stamp itself, the ink impression of the stamp that would have been used on any document with Rommel's signature. I will also attach examples of original award documents signed by Rommel in Africa.

The stamp itself looks original with a well used (and appears to be 60+ years old) wooden handle. The metal stamping is also correctly secured to the wood handle. If you have Dal McGuirk's book on "Rommel's Army in Africa", you can easily compare this stamp with color plate #134 which is General Neumann-Silkow's personal document stamp.

However, I do have two concerns with this stamp:

1. I've never seen this stamp on any period documents signed by Rommel while in command of PanzerArmee Africa. I have seen other stamps used but not this one.
2. "Rommel" is in the middle of the stamp (underneath the eagle/swastika) which is highly unusual. I've never seen the name of the unit's commanding officer on any other personal stamp.

I know fake unit ink stamps have been made to create fake award documents but have never seen this particular stamp.

Please help me in evaluating the originality of this stamp. It came out of a private collection in Seattle, Washington (USA). Any thoughts or references to other comparable examples of personal stamps would be greatly appreciated!

Best regards,
David

[dakcollector]

Rommel's stamp

Here is an original award document signed by Rommel with his personal ink stamp. The ink stamp on the document is "kommando der Panzergruppe Afrika" even though he was the top commanding General of PanzerArmee Afrika.

The metal stamp actually has his correct officer rank as "Oberbefehlshaber der Pz. Armee Afrika" with "Rommel" underneath the eagle... again not common and IMHO suspicious.

[dakcollector]

Original Rommel signed documents and stamps

Here is a side-by-side comparison of two original documents signed by Rommel while in Afrika with different unit stamps.

Interestingly (but not too surprising) one award document still used Rommel's prior rank/assignment as "Kommando der Panzergruppe Afrika" even though he was already the Oberbefehlshaber der Panzerarnee Afrika.

[dakcollector]

Wood handle of personal stamp

Here's another view of the actual wooden handle.

[dakcollector]

Another view of the stamp

Here is another view of the stamp... sorry for the poor quality of the metal stamp itself but you can still see the ink imprint in #1 and get a good overall sense of the stamp.

Any thoughts?!?

[dakcollector]

Oberkommando der Panzerarmee Afrika ink stamp

Here is an original award document with Rommel's ink stamp reflecting "Oberkommando der Panzerarmee Afrika"...

[Eric JB]

Hi David,

The only problem I have with this stamper is the metal stamp plate.

I think that some one used a old stamper and placed a fake stamp plate on it.

And as you say yourself, the Rommel name on the stamp plate is very unusual.

The stamp plate, does look the same as all those fakes that are around with their long dark brown handle, only here the fake handle is replaced by an original one.

Sorry, but I don't believe in this stamper.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[dakcollector]

Hi Eric-Jan,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree with your assessment of this stamp. The inclusion of the name "Rommel" on the stamp is highly suspicious.... a fantasy!

Best regards,
David

[Panzerarmee Afr]

ooo. Nice... Panzerarmee afrika!

Signed,
Panzerarmee afr