SS Totenkopt Doc./ Opinions please

[Joseph D'Errico]

I was doing some house cleaning on my collection and came across a document that was stashed at the bottom. the doc. is an SS Totenkopt IAB issued to Hans Schonhuber on June 9th 1942, Afrika. I thought the SS Totenkopt was operating in the northern part of the eastern front until late 1942 and was then transfered to the west (France). I don't remember the SS in Afrika. I'm a little out of my area on this one.
Thanks in advance.
JD

[Douglas Jr.]

SS in Afrika

Hi Joseph,

The SS never fought in Afrika during the WWII. Although I was sure about it I checked three books about the SS that I own:

"The SS: Hitler´s Instrument of Terror" by Gordon Williamson;
"SS: Hell On The Eastern Front" and "Waffen SS - An Unpublished Record", both by Christopher Ailsby.

They confirm what I was thinking: SS never had any unit serving in Afrika. So, unfortunately, I would say that the award document that you found is, most probably, a fake.

However, our board´s friends will certainly add some more points about it.

Regards,

Douglas.

[Rick Research]

This is a REALLY icky grotesque fantasy piece. Design, calligraphy, everything about this looks wrong except the stamp, and that only looks good to me because I'm no SS expert.

So "I award the Infantry Assault badge" to recipient, huh? Who, "me?" Yoooooook!

[Chris Boonzaier]

I would vote it worse doc of the year.... probably best to return it if you still can...

[Joseph D'Errico]

I don't even know where it came from. It was in the bottom of a box.
JD

[Spitfire]

SS document

I was just browsing your post with a friend of mine from the Kreigsmarine, and to his knowledge, the SS was in Tunis/Africa during WWII, not as a fighting unit but as individuals on special assignments.

I think you should research this a bit more, if I gather any further information I will let you know.

Indra

[Rick Research]

Indra-- that does not alter the fact that THIS document is a horrible, awful, fake. Rick

[Joseph D'Errico]

Thanks Indra, I think I will research it furthur;but I have to agree with Rick, in that I also feel that it is a fake. I have been doing some research on the SS Totenkopt and can't find any official documentation of them being in Africa. But; anything is possible. I will post something as soon as I can find out more.
Thanks
JD

[Gary T]

Off the top of my head there were no Waffen SS in North Africa. There were very small SS elements in Tunis - SD and such like I believe.

[Rick Research]

You're just wasting your time on this one, Joe. Some things ARE impossible, and this is one of those!

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hi Rick, I agree this is most likely a fake; what i was going to research is, what SS units may have served in Africa; if any. Now I remember why it was in the bottom of the box.
JD

[Spitfire]

SS Document

My friend wants to do some research on this document, it might be a terrible fake but it sure lit up his face when he realized that he might be of some help. He thinks that stamps in that period all had numbers on them.

If you have anymore information on the stamp, I would sure appreciate it, as some of the postcards I bought have stamps with a number on them. What scares me is the number is sometimes the same on different postcards.

I will post any information he passes on to me.

Thanks Indra

[Gary T]

I don't think its 'most likely a fake'. It's a definite 110%er. I think even if the unit/location were correct i.e. on the same continent most people would still give it an extremely wide berth.

[Frank Heukemes]

Hi Indra,

Postcard stamps are a totally different league of stamps. Their "numbers" are the date when postcard was sent and the post district. Not at all related to a military stamp on a document.

This document looks as ungerman as can be. In addition to that, using the SS key TWICE for SS-Division AND SS-Totenkopf in the same line is plain silly. It was just done to make it look even more "SSy" and "dangerous". And why would the SS use a Heer eagle? And one that looks into the wrong direction at that?

As all of you above say, any time invested in researching this document is wasted, except......if that would reveal who created this bogus doc

Cheers, Frank H.

[David S]

My knowledge in these matters is minimal. . .

BUT

I was thinking that the double SS on the same line was out of place. Enhancement, one is good and two are better !!

I was also wondering about the Army Eagle. I missed the fact that is facing the wrong way !