{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-veteran-signed-photograph-autograph-lot-with-knight-s-cross-recipient-josef-hollekamp-u-505-crewman-hans-goebeler-sepp-hermann-4-pieces","title":"Original German WWII Veteran Signed Photograph \u0026 Autograph Lot with Knight’s Cross Recipient Josef Hollekamp, U-505 Crewman Hans Goebeler \u0026 Sepp Hermann – 4 Pieces","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Lot Available. This is a particularly interesting four-piece German WWII veteran autograph grouping centered on \u003cb\u003eJosef Hollekamp\u003c\/b\u003e, a Heer Knight’s Cross recipient, and \u003cb\u003eHans Jacob Goebeler\u003c\/b\u003e, a member of the crew of German submarine \u003cb\u003eU-505\u003c\/b\u003e. The group consists of a signed portrait of Hollekamp wearing his Knight’s Cross, two signed photographs of Goebeler, and a separate autograph card signed \u003cb\u003eSepp Hermann\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hollekamp photograph is especially appealing, showing him in uniform with the Knight’s Cross prominently worn at the neck. His large signature appears across the lower portion of the image, while the reverse carries extensive later collector annotations identifying his birth date, award date, and service with \u003cb\u003e2.(Radfahr)\/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 36\u003c\/b\u003e. Published award records independently confirm that Josef Hollekamp received the Knight’s Cross on \u003cb\u003eJuly 23, 1943\u003c\/b\u003e, as an \u003cb\u003eObergefreiter\u003c\/b\u003e serving with that unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two Hans Goebeler photographs are equally noteworthy. One shows him in Kriegsmarine uniform with the cap tally clearly reading \u003cb\u003eKRIEGSMARINE\u003c\/b\u003e and is signed and dated \u003cb\u003eMay 31, 1997\u003c\/b\u003e, with Goebeler identifying himself with the control room of U-505. The second photograph shows the seventeen-year-old Goebeler during naval basic training at Beverloo, Belgium, wearing an Army-style field uniform, steel helmet, equipment, and carrying a rifle. Remarkably, this exact stage of his service is described and illustrated in his published memoir, which confirms that he entered the Kriegsmarine at seventeen and underwent infantry-style naval basic training at Beverloo in 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final piece is a printed card bearing the signature \u003cb\u003eSepp Hermann\u003c\/b\u003e. We have not located sufficiently conclusive documentation to connect this signer with a particular WWII serviceman, unit, or decoration recipient. The name is therefore retained exactly as signed without a more specific attribution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Josef Hollekamp Signed Knight’s Cross Portrait\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFront Signature:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHollekamp\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReverse Collector Annotations:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The reverse contains later collector annotations which appear to read approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUffz.\u003cbr\u003e Obergefreiter \u003ci\u003e(crossed out)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Josef Hollekamp\u003cbr\u003e Obgfr.\u003cbr\u003e geb. 19.08.1920 in [not completed \/ illegible]\u003cbr\u003e (RK) am: 23.07.1943 als Soldat\u003cbr\u003e Radf.\u003cbr\u003e 2 \/ A.A.-36 = 36-I.D.\u003cbr\u003e 133\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe abbreviations may be expanded as follows: \u003cb\u003eUffz.\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003eUnteroffizier\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003cb\u003eObgfr.\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003eObergefreiter\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003cb\u003egeb.\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003egeboren\u003c\/i\u003e, or “born”; \u003cb\u003eRK\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003eRitterkreuz\u003c\/i\u003e, or “Knight’s Cross”; \u003cb\u003eRadf.\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003eRadfahr\u003c\/i\u003e, referring to bicycle troops; \u003cb\u003eA.A.\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003eAufklärungs-Abteilung\u003c\/i\u003e, or reconnaissance detachment; and \u003cb\u003e36-I.D.\u003c\/b\u003e = \u003ci\u003e36. Infanterie-Division\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImportantly, the principal collector information is corroborated by published award records. Hollekamp received the Knight’s Cross on \u003cb\u003e23 July 1943\u003c\/b\u003e as an \u003cb\u003eObergefreiter\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eGruppenführer\u003c\/b\u003e, or squad leader, serving with \u003cb\u003e2.(Radf.)\/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 36\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Hans Goebeler Signed Kriegsmarine Portrait\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLower Inscription:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHans Goebeler\u003cbr\u003e N.C.O. control room U-505\u003cbr\u003e 31. May 1997\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA further inscription in red is faintly visible near the upper left corner. However, it is not sufficiently clear to provide a reliable complete transcription.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Hans Goebeler Signed Beverloo Basic Training Photograph\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInscription:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo Ken Hoff “Smooth Sailing”\u003cbr\u003e from,\u003cbr\u003e Hans Goebeler\u003cbr\u003e at Basic Training\u003cbr\u003e age 17\u003cbr\u003e in Beverloo\u003cbr\u003e Belgium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGoebeler’s memoir independently confirms the context of this photograph. He entered the Kriegsmarine in August 1941 at age seventeen and was sent to the Luitpold Barracks at Beverloo in occupied Belgium. There, naval recruits were issued green field uniforms, steel helmets, and Mauser rifles and underwent basic training patterned closely on Army infantry instruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis published memoir also reproduces a photograph identifying Goebeler in infantry-style uniform during his naval basic training in 1941, closely corresponding with the photograph included in this lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Sepp Hermann Autograph Card\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSignature:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSepp Hermann\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe card also carries three blue printed insignia-like devices. From the available images, these markings do not provide sufficient information to reliably establish a particular organization, wartime unit, or service affiliation. The signer is therefore identified only as \u003cb\u003eSepp Hermann\u003c\/b\u003e, without further attribution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJosef Hollekamp and Aufklärungs-Abteilung 36\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJosef Hollekamp received the Knight’s Cross on \u003cb\u003e23 July 1943\u003c\/b\u003e while serving as an \u003cb\u003eObergefreiter and Gruppenführer\u003c\/b\u003e with \u003cb\u003e2.(Radf.)\/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 36\u003c\/b\u003e. In this Heer context, \u003ci\u003eGruppenführer\u003c\/i\u003e referred to his tactical role as a squad leader rather than a formal rank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAufklärungs-Abteilung 36 served as the reconnaissance battalion of the 36th Infantry Division. Its 2nd Company was designated \u003cb\u003eRadfahr\u003c\/b\u003e, indicating bicycle-equipped troops used for reconnaissance, screening, and local security duties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse notation \u003cb\u003e“2 \/ A.A.-36 = 36-I.D.”\u003c\/b\u003e closely corresponds with Hollekamp’s documented unit, while the written date of \u003cb\u003e23.07.1943\u003c\/b\u003e matches the recorded date of his Knight’s Cross award. The crossed-out \u003ci\u003eObergefreiter\u003c\/i\u003e and separately written \u003ci\u003eUffz.\u003c\/i\u003e appear to be later collector annotations; Hollekamp’s documented rank at the time of the award was \u003cb\u003eObergefreiter\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 36th Division underwent reorganization in 1943, when its motorized status was discontinued and it again became the \u003cb\u003e36. Infanterie-Division\u003c\/b\u003e. The abbreviated \u003cb\u003e“36-I.D.”\u003c\/b\u003e notation on the reverse is therefore consistent with the division’s designation at the time of Hollekamp’s award.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe portrait shows Hollekamp wearing the Knight’s Cross at the neck and is further enhanced by his prominent autograph and detailed reverse identification, making it a strong photographic record of a documented enlisted recipient.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHans Goebeler and U-505\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHans Jacob Goebeler\u003c\/b\u003e, born November 9, 1923, entered the Kriegsmarine at age seventeen and later served aboard \u003cb\u003eU-505\u003c\/b\u003e as a \u003cb\u003eMaschinengefreiter\u003c\/b\u003e, with duties in the submarine’s control room. He later became well known through veteran appearances and his memoir, \u003ci\u003eSteel Boat, Iron Hearts\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe signed Beverloo photograph corresponds closely with Goebeler’s published recollections. After joining the Kriegsmarine in 1941, he completed basic training at \u003cb\u003eBeverloo, Belgium\u003c\/b\u003e, where naval recruits were issued field uniforms, steel helmets, and Mauser rifles and received infantry-style instruction before moving on to specialist training. This explains his Army-like appearance in the photograph; the image represents naval basic training rather than Heer service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGoebeler was later assigned to \u003cb\u003eU-505\u003c\/b\u003e, a Type IXC submarine. On \u003cb\u003eJune 4, 1944\u003c\/b\u003e, the boat was attacked in the Atlantic by U.S. Navy Task Group 22.3, centered on the escort carrier \u003cb\u003eUSS Guadalcanal\u003c\/b\u003e and commanded by Captain Daniel V. Gallery. Damage from depth-charge and air attacks forced U-505 to surface, after which the crew abandoned ship. A U.S. boarding party entered the submarine and prevented its scuttling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGoebeler was present in the control room during the final action and later recalled attempting to assist in scuttling the vessel before abandoning it. The capture resulted in the recovery of the submarine together with important naval documents, code material, and equipment. U-505 survived the war and was later preserved in Chicago as a museum exhibit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second Goebeler portrait was signed on \u003cb\u003eMay 31, 1997\u003c\/b\u003e and includes his own notation identifying him with the \u003cb\u003e“control room U-505.”\u003c\/b\u003e Although he used the English description \u003cb\u003e“N.C.O.”\u003c\/b\u003e, wartime records more specifically identify his German rate as \u003ci\u003eMaschinengefreiter\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45847247224901,"sku":"ONSV26MSB037","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26MSB037_1.png?v=1790423294","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-veteran-signed-photograph-autograph-lot-with-knight-s-cross-recipient-josef-hollekamp-u-505-crewman-hans-goebeler-sepp-hermann-4-pieces","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}