Germany – Third Reich: A small Afrika Korps document grouping to Medical-Feldwebel Werner Hoffmann, HQ Battery, 1st Battalion, 220nd Artillery Regiment, 164th light Afrika Division who saw service on the island of Crete after it’s occupation before travelling to North Africa where he would see action in the defensive fighting after El Alamein including on the Mareth Line in March 1943.
Award Certificates:
1) War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords awarded on 20th April 1942 by Divisional HQ as a Medic-Feldwebel, HQ Battery II/220nd Artillery Regiment. Signed by Folttman as Generalleutnant and Commander Festungs Division Crete (Crete Fortress Division).
Foltmann was awarded the German Cross in Silver on 10th March 1944 as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding 338th Infantry Division.
2) The ‘AFRIKA’ Cuff title awarded on 8th March 1943 as a Medic-Feldwebel, HQ Battery, II/220th Artillery Regiment. Signed by Becker as Oberst and Commanding Officer in RHQ on 21st March 1943.
Becker was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 1st January 1942 as Oberstleutnant and Commanding Officer III/10 Artillery Regiment (motorised), 10th Infantry Division (motorised)
note: This is a rare unofficial variant of the award certificate in as much as it was produced in the field on paper with a waterwork of ‘an oakleaf and the words NATIONAL HARTPOST (translation bank paper). The award is also a remarkably early one after the date of the awards institution – 15th January 1943 (promulgated by an order dated 27th January 1943) – whilst the Regiment was very much in combat in the area of the Mareth Line after the failure of the Medinine Battle.
Werner Hoffmann saw service on the island of Crete after it was successfully occupied by the Germans in the summer of 1942. He would go on to serve in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein and most likely through to the end of the fighting in May 1943. It is unknown what happened to Hoffmann but is quite likely he was taken prisoner in the general surrender in Tunisia that took place at the end of the fighting in May 1943
