Germany – Third Reich: An interesting and unusual Black Wound Badge and Afrika Cuff-title Document pair awarded to Obergefreiter Wilhelm Kleppl, 2nd (Mountain) Company, Sonderbervand 288, who had seen service in the battles in North Africa being wounded at Halfaya Pass on 21st June 1942.
Award Certificates:
1) Wound Badge in Black awarded in Africa on 30th September 1942 for a wound received on 21st June 1942 as a Gefreiter, 2nd (Mountain Troops) Company, Sonderverband 288. Signed by Menton as Oberst and Commanding Officer. Menton was to receive the German Cross in Gold on 8th January 1943 whilst Commanding Officer of the Panzergrenadier Regiment ‘Africa’. Later listed as missing on 18th April 1945.
2) The Africa Cufftitle awarded at Kustrin on 30th November 1943 as Obergefreiten, Genesdenkompanie, Panzer Grenadier Replacement Battalion 50. Signed by an Oberleutnant as the Company Commander.
Sonderverband or Special Unit 288 was formed in Potsdam, Germany on July 1, 1941. The special unit was drawn from units located throughout Germany and also had a special contingent of German personnel who had lived or had served in what is now South West Asia. The unit was created for a special purpose and as such was not organized along the line of a regular Garman brigade. In total the Sonderverband consisted of 7 to 12 companies with each company having a specialized duty. Part of the unit were highly specialized personnel. Among these were a company comprised of linguists who were fluent is several Arab and Persians dialects, as well as Urdi, Hindi, and Sanskrit. Most of the people in this company had spent time in the areas (Syria, Iraq, Persia, and India) where the unit was to be deployed. Other non-combat companies included a print shop, a water testing unit, and Brandenburg (commando) Company. The Brandenburg company were to infiltrate enemy lines dressed as the enemy and commit acts of sabotage, gather information and cause other types of havoc. The other companies were more standardized units. This was also the majority of the personnel. All of the combat companies were crossed trained so that personnel could be shifted from one combat company to another if the need arose. The following companies comprised the rest of the unit.