Kriegsmarine grouping of a KM Oberfeldwebel

This document group consists of a Kriegsmarine Soldbuch, 17 documents including two certificates, 26 photographs, and a 32-page N.S.K.O.V. booklet.

Heinrich Bakker, who voluntarily enlisted in the Kriegsmarine in 1922, was 18 years old. He received the following decorations: Service Award 3rd and 4th Class, Minensuch Kriegsabzeichen, Iron Cross 2nd Class, and Iron Cross 1st Class.
The certificates were signed by Admiral (General Admiral) Conrad Albrecht and Knight's Cross winner Konteradmiral Hans Stohwasser. Heinrich served aboard the battleships Hannover and Elsass, and later on the minesweeper M81 of the 3rd Sperrbrecher Flotilla, who was deployed before and during the 1944 landings on the French and Belgian coasts.

His final rank was Oberfeldwebel, a specialized non-commissioned officer (similar to a sergeant major/warrant officer) in the German Navy during WWII, a senior non-commissioned rank with significant experience and responsibility, often in technical or administrative roles, and with a pay grade between that of a Feldwebel and an Offizier-Anwärter, indicated by specific rank insignia

He was eventually captured and held as a POW in Camp 2228, near Brussels, Belgium. A significant amount of French francs was withdrawn, which he later received back. Unfortunately for him, the French franc had been devalued by a factor of seven at the time. An interesting group.