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U-BOAT CAPTAIN AND K.C. RECIPIENT KURT DOBRATZ

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:240.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 700.00 USD
U-BOAT CAPTAIN AND K.C. RECIPIENT KURT DOBRATZ
U-BOAT CAPTAIN AND K.C. RECIPIENT KURT DOBRATZ PRESENTATION CIGARETTE BOX
Formal black-painted brass cigarette box given to U-boat Capt. KURT DOBRATZ. The sturdy box, 7" x 3 3/4" x 1", is fully lined in cedar and bears a bronze national eagle and swastika on the pull-up lid. Beneath that emblem is a small brass plaque with period engraving: "Kapt. z. See Kurt Dobratz U-1232". Some minor wear in places commensurate with age, with some paint having chipped off the bottom, else very good. Likely given to Dobratz upon his assumption of command of the ship. KURT DOBRATZ (1904-1996) was a Knights Cross recipient who initially commanded a bomber air base. Serving on the U-boat command staff, he succeeded Adm. Hans Georg von Friedeburg as the last Commanding Admiral of the U-boats. Commanding U-1232, nicknamed "HALIFAX" for its area of operation, Dobratz sank or damaged five ships before being his own ship became badly damaged. Provenance: TIME-LIFE Collection; The War Museum.