An Award Document For A Sudetenland Medal To Heinrich Theelen Of The Admiral Graf Spee

This is an award document for a Sudetenland medal (October 1st, 1938 Commemorative Medal), presented to Signals Enlisted Man (Signalgefreiten) Heinrich Theelen, onboard the Panzerschiff “Admiral Graf Spee”. It was presented at the Wilhelmshaven (Wilhelms port) on November 16, 1939, and features the signature a representative of the Abwicklungsamt der marinestation der Nordsee, as well as a matching national seal. The document measures 290 mm x 210 mm, and is in very fine condition, with some moderate staining on the bottom of the page. Also accompanied by two picture postcards of the “Panzerschiff Admiral Graf Spee”, one measuring 140 mm x 92 mm - with some writing on the reverse, the other measuring 145 mm x 102 mm - with collectors mounting residue on the reverse. Overall better than very fine condition.

Footnote: Admiral Graf Spee was a Deutschland-Class “Panzerschiff” (armoured ship). She was completed in January 1936, weighing nominally under the 10,000 tons limitation on warship size imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. She was armed with six 28 cm (11 inch) guns in two triple gun turrets. She, and her sister ships were designed to out-gun any opposing ship fast enough to catch up to them. Graf Speer conducted five non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War, between 1936 and 1938. Following the outbreak of the war, it sank nine ships totalling 50,089 gross register tons before being confronted by three British cruisers at the Battle of the River Plate on December 13, where she was heavily damaged. She was ordered to be scuttled by the commander of the ship, Hans Langsdorff later the same day. She was partially broken up but remains partially visible above the surface of the water.