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VERY RARE THIRD REICH IDENTITY DOCUMENT

NAZI SHIP CAPTAIN’S A6 LICENSE

The document shown here is a Third Reich Befähigungszeugnis or “Proof of Level of Competency” for one Wilhelm Adolf Oswald Becker, a ship captain born in Osnabrück, Germany in 1887. It was issued by Die Behörde für Schifffahrt Handel und Gewerbe at the port of Bremen on 22 August 1941, and is stamped with the proper eagle and swastika seal.

The A6 Zeugnis is the highest level certificate of competency a sea captain could get, and allowed him to command a passenger liner or the largest freighter in the German merchant fleet. We speculate that 45 year old Becker probably sought and got, or updated his A6 “ticket” in August 1941 in preparation for his unavoidable transfer to command a warship of the German Kriegsmarine. This would be an easy matter to research in German Naval Archives.

This document is a 4-1/2 x 6 inch black cloth-bound hardcover booklet with gold blocking on cover 1. The certificate measures 5-3/4 x 8-1/4 inches and is printed on unusual indestructible, waterproof paper with an alteration disclosing background. It is often said that spies were issued these ship certificates because they could use them ashore in virtually any port city in the world. It would be a superb accessory alongside any fine Third Reich naval uniform or dagger.

The material with which this certificate is bound to the cover is torn part way up the fold from the bottom. Otherwise this document rates an EXCELLENT in terms of condition.

For additional Third Reich era Kriegsmarine documents, click here.

This piece is in excellent used condition and offered for
sale for $325.00 delivered worldwide.

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