Award Document (Urkunde) for the 'Verwundeten Abzeichen in Schwarz' (Wound Badge in Black). With the outbreak of World War 2, on 1 September 1939, Hitler re-instituted a slightly modified version of the wound badge by altering the WWI pattern helmet on the badge to the newly designed M35 style helmet. The badge was awarded to both military and uniformed non-military personnel and later, (March 1943), to civilian personnel who received wounds as a result of enemy actions. The black wound badge was the lowest of the three classes and was awarded for one or two wounds. This (A5 sized) document was awarded to Hiwi (Hilfswilligen) 'Andres Stolceries', Hiwi's were voluntary assistants who after training were deployed for service with Nazi Germany in the General Government and the occupied East. Andres was a member within the '4./Gren.Rgt.553' (4./Grenadier-Regiment 553). The Grenadier-Regiment 553 was disbanded in September 1944 in Kurland. Andres had been wounded on 14 September 1944 and was awarded the Wound Badge in Black on 9 October 1944. The document is in good condition, it has been folded and it is a bit wrinkled caused by years of storage. Rare and interesting original award-document which has been awarded to a Hiwi!