BACKGROUND: With the reintroduction of conscription in 1935, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), activated the Wehrersatzdienststelle, (Recruiting Offices), throughout Germany to process and administer the call up procedure. When individuals received their registration notice they were to report to the appropriate recruitment center where they would be issued a Wehrpass, (Military Pass), until they were inducted into active duty. Starting in the autumn of 1939, when an individual was inducted into active military service the Wehrpass was exchanged at the recruitment office for the Soldbuch, (Pay Book), which remained in the recipients possession as his official military identification document. The recruitment office would retain the Wehrpass and chronicle the individuals active service record in it. Generally if the individual was killed in battle the Wehrpass would be forwarded to his next-of-kin as a memento of his service time. Of Note: Regulations to have a photo of the recipient placed in the Soldbuch wasn’t enacted until 1943. Of Interest: The Reich conscription laws of 1935 dictated that each of the three branches of service would be allocated a percentage of the available recruits according to their manpower requirements with the army being allotted the lions share of roughly 66% of eligible personnel followed by the Luftwaffe who were accorded roughly 25% with the Kriegsmarine receiving the remaining 9% of personnel.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5 3/4" x 4 1/4", twenty-eight page book with a horizontally, crinkle textured, tan card stock cover with a black printed Wehrmacht style eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in its talons and Gothic script, "Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweiss", (Pay Book & Personal Identity Document), with two outer border lines, and a taped seam. The inside front cover has a dual inkstamped, black and white photograph of the recipient wearing an M43 field cap and uniform stapled in place. The first internal page has handwritten entries that include the notation, "Zweitschrift", (Duplicate), indicating a second issue book. The second internal page has handwritten entries that indicate that this second issue book was prepared on, "6. August 1944", and that the individual was serving with, "Inf.=Nachr.=Ers.=Kp.11", (Infantry Signals Replacement Company 11). The entry has the authorizing signature of a "Hptm. u. Kp.=Chef", and the unit inkstamp. Other unit entries indicate the individual served with three other assorted units with his final assignment with, "Gren. Rgt. 469 Stab II", (Grenadier Regiment 469, Staff Company). Additional entries include, personal statistics, next-of-kin, clothing, equipment and weapons issue, vaccinations, a security check, pay rate, three furloughs and a hospital entry. The hospital entry indicates the individual was admitted to hospital in July 1944 and released in August although the reason why isn’t listed. The book also has a partially illegible award entry that appears to indicate the individual had been awarded a Wound Badge in black. One additional entry has the notation "EWGG", indicating Einsatzwehrmachtgebührnisgesetz, (Law governing special assignment compensation). All the entries have the appropriate authorizing signature and/or inkstamp. The pages show light age yellowing but are all intact.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $119.00