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H035658 SOLDBUCH & MILITARY DRIVER'S LICENCE. (Soldbuch und Militär-Führerschein)

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 recipient’s 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. The German armed forces went to great lengths to ensure its personnel were provided with the best in-depth training that was available at the time. Besides basic military and ideology training additional training also covered a wide variety of specialized skills, trades and functions including vehicle drivers. The armed forces required all drivers to pass the appropriate military drivers test, even if they already held a civilian drivers licence. The wide variety of military vehicles necessitated diverse, in-depth testing depending on the particular vehicle to be driven. The drivers licenses were issued in three basic classes for different types of vehicles with additional classes for specific vehicles such as tanks. All military drivers licence were assigned a specific number which was recorded by the units administrative office which enabled them to reissue a lost licence with no further testing. The three basic classes of driver’s licenses consisted of class 1 for motorcycles, class 2 for cars and class 3 for trucks. The military drivers licenses were only valid while the individual was on active service and on discharge the licence was to be returned to the appropriate administrative office. With the return of the military drivers licence the individual would be reissued a civilian licence with no further testing. Of Note: On October 23RD 1942 a series of three Drivers Proficiency Badges in the grades of bronze, silver and gold were introduced with qualifications for bestowal of the badges being retroactive to December 1ST 1940. The criteria for award of one of the badges varied with exceptional driving ability and vehicle maintenance being the main considerations 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", twenty-four 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 glued on, tan paper seam. The inside front cover has a dual inkstamped, black and white photograph of the recipient wearing a uniform stapled in place. Entries indicate the individual began his active military service on, "2. Oktober 1941", serving with, "3./ Kf. Ers. Abt. 3 Rathenow", (3RD Company 3RD Motor Transport Replacement Unit Rathenow). The entry has the authorizing signature of a, "Hauptmann u. Komp-Chef", with the unit inkstamp. Other unit entries indicate the individual served with six other assorted units including, "Frontleitstelle 5", (5TH Forward Transit Directing Center). Service entries indicate the individual was promoted to the rank of "Obersoldat" on, "1. 4. 1943", to, "Gefreiter d.R.", on, "1.8. 1943", and to, "Obergefreiter", on, "1. 3. 1944". Additional entries include, personal statistics, next-of-kin, clothing, equipment and weapons issue, vaccinations, two security checks, pay rate and raise, supplementary pay, six furloughs and a hospital entry. The hospital entry indicates the individual was admitted to hospital in April 1944 and released in May of the same year for some type of fracture. The book has an additional page glued in with typed script that is interestingly a reference certificate for the issue of a pair of men's or women’s and children’s shoes. (?) All the entries have the appropriate authorizing signature and/or inkstamp. The pages show light age yellowing but are all intact. Also included is a roughly, 5 1/2" x 7 1/2", dual fold, mid-weight, grey oilcloth construction military drivers licence with printed Gothic script and handwritten and inkstamped particulars. The front cover includes the printed heading, "Wehrmacht-Führerschein", (Armed Forces Driver’s Licence). The front cover also lists the recipients name, unit, "3./Kf. Ers. Abt. 3 Rathenow", birth date and location and additional script, "Nur gültig für die Dauer Dienstverhältnisses bei der Wehrmacht {Bei der Entlassung abzugeben.}", (Only valid for the duration of service in the Armed Forces. {To be returned on release of service.}). The script to the interior of the licence indicates the recipient passed his class two, "Verbr. Masch", (Internal Combustion Engine), drivers tests on, "10. Nov. 1941". The licence has a large, inkstamped, black and white photograph of the recipient wearing an M36 field blouse rivetted in position. The back cover has the printed heading, "Raum für weitere amtliche Eintragungen, insbesondere Bedingungen der Etlaubnis oder Ausdehnung der Erlaubnis nach Ergänzungsprufungen", (Room for further official entries, especially conditions of the permission or expansion of the permission after supplement tests.), followed by inkstamped and handwritten entries that indicate the recipient received further driving testing. The licence has the dual authorizing signatures of a "Hauptmann", and a "Major u. Abt-Kommandeur", with the unit inkstamp. The licence is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and minor fraying to the outer edges

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $179.00

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