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. Also Of Note: 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 1/8", thirty-six page, Soldbuch with a mid-weight, slightly crinkled, light tan, card stock cover with a black printed national eagle with outstretched wings and Gothic script, "Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis Kriegsmarine" (Pay Book & Personal Identity Document Navy), with two narrow outer border lines. The book still has its original olive reinforcement seam tape intact. The national eagle has been half-heartedly de-nazified by having the swastika partially blotted out. The inside front cover has a dual inkstamped, signed, black and white photograph of the nineteen year old recipient wearing a navy blue jumper shirt, stapled in place. Interestingly the photograph has an additional, partial inkstamp that would seem to indicate it had been used before. The entries indicate the individual began his active military service at "Libau", on, "15. Nov. 1942", and was assigned to, "1./5.S.St.U.", (1^ST Company 5^TH Ships Staff Battalion), and the entry has the authorizing signature of an, "Oberleutnant M.A. und Kompaniechef", with the unit inkstamp. Additional entries include personal statistics, next-of-kin, clothing and equipment issue, seven security checks, pay rate, supplementary pay, hygiene items issue, a furlough and a Führergeschenk", (Leaders Gift), entry. Of Note: The Führergeschenk, were introduced in September 1943, as a token of appreciation for soldiers on furlough, and were bestowed to the individual on return to his unit. The Führergeschenk, usually contained extra food and sundry items for the individuals personal use. The book also has a promotional entry indicating the individual was promoted to the rank of Matrose Obergefreiter on, "1. 10. 44". The book has an additional, small, sheet of paper glued on page twenty-seven with typed script that includes, "Militar-Regierung ist Besitz fremder Währung in Deutschland verboten. Bei Rückkehr nach Deutschland wird keine fremde Währung eingewewechselt", (Military-regulations forbid possession of foreign currency in Germany and any foreign currency must be exchanged on your return to Germany.) The sheet of paper is dated, "12. 6. 45", and was issued by, "55 Vorpostenflottille", (55^TH Outpost Flotilla), in Bergen Norway. All the entries have the appropriate authorizing signature and/or inkstamp although all the inkstamps have been de-nazified. The book is in overall good condition with minimal age yellowing and although the pages have separated from the cover they are all intact. Also included with the Soldbuch are seven assorted pre-war and wartime documents and an additional sixteen assorted post-war documents all related to the same individual. The pre-war and war time documents include the individual’s Hitler Youth members Identification card with photo, a letter with NSDAP/HJ letter head relating to the individual’s HJ clothing allowance, an insurance payment receipt card and a permanent unit identification card among others. The post-war documents include the Allied issue, personal data sheet and official discharge papers, assorted passes, a displaced persons declaration, permission slips and various personally purchased items receipts among others. The additional documents range in condition from poor to good. Also included are three assorted sized, black and white, war-time photos of the individual in uniform. The photos are in overall good condition with light age yellowing. Also included is an Obergefreiter’s rank chevron consisting of dual, machine woven, ribbed, gilt wire chevrons, mounted on an inverted, triangular, dark navy blue wool base.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $264.00