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 which remained in the recipients possession as his official military identification document. 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", forty page book with a mid-weight, slightly crinkled, light tan card stock cover with 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. 5 3/4" x 4 1/8", forty page book with textured tan card stock cover with a black, printed national eagle and Gothic script, "Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis Kriegsmarine", (Pay Book & Personal Identity Document Navy), with two outer border lines, and a taped seam. The inside front cover has a dual inkstamped, photograph of the young recipient wearing a field-grey coastal artillery uniform stapled in place. The entries indicate the sixteen year old individual began his active military service at "Waren/Muritz", on, "20. Feb. 1945", and was assigned to, "1. Kompanie 9. Marine-Ersatzabteilung", (1^ST Company 9^TH Navy-Replacement Unit), and the entry has the authorizing signature of an, "Ob.-Ltn (M.A.) u. Komp.-Chef", with a blurred unit inkstamp. Due to the late issuance date the book only has a few entries although surprisingly the clothing and equipment issue entries indicate the individual received a fairly good complement of basic items. Other entries include, personal statistics, next-of-kin, a security check and supplementary issue hygiene items. All the entries have the appropriate authorizing signature and/or inkstamp. The book is in overall very good condition with minimal age yellowing and all the pages are intact.

GRADE ****1/2                             PRICE $130.00