Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fantastic genuine WWII German Heer Army Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis (Pay book and identity card), issued to Werner Bruder, born 6. 2. 23. The inside of the front cover still retains a picture of Bruder, retained by the proper type of staples, with stamps over the corners and his signature underneath. His rank is listed as being Pionier (Pioneer), the lowest rank in the Pionierekorps, equivalent to a Soldat in the Infantry, when it was issued 23. 4. 42 (April 23, 1942). He is listed as being part of the 2. / Eiſb. Pi. Erſ. Btl. 3, or the 2. Companie / Eiſenbahn Pioniere Erſsatz Batallion 3 (2nd company, Railroad Pioneer Replacement Battalion 3).
The first page also shows a series of changes in rank, which are listed below:
- 1. 6. 43 - Gefreiter
- 1. 7. 44 - Ob. Gefreiter
The Eisenbahn Pioniere or Railroad Pioneer groups were an integral part of the German supply chain, responsible for helping to extend German railroads as close to the front as possible. There was much war materiel that could be much more effectively transported by rail, especially during the 1940s. This book contains much information related to Bruder's service, and will make a fantastic translation project for whoever purchases it. Overall condition is good and many pages are covered in handwriting and ink stamps, meaning this has some excellent further research potential.
Included with the book were some piece of paper and photos between the pages, including a photo of German soldiers in a rail car, presumably from Bruder's service. It has an inscription on the back, which reads:
Zur Erinnerung
an die Fahrt von Hanau
nach Rehagen - Klausdorf
This translates to:
In memory of the journey from Hanau to Rehagen - Klausdorf.
Definitely a great set with further research potential!
Of note: the persons filling out the book and the service record wrote using Kurrentschrift, an older form of Germanic script writing, which is why the all the "u" letters are written as "ŭ". In this script the lowercase "n" and "u" are identical, so the latter gets the arc shaped mark over it. This is not indicative of an umlaut or other diacritical marking.
More on the German Soldbuch:
The Soldbuch served the soldier as a personal identification document in wartime and as an authorization to receive pay from his own or outside pay-stations. In addition, it was identification for rail travel, detached service, leave, and for receiving mail. The Soldbuch was always carried by the soldier on his person in a tunic pocket. Leaving the book in one's baggage or in one's quarters was not permitted. The careful preservation of the book was in the best interest of the owner. The Soldbuch had to be kept in an orderly fashion. The owner must see to it, that all changes in pay due to transfer or promotion are immediately entered by his responsible duty station. The Soldbuch was an official document. Entries were only to be made by a Wehrmacht duty station. Making unauthorized changes is punishable as falsification of official documents. The loss of a Soldbuch was to be reported as soon the loss is discovered to the holders unit or duty station, and the issue of a new Soldbuch will be requested.
