Paperwork, documents and photographs

Soldbuch to Unteroffizier H. Hartjes. The Soldbuch was first filled in 26.8.39 when he enlisted with 2. Batterie Artillerie Regiment 11.  His battery was subsequently merged with 5. Batterie Artillerie Regiment 291 between July and August 1940. He was promoted to a Obergefreiter on 1.7.1940 serving with Artillerie Regiment 291. He was promoted to Unteroffizier on 1.12.1940 serving with Artillerie Regiment 306. After serving with this unit for some time he was sent to Artillerie Regiment 170 which was a new unit formed in may 1944. With him being hospitalised and healing he was enlisted with this newly formed unit. This unit was destroyed in the fighting for Walcheren, the Netherlands in November 1944. After this he was sent to Artillerie Regiment 179 right in time for the Ardennes Offensive.

He was issued a number of interesting uniform and equipment pieces under which;

Tragegestell or carrying frame
Tarnnetz or helmet net
Pelzweste or Fur winter vest
Knee warmers
Felt in lay soles
Mapcase
Greatcoat
Gasmask size 3

He was issued many different weapons of which 1 rifle and 3 different pistol including one Belgian.

He was wounded 3 times;
15.6.44 wound code 18 indicating Pneumonia, hospitalised at Feldlazerett (Motorisiert) 5 Luftwaffe
1.4.44 wound code 31a indicating bulletwounds, hospitalised in Kriegslazarett Belgrad
6.9.44 wound code 31u(is probably a) indicating bulletwounds, hospitalised in Reserve Lazarett II Olmuss Teillazerett Pöttingeum which is a Neo Gothic style school building in Olomouc, Czech. During the war this was used as a Feldlazarett.

He was awarded the Iron Cross second class on 26.1.1943. He was awarded the black wound badge on 8.9.44.

His last furlough was granted on 20.10.44 and lasted 7 days indicating he was back with his unit 27th of October.
Prior to the Ardennes offensive he was drafted in Artillerie Regiment 179 which was a part of the 79 Volksgrenadier Division during the Ardennes offensive. His unit fought in the Ardenes at Vianden, Bourscheid and later retreated to the Westwall. Early in 1945 it fought hard battles with US divisions in Germany. The soldbuch would be a good base for further research!

Very interesting Soldbuch to Karl Paülüs, serving with Panzergrenadier Regiment 304 with the 2. Panzerdivision. The soldbuch was filled 26 august 1939 and is literally over filled with interesting entries. He first served with Infanterie Regiment 63 which took part in the Polish campaign under the 27. Infanterie Division. Later this unit invaded Belgium trough the Ardennes forest between St. Vith and Dinant (which he will later do again, in 1944!). The division took part in many French battles in Arras, Loire and La chapelle. He was later transferred to Panzergrenadier Regiment 304 fighting heavy battles near St. Lô, Argentan and Bernay. His unit was removed from the front line to rest at the Westwall until October 1944. Then the unit was prepared for the Ardennes offensive to attack trough the Ardennes forest near St. Vith again, just as he whitnessed in 1940. Interestingly his unit was the one to attack the 506 PIR of the 101st Airborne Division in Noville and later attacking Bastogne.

He was issued a whole arrae of armament troughout his service to include a K98, G41, MP40, Mauser 6,35 pistol, P08 Luger and a bayonet. He was also issued binoculars, marching compass, entrenching tool, RG34, gasmask and at some point a bicycle.

He was wounded three times. In 1940 he was woundewd in France, in June 1944 he was wounded in Normandy. In January 1945 he was wounded in the Ardennes.
He was awarded the Sudetenmedaille, Verwundetenabzeichen Silber, EKII, Schützenschnür, Winterschlacht im Osten.

This is a very impressive and obviously combat worn Soldbuch which was issued in 1939 and was still carried in 1945. It surely whitnessed many interesting battles ranging from the Invasion of Poland, Belgium and France. Later fighting in Greece, Yugoslavia. Then sent to the eastern front in October 1941 fighting at Moscow. In 1944 his unit played a important role in the battle for Normandy and the Ardennes offensive.

This is truly a interesting time capsule worthy of further research. For me it’s the first time to have such a long lasting Soldbuch with that many tracable and important battles with MANY interesting entries!

Deathcard to Karl Kilger killed in action at a front line position in Italy 4.11.1944.

Large Collection of Heer portraits in good condition. Approximately 55 separate portraits with interesting details such as badges, headgear and uniforms. A nice case study for any collector and a good price at approximately 3 euro per photo.

Luftwaffe photo album in good, complete condition for a soldier most probably serving in France.

Original Dutch Germaansche SS-Vormingsbladen in very good condition.

Interesting lot of first world war post cards with interesting stories on the back.

Soldbuch grouping of Heinz Schultz, Fallschirmjäger, Ardennes. Wachtmeister Heinz Schultz served with Fallschirm Artillerie Regiment 5 in the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division. He was first a part of several Luftwaffe Bau and Flak Abteilungen. In 1944 he was transferred to his field unit Fallschirmjäger Artillerie Regiment 5. This unit was part of the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division of which the brief unit history during this period until the end of the war is described;

In October 1944, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 was relocated from its assembly area near Oldenburg to the Netherlands for coastal defense. At this time, most of the division’s units were still stationed at training grounds in northern Germany. As a result, the assembly of the division could not begin before mid-November. Although the division was only partially combat-ready and still in the process of being organized, it was transferred to the Eifel region at the end of November 1944, after Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 was reassigned to it, in preparation for the planned Ardennes Offensive. The units were stationed in the Bitburg – Oberweis – Sülm area.

Even during the march to its assembly area, the division suffered considerable losses due to low-flying Allied air attacks. Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5 lost all of its vehicles, rendering it inoperable. During the Ardennes Offensive, the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was tasked with advancing on the right flank of the 7th Army, as part of LXXXV Army Corps, from the area around Bitburg. After crossing the Our River near Vianden, it was to break through enemy positions at Wahlhausen, Putscheid, Nachtmanderscheid, and Walsdorf, and secure the line St. Hubert – Neufchâteau – Mellier – Attert, where it would establish a mobile defensive position to protect the southern flank of the 5th Panzer Army, which was advancing through Bastogne.

On the morning of December 16, after a short artillery preparation, the division crossed the Our River at Stolzembourg and Roth. By the evening of the first day, the advance elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 had reached the Diekirch – Hosingen road. The left neighbor, the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division, was making slow progress east of Fouhren, while the right neighbor, Panzer Lehr Division, was already engaged west of Hosingen. On December 17, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 secured the river crossings near Bourscheid, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 attacked between Putscheid and Weiler. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 13 was fighting alongside the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division at Fouhren.

On December 18, elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 reached the western edge of Weiler, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 secured the bridges at Bourscheid intact and linked up with Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 at Weiler. Meanwhile, the division’s attached Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI was engaged in combat at Nachtmanderscheid and Walsdorf. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 13, still under the command of the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division, continued to fight at Fouhren. On December 19, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 advanced through the Sauer Valley without significant enemy resistance, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 reached the Wiltz Valley near Kautenbach and Nocher by evening.

The division’s advance continued rapidly, with Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 moving south of Doncols toward the Bastogne-Arlon road. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI pushed southwest beyond the division’s left boundary, toward Bigonville and Martelingen, to support the neighboring division, which was still engaged in heavy fighting near Ettelbruck. By the end of the day, the division’s lead elements had reached the general line: northern edge of Martelingen – Vaux-les-Rosières – Sibret. On the evening of December 21, Martelingen was captured by Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI with support from elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15.

Since the left neighboring division was still lagging behind, exposing the left flank of both the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division and the 5th Panzer Army (which had already advanced far west beyond Bastogne), the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was ordered to assume flank protection. On December 22, the division reorganized its units, shifted from offensive to defensive operations, and established defensive positions against attacks from the southwest and south along the line: Vaux-les-Rosières – Martelingen – Bigonville – Arsdorf – Heiderscheid, covering a front of 40 km.

Between December 23 and 25, the division was forced to abandon several positions, including Vaux-les-Rosières, Hotte, Strainchamps, Martelingen, Titange, and Bigonville, due to heavy attacks from the U.S. 3rd Army from the southwest and south along the Bastogne road. On December 26, American forces continued their advance toward Bastogne. Between Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14, still holding out near Chaumont, and the 26th Volksgrenadier Division to the northwest, American units broke through northward. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 withdrew its right flank to Assenois, barely preventing an enemy advance on Losange and Villers-la-Bonne-Eau.

By December 27, the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division’s front stretched from Assenois to Lutrebois, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. Following the successful American breakthrough at Bastogne, the division was threatened on its flank near Nothum. The American advance was halted only by deploying the last available reserves along the Harlange – Nothum – Buderscheid line. By December 29, 1944, the division, now under the command of LIII Army Corps, was still holding the line Lutrebois – Villers-la-Bonne-Eau – Harlange – Bavigne – Nothum against continued enemy attacks.

On January 2, 1945, following further American breakthroughs near its left neighbor, the division was at risk of encirclement in the Harlange and Bavigne area. It held its positions until January 7 but was then forced to withdraw northeast, abandoning Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. On January 9, American forces attacked the division at Bras, Doncols, and Nothum, encircling a large portion of its forces and taking many prisoners. The remaining elements of the division regrouped near Wiltz and were later transferred to the Düren area.

During their retreat, these remnants were diverted southeast and committed to counter an Allied breakthrough near Prüm. By the end of February, the remaining troops repelled Allied attacks near Wilwerath, Gondenbrett, and Olzheim. However, in early March, American forces bypassed the division’s defensive positions on both flanks, forcing it to retreat further northeast.

At the Nürburgring, the division was encircled west of the Rhine, with most of its remaining troops taken prisoner. Only small remnants managed to escape to the Wernigerode area in April 1945.

He was awarded the Ehrenzeichen Bulgarischen Infanterie IV Klasse, Rumanische Medaille “Kreuzzug gegen den Kommunismus” with document, and probably more awards which were not noted in his Soldbuch. The Grouping is complete with Erkennungsmarke. Hard to find grouping in excellent condition!

Soldbuch grouping of Heinz Schultz, Fallschirmjäger, Ardennes. Wachtmeister Heinz Schultz served with Fallschirm Artillerie Regiment 5 in the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division. He entered service in 1939 with Flakabteilung 83. He was transferred to Flak Regiment 12 which saw action in Tunesia and was subsequently destroyed. After this he was transferred to 4. Kompanie Fallschirmjäger Artillerie Ersatz und Ausbildungs Abteilung. 28.10.1944 he was transferred to his field unit Fallschirmjäger Artillerie Regiment 5. This unit was part of the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division of which the brief unit history during this period until the end of the war is described;

In October 1944, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 was relocated from its assembly area near Oldenburg to the Netherlands for coastal defense. At this time, most of the division’s units were still stationed at training grounds in northern Germany. As a result, the assembly of the division could not begin before mid-November. Although the division was only partially combat-ready and still in the process of being organized, it was transferred to the Eifel region at the end of November 1944, after Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 was reassigned to it, in preparation for the planned Ardennes Offensive. The units were stationed in the Bitburg – Oberweis – Sülm area.

Even during the march to its assembly area, the division suffered considerable losses due to low-flying Allied air attacks. Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5 lost all of its vehicles, rendering it inoperable. During the Ardennes Offensive, the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was tasked with advancing on the right flank of the 7th Army, as part of LXXXV Army Corps, from the area around Bitburg. After crossing the Our River near Vianden, it was to break through enemy positions at Wahlhausen, Putscheid, Nachtmanderscheid, and Walsdorf, and secure the line St. Hubert – Neufchâteau – Mellier – Attert, where it would establish a mobile defensive position to protect the southern flank of the 5th Panzer Army, which was advancing through Bastogne.

On the morning of December 16, after a short artillery preparation, the division crossed the Our River at Stolzembourg and Roth. By the evening of the first day, the advance elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 had reached the Diekirch – Hosingen road. The left neighbor, the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division, was making slow progress east of Fouhren, while the right neighbor, Panzer Lehr Division, was already engaged west of Hosingen. On December 17, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 secured the river crossings near Bourscheid, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 attacked between Putscheid and Weiler. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 13 was fighting alongside the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division at Fouhren.

On December 18, elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 reached the western edge of Weiler, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 secured the bridges at Bourscheid intact and linked up with Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 at Weiler. Meanwhile, the division’s attached Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI was engaged in combat at Nachtmanderscheid and Walsdorf. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 13, still under the command of the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division, continued to fight at Fouhren. On December 19, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 advanced through the Sauer Valley without significant enemy resistance, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 reached the Wiltz Valley near Kautenbach and Nocher by evening.

The division’s advance continued rapidly, with Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 moving south of Doncols toward the Bastogne-Arlon road. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI pushed southwest beyond the division’s left boundary, toward Bigonville and Martelingen, to support the neighboring division, which was still engaged in heavy fighting near Ettelbruck. By the end of the day, the division’s lead elements had reached the general line: northern edge of Martelingen – Vaux-les-Rosières – Sibret. On the evening of December 21, Martelingen was captured by Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI with support from elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15.

Since the left neighboring division was still lagging behind, exposing the left flank of both the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division and the 5th Panzer Army (which had already advanced far west beyond Bastogne), the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was ordered to assume flank protection. On December 22, the division reorganized its units, shifted from offensive to defensive operations, and established defensive positions against attacks from the southwest and south along the line: Vaux-les-Rosières – Martelingen – Bigonville – Arsdorf – Heiderscheid, covering a front of 40 km.

Between December 23 and 25, the division was forced to abandon several positions, including Vaux-les-Rosières, Hotte, Strainchamps, Martelingen, Titange, and Bigonville, due to heavy attacks from the U.S. 3rd Army from the southwest and south along the Bastogne road. On December 26, American forces continued their advance toward Bastogne. Between Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14, still holding out near Chaumont, and the 26th Volksgrenadier Division to the northwest, American units broke through northward. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 withdrew its right flank to Assenois, barely preventing an enemy advance on Losange and Villers-la-Bonne-Eau.

By December 27, the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division’s front stretched from Assenois to Lutrebois, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. Following the successful American breakthrough at Bastogne, the division was threatened on its flank near Nothum. The American advance was halted only by deploying the last available reserves along the Harlange – Nothum – Buderscheid line. By December 29, 1944, the division, now under the command of LIII Army Corps, was still holding the line Lutrebois – Villers-la-Bonne-Eau – Harlange – Bavigne – Nothum against continued enemy attacks.

On January 2, 1945, following further American breakthroughs near its left neighbor, the division was at risk of encirclement in the Harlange and Bavigne area. It held its positions until January 7 but was then forced to withdraw northeast, abandoning Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. On January 9, American forces attacked the division at Bras, Doncols, and Nothum, encircling a large portion of its forces and taking many prisoners. The remaining elements of the division regrouped near Wiltz and were later transferred to the Düren area.

During their retreat, these remnants were diverted southeast and committed to counter an Allied breakthrough near Prüm. By the end of February, the remaining troops repelled Allied attacks near Wilwerath, Gondenbrett, and Olzheim. However, in early March, American forces bypassed the division’s defensive positions on both flanks, forcing it to retreat further northeast.

At the Nürburgring, the division was encircled west of the Rhine, with most of its remaining troops taken prisoner. Only small remnants managed to escape to the Wernigerode area in April 1945.

He was awarded the Flakkampfabzeichen, Erdkampfabzeichen, Eisernes Kreuz II Klasse, Ostmedaille, Schützenschnür, Dienstauszeichnung 4. Klasse, Erinnerungsmedaille 1.10.38 and possibly one I forgot. This is a great soldbuch with many entries, interesting units, awards and a nice portrait in tropical uniform. A great soldbuch for further research of a Fallschirmjäger who took part of the Ardennes Offensive!

A interesting Luftwaffe Soldbuch to Feldwebel Helmut Nafe. He served with a number of units. In 1943 he served with Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 27. In 1944 he trained at the Flugzeugführerdoppelschule in Warnemünde. 9.10.44 he moved with Luftwaffen-Festungs-Bataillon IV (who were stationed in Herogen and Schmidtheim), 1.11.44 he moved to Divisions Füsiliers Bataillon 347 which served under the 347 Infanterie Division which by that time was fighting in the Hurtgenwald.

He was issued a Tarnnetz for his helmet.
Divisions Füsiliers Bataillon 347

Unfortunately page 3/4 and the awards page are missing. This is a nice Soldbuch worthy of further research!

Pocket agenda; Jahrbuch für den Deutschen soldaten im Norden – 1944 in good condition. The agenda is named Carl Eduard Thode from Wesermünde. He seems to have been badly burned in January 1944 with most notes hospital entries. This is a typical 1944 pocket agenda for German soldiers serving on the northern front. This is a nice piece to research further.

Kompanie-Ausbildung im Feldheer, Oberleutnant Ernst Adolf Busold 1942 in good condition.

Das Kommandobuch, Band 1 Die Schützenkompanie Karl Siwinna, October 1941.

Original Dutch Germaansche SS-Vormingsbladen in very good condition.

Exceptionally rare; one of ten ever printed! Die Niederlande und das Reich, Dokumente aus vier Jahrhunderten. Fotowiedergabe eines Geschenkes des Reichs-kommissars für die besetzten Niederländischen Gebiete and den Leiter der NSB Mussert, 11. Mai 1942. This book is a visual photographed presentation of the gift of Seyss Inquart to the NSB leader Anton Mussert on the event of his 48th Birthday. A rare original example with 60 large photographs. This is a very large publication, for sure hard to fit in most book cabinets.

This is a rare publication missing from most collections and is in very good condition. It’s size is impressive in that you definately need a large table to read it. A good opportunity to acquire this rare wartime publication!

Heer issue Reibert manual; Der Dienstunterricht in der Luftwaffe. These manuals are very thorough and they talk over every single aspect the German soldier was taught in. The book contains German history, Drills, Mannerisms, squad formations, weapons handling, shooting and maintenance, airplane recognition, horse riding, ranks, how to behave/write/talk, heavy weapons and so on. These where brought out in different versions, this one being the variant for the “Luftwaffe” or air force. This example is the 1941 print and is in overall very good, readable condition! This example is the 1939 print and is in overall very good, readable condition!

Rare Mercedes spare parts list Type 290 – W18 – 1934 in excellent condition. Hard to find original Ersatzteileliste! These cars were typical Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS staff cars. NOT to be confused with the modern reprints!

Rare Mercedes spare parts list Type 170 V – W136 – 1942 in excellent condition. Hard to find original Ersatzteileliste! These cars were typical Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS staff cars. NOT to be confused with the modern reprints!