Paperwork, documents and photographs

Rare original German army Panzer manual Die Panzertruppenby von Kügelgen 1944. The manual is a well illustrated basic guide for panzer troops. It sums up the basic tactics, models and maintenance. A very rare late war printed manual in colour, as issued to armoured troops!

Flugzeugführer document grouping to Obergefreiter Arnold Merth. The grouping consists of his Flugzeugführer document and his Luftwaffe Flugzeugführerschein. Merth attended the Flugzeugführerschule B20 and learned to fly the Ju 52, Si 204 and HE 111- E, F, B, P. 

Waffen-SS Deathcard Karl Golfranz KIA 7.4.1943

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.

Textbook SS Polizei Soldbuch to Otto Rehmer serving in the Schutzpolizei. The Soldbuch is a SS example with removed SS runes to the front. He also served in the first world war and during the second world war he was also awarded the following awards; Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, Frontkampfer Ehrenzeichen, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Militär-Verdienstkreuz 2.Klasse, Verwundetenabzeichen i. Schwarz and the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse m. Schwerter. A nice original Soldbuch which could be a good base for further research!

Bevolkingsleer en Bevolkingspolitiek in den Volkschen Staat, K.W. Boekholt – De Schouw 1942 in used condition. The cover has separated from the book itself but unlike any other copy I find online this is the only one with the original dust jacket!

Rare original 1941 dated phone book for Berlin reading Amtliches Fernsprechbuch für den Bezirk der Reichspostdirektion Berlin 1941. Rare original example, not to be confused with the 1980 reprint. Nice piece for any staff or office display!

De Witte Hel, Soldatenverhalen over den veldslag in het Oosten. Samengesteld door H. Van Duinkerken, Uitgeverij Roskam, Amsterdam with dust jacket(!) in excellent condition. This is a rare wartime publication that was aimed at members for the Dutch Waffen-SS volunteers. It was a compilation of stories of Dutch Waffen-SS volunteers on the eastern front. Inside The book is in very good condition and in my opinion the best example I have ever seen. It is rare to acquire but exceptional with its original dust jacket, especially in this condition!

A very rare opportunity to acquire this well known but very hard to acquire period book – you will be hard pressed to find a better example!

De Kapiteins Christiansen – Uitgeverij Westland 1943 – with rare dust jacket in excellent condition.

Het jonge rijk. Leven en streven der nieuwe Duitsche Jeugd by Eugen Friedrich Bartelmas, printed by Uitgeverij Westland 1943 in used condition.