Soldbuch and document grouping to SS-Gren. Leopold, SS-Panzerdivision Hohenstaufen

Soldbuch and document grouping to SS-Grenadier Leopold Schultheis serving with Divisions Stab 9. SS-Panzer Division Hohenstaufen. Before enlisting with the Waffen-SS he was a member of the SA as a SA-Rottenführer, and member of the DAF, NSN and NSDAP. He enlisted with the Waffen-SS 11.9.44 and his first field unit was 1. Kompanie SS-Panzer Grenadier Regiment ‘Hohenstaufen’, later to be transferred to Divisions Stab 9. SS Panzerdivision ‘Hohenstaufen’. Considering he joined so early prior to Arnhem it is probable he saw his first action during the Ardennes Offensive.

Interestingly looking at the issued items for Leopold we can see the Tarndrillich and Helmuberzug as well as a K98.

The grouping retains many interesting documents but the most interesting is the Soldbuch complete with the matching Erkennungsmarke.

One of the last notes inside the Soldbuch dates 4.2.45 indicating he probably saw action during the Ardennes offensive and later the Hungary campaign in march 1945 against the Russians. After this campaign the division escaped and retreated to the Western front destroying 80 Russian tanks in the process. We can assume he must have seen both actions because he was taken captive by the Americans and not the Russians. There is a number of POW related documents to point he was held captive in Austria until late 1946 the least. He passed away march 5 1966.

A nice and honest SS-Soldbuch grouping for a interesting unit which should be a nice base for further research and complete with POW papers, Soldbuch ánd Erkennungsmarke!