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Germany, Third Reich. Luftwaffe Soldbuch of an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unteroffizier
This Soldbuch document, with photograph, belonged to a Luftwaffe soldier born in 1917. He entered the war in October 1939 as a Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) in an anti-aircraft unit, was promoted to Obergefreiter (Senior Lance Corporal) in October 1940, and to Unteroffizier (Sergeant) in April 1943. For his achievements, he was awarded the Tätigkeitsabzeichen Flakartillerie (Anti-Aircraft Artillery Activity Badge). The document also lists the equipment he was issued, including a gas mask.
The Soldbuch was a personal military document issued to soldiers of the Wehrmacht or Luftwaffe during World War II, once they began active service. It functioned as an identification and record book, containing essential information such as the soldier’s unit, rank, salary, assigned weapons, leave, vaccinations, and any awards or wounds sustained during the war.
Unlike the Wehrpass, which was a military career record kept by the authorities, the Soldbuch physically accompanied the soldier at all times and served as their official ID within the army. Its use was mandatory and strictly enforced, and its content served both administrative and logistical purposes at the front.
A German document from the Second World War.
