Original German WWI Militärpaß & WWII Heer Wehrpaß Military ID of WWI Veteran Musketier Emil Kollmer with Translation Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind Set. Well this is something that we have not have for quite some time! This is a great set of matching named German military identification, an Imperial German WWI Militärpaß dated 1918 and a German WWII Era Heer Wehrpaß Identification Book, issued 16. März 1940. both are named to WWI Veteran Musketier Emil Kollmer, who was assigned to a Machine gun unit during WWI. The Wehrpaß even still has his picture in the book, held in place by the correct hollow rivets with inspection stamps over the corners. During the NSDAP period many new types of identification were required, both for civilians and military personnel, both as a method of control and to help protect vital parts of the German war machine. These books often recorded quite a bit about the owners life, much more than just their basic information. These Wehrpaß identification books were required beginning in 1935 with the beginning of conscription in NSDAP-ruled Germany, and all eligible males were required to get one.

Gurski was one such individual, though he was a member of the Polizei, and as such during the pre-war period was already “in service”, and did he did not get registered until the war was imminent. The front cover is also clearly marked heer on the bottom, indicating he was evaluated for service in the Army. As he still had his original Militärpaß, most likely they did not need to research his military history, though they did make a note of it in his Wehrpaß.

Of note: the persons filling out the books often 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.

These documents make great translation projects, but in this case the WWI Militärpaß came with a translation and service summary on a small yellow sheet of paper, the highlights of which are as follows:

WWI Service:
– Emil Kollmer was born 12 April 1898 in Pforzheim, and entered service 21 November 1916 with the Ersatz Bataillon Res. Inf. Rgt. 247 (Replacement Battalion Reserve Infantry Regiment 247).
– Kollmer was then transferred to the 2. Ers. M.G.K. XIII AK (2nd Battalion Machine Gun Company XIII Army Corps). During WWI MaschinenGewehr Kompanie units were often assigned at the Corps level, especially early in the war.
– During the war Kollmer received extensive training on the MG.08, Pistole 08, Gew 98, and Hand Grenades.
– Kollmer was transferred 29 April 1918 to the MaschinenGewehr Kompanie Infanterie Regiment 124. While with this unit he fought during numerous battles in France, which are detailed on the paper.
– Kollmer was a recipient of the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 12 September 1918.
– After the war he would have been awarded the Cross of Honor 1914-1918 (Hindenburg Cross) for combatants.

WWII Service:
– During the build up to WWII, Kollmer was drafted for military service 16. März 1940, and on 10. 5. 1943 was mustered for service, though it looks like he had already been assigned to the Landwehr back in 1937.
– There is some additional information in the book, but it does not look like Kollmer saw active military service during the WWII Period.

A great set of WWI & WWII military Identification with some great research potential!