Original German WWII Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Soldbuch ID & Pay Book with Photos – USGI Captured in Po Valley April 1945 Original Items

Original Items: One-of-a-kind Set. This is a fantastic genuine German WWII Luftwaffe Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis (Pay book and identity card), issued to Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Erich Griessler, who is listed as being part of 13. / Fallschirm-Jäger Rgt. 1 (13th Company, Paratrooper Regiment 1). The inside of the front cover still retains a picture of Griessler, retained by the proper type of staples, with stamps on the edges and his signature at the bottom. His rank is listed as being Oberjäger when it was issued 22. Juni 1944. This would usually be an enlisted rank, but the picture shows Griessler with NCO insignia and a single gull wing, which would be an Unteroffizier. The first page also shows that on 1. 11. 1944 (1 November 1944), he was promoted to Feldwebel, equivalent to a U.S. Army Air Forces Technical sergeant.

Per the book, his date of birth is 1. 2. 1919, and also we can see that some of the dates in the book actually pre-date the issuing of the Soldbuch. The first page has Zweitschrift (second copy) written to the left of “Soldbuch”, so this is the second book that he was issued, as when the books were filled up, they would be issued another. The book indicates that he first became part of the Fallschirm-Jäger Rgt. 1 on 15. 9. 40, which was part of the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division, so he enlisted in time to take part in many of the famous engagements that the unit took part in. Unfortunately any information related to these would have been in previously issued books.

Of note: the persons filling out the book and the service record 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.

The book has all the proper ink stamps and other filled out information, so there is definitely some research potential here. It also has a small paper pouch installed in the back of the book, which contains 6 period photographs, some of which definitely look to show Griessler in them. Some of the photos have notes on the back in German, with some additional notes added in English. Some are personal photos, while some are definitely portraits on postcards. There is a picture of a woman, which has a date and other information on the back.

The top of the folded paper pouch is also marked with the following information, which gives information on where the soldbuch was acquired during the war:

Griessler
Fw.

This German was
captured in the Po Valley
after being wounded.
He left this in the
ambulance. 4/4/45

There also looks to have been additional writing added by the soldier who brought it back, which was later erased. The Po Valley engagement was part of the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy.

A really great set from WWII, with some great research and display potential!

More on the German Soldbuch:
The Soldbuch served the soldier as a personal identification document in wartime and as an authorization to receive pay from his own or outside pay-stations. In addition, it was identification for rail travel, detached service, leave, and for receiving mail. The Soldbuch was always carried by the soldier on his person in a tunic pocket. Leaving the book in one’s baggage or in one’s quarters was not permitted. The careful preservation of the book was in the best interest of the owner. The Soldbuch had to be kept in an orderly fashion. The owner must see to it, that all changes in pay due to transfer or promotion are immediately entered by his responsible duty station. The Soldbuch was an official document. Entries were only to be made by a Wehrmacht duty station. Making unauthorized changes is punishable as falsification of official documents. The loss of a Soldbuch was to be reported as soon the loss is discovered to the holders unit or duty station, and the issue of a new Soldbuch will be requested.