WWII German Arbeitsbuch Labor Book

Historical Description: The Wehrpaß and Soldbuch were essential military documents used by the German Wehrmacht during World War II to manage and record soldiers’ service, forming the core of personnel administration. The Wehrpaß was issued upon registration for military duty and served as a comprehensive, centrally maintained record detailing a soldier’s training, unit assignments, medical evaluations, promotions, and awards; it was typically kept off the battlefield. In contrast, the Soldbuch was a compact, portable document issued at the commencement of active service and carried at all times, functioning as identification, a pay book, and a record of issued equipment, medical treatment, and daily administrative entries.

Alongside these military records, the Deutsches Reich Reisepass (passport) functioned as an official civilian identification and travel document, used to verify identity and document international movement. Complementing this was the Arbeitsbuch (labor book), a mandatory employment record introduced under the Nazi regime, which tracked an individual’s work history, skills, and job changes, and was required for most forms of employment. While civilian in nature, the Arbeitsbuch played a significant role in labor control and mobilization, often intersecting with military service by documenting pre- and post-conscription occupations or assignments to war-related industries. Together, the Wehrpaß, Soldbuch, Reisepass, and Arbeitsbuch illustrate the highly structured system of identification and record-keeping of the period, and today they remain valuable primary sources for tracing individual lives and understanding the broader administrative framework of the era.