$245.00
Condition: Excellent
In stock
Product Description: Original WWII German Wehrpaß issued to Friedrich Gerkensmeier, born 24 October 1920—an evocative and well-documented soldier’s record spanning the full course of his wartime service. Gerkensmeier entered the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) in 1939 before transferring to the Infantry in 1940, after which he was deployed across multiple fronts in Russia. His entries reflect a hard-fought career: he was wounded in action and recognized with the Black Wound Badge, Iron Cross 1st Class (EK1), and the Close Combat Clasp, indicating sustained front-line engagement and exceptional personal bravery.
The Wehrpaß remains in excellent condition, showing only the expected handling wear while containing an impressive array of pages filled with official stamps, unit designations, duty assignments, awards, and handwritten notes. Together, these details provide rich research potential for tracing Gerkensmeier’s exact movements, combat participation, and unit history. A highly compelling and completely original WWII artifact, offering collectors and historians a vivid window into the experiences of a decorated German infantryman on the Eastern Front.
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. The Wehrpaß, issued upon registration for military duty, served as a comprehensive, centrally held record of a soldier’s training, unit assignments, medical evaluations, promotions, and awards, but was not carried in the field. In contrast, the Soldbuch was a compact, portable document issued at the start of active duty and kept on the soldier’s person at all times, functioning as an ID, pay book, and record of issued equipment, medical treatment, and daily administrative details. Together, they formed the backbone of personnel tracking in the German military, and today they serve as important historical sources for understanding individual service histories and broader Wehrmacht organization.
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