Original Item: One-of-a-kind Set. Here we have a very nice set of four Identification books from NSDAP ruled WWII Germany. During the 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. The military issued books in particulars also served as records of their service as well as pay books, so they were definitely important to keep safe.

This lovely set consists of the following Identification books:

- One German WWII Reisepass (Passport), named to Marie Diederich geb. Probst on page 2, indicating both her married and maiden name, which also indicates that she did not have any children. It was issued 18. Aug. 1942., and it looks like she was definitely approved for out of country travel, but we do not see any indications that she traveled much. We also noted that the Reichsadler eagle on the front cover has had the swas "sanitized".

- One German WWII Deutsches Reich Arbeitsbuch (German National Workbook), named to Otto Braune, as written on the first page and rear cover. As indicated on page 5 the book was issued 8. August 1939, and it is the post 1935 pattern book, with the new Reichsadler Design. These books grew out of a 1935 law requiring registration of work, and documentation of work history for German citizens-and only German citizens. Foreigners who worked in Germany carried an Arbeitsbuch für Ausländer which had a picture of the owner.

- One German WWII Deutsches Reich Arbeitsbuch (German National Workbook), named to Johann Brandl, as written on the first page and rear cover. As indicated on page 5 the book was issued 6. Mai 1943, and it is the post 1935 pattern book, with the new Reichsadler Design. These books grew out of a 1935 law requiring registration of work, and documentation of work history for German citizens-and only German citizens. Foreigners who worked in Germany carried an Arbeitsbuch für Ausländer which had a picture of the owner.

- One German WWII Deutsches Reich Arbeitsbuch (German National Workbook), named to Hannibal Bernstein, as written on the first page and the rear cover. As indicated on page 5 the book was issued 19. Mai 1936, and it is the early 1935 pattern book, with the old Weimar style national eagle design, though there are still swasses in the corners. These books grew out of a 1935 law requiring registration of work, and documentation of work history for German citizens-and only German citizens. Foreigners who worked in Germany carried an Arbeitsbuch für Ausländer which had a picture of the owner.

A great set of German WWII Era Identification material, full of great translation and research possibilities!

Of note: some of the writing in this book is in 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.