Original Items: One-of-a-kind Set. This is a fantastic genuine German WWII Military Identification set, consisting of a Wehrpaß identification booklet and a Heer Army Soldbuch identification and paybook, both named to Feldwebel Hermann Gohert of Transport Regiment 602. They contain much information regarding Trilling and his service, including promotions, the units he was in, injuries suffered, and awards received.

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.

Trilling's Wehrpaß was originally issued 16. Jan. 1939, and has Hermann Gohert's picture, with the correct stamps, and gives his birth date on page 3 as 16. September 1910., along with the standard personal information. The following pages give information on his conscription and mustering, and many of the other pages up to page 11 are blank, as they deal with service in the RAD. Page 12 gives information on his military service, indicating he was assigned to 4. Kompanie / Kw. Trsp. Rgt. 602 in the fall of 1939. This is the abbreviation for Kraftwagen Transport Regiment 602, or "Motor Car Transport Regiment 602".

Page 22 of the Wehrpaß gives information on Gohert's unit assignments and ranks until the end of the war, with the last entry on 1. 5. 45. (May 1st 1945), when he was promoted to Feldwebel, a senior NCO rank equivalent to a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant. Page 23 then indicates the awards that he received during service, which include the Ostmedaille (Eastern Medal) and the Kriegsverdienst Kreuz II Klasse mit Schwertern (War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords). The rest of the book is for the most part blank, with occasional pages giving notes.

The soldbuch in the set was issued 26. 8. 39., and definitely shows a bit more wear than the Wehrpaß, probably because the books were also used as pay records, and were handled much more often. Page 1 gives his basic information and rank progression, page 2 his personal information, and page 3 the units he was in. There is definitely more information in this book, much relating to training and qualifications. Gohert, as a member of a transport regiment, did not see much front line service, which is why there is not really any information regarding injuries on pages 14-15. Page 22 lists the awards he received, which are the same as listed in the Wehrpaß, and the pages following this give a listing of the times that Gohert was on approved leave.

Research of the 602nd Transport Regiment shows that it was made part of Army Group Center in 1941, which was deployed to the Southern front in 1942. It took part in campaigns in the Caucuses and then in the Stalingrad Campaign. After this it moved to the Balkans and saw service there 1943 to 1945.

Really a great set that can be used to trace an NCO's progress throughout the war. Definitely some fantastic research and translation potential!

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.

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.