Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a very nice genuine WWII German Heer Army Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis (Pay book and identity card), issued to what looks to be Fritz Lübler. This is a very well used and worn example, and it unfortunately was exposed to water, which has resulted in the original ink used to fill it out running, which has made many portions completely illegible. It also damaged the photo attached on the inside of the front cover, however another photo is included which we assume is of the owner. The soldbuch was issued 30. 9. 43 in Hirschberg i. Rsbg., and has the correct stamps on the inside of the front cover and on page 2.

While much of the book is illegible, we can make out on page 4 that Lübler was originally part of the Stamm-Kp. Panz. Aufkl. Ers. u. Ausb. Abt. 55, or the "Headquarters Company of Armored Reconnaissance Replacement and Training Detachment 55". He looks to have been part of this group for a while, eventually moving to the 3rd company of the same unit. It then looks like he may have moved to a Panzer signals detachment, and other armored units. Thankfully page 4 did not get very wet, and / or color fast ink was used, so there is still plenty of information, if you can make out the German script writing.

Overall condition, as mentioned before, shows extensive use and unfortunately water exposure. Still, much of the text is still legible, which will make this a great translation project. Comes ready for further research and display.

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.