Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fantastic genuine WWII German Heer Army Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis (Pay book and identity card), issued to Oberschutze Heinz Binkle, born 10.2.23. in Hamburg, Germany. This example does not have a photo, and does not appear to have ever had one. There is some heavy damage to the interior, with brown staining in the bottom left portion. 

He was a member of 2./Fla. Ers. Btl. (Mot) 66 and Fla. Battalion (Mot.) 609. He was issued a K98 (Serial #2016). He was declared fit for Tropical service on May 1st, 1942. On February 2nd, 1943, he entered African soil. The 21st Panzer was one of the two Armored Divisions part of the Afrika Korps. Heinz was promoted to Oberschutze on April 1st, 1943.

In 1943, the Afrika Korps had already retreated towards Tunis. When the 21st Panzer Division arrived in Tunisia, it was put under the control of 5. Panzerarmee, and then used as a number of Kampfgruppen in a series of successive engagements against the Allies. Oberschutze Heinz Binkle was captured by the Allies on May 12, 1943.

Overall condition is fair despite the heavy staining and many pages are covered in handwriting and ink stamps, meaning this has some excellent further research potential. These are exceptionally rare and difficult to find with this much information, especially one from a Panzer soldier in the Afrika Korps!

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.