WWII Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Soldbuch & Personal Grouping – 3. Fallschirm-Division – Wounded in the Ardennes, December 1944

A very interesting and personal Second World War Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger document and photograph grouping belonging to Wilhelm Fricke, who served with units of the 3. Fallschirm-Division, including Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 and Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 3, and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

The centerpiece of the grouping is Fricke’s original Luftwaffe Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis, complete with his uniform portrait photograph. The Soldbuch was opened on 7 May 1941 and documents his military service through numerous original entries, stamps and unit changes.

Of particular interest is Fricke’s later service with the 3. Fallschirm-Division, a formation that saw heavy combat on the Western Front. During the Ardennes Offensive – the Battle of the Bulge – in December 1944, Fricke was wounded in action and subsequently awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound Badge in Black). His Soldbuch also records his hospitalization following the wounding.

The grouping is further enhanced by a selection of original wartime and prisoner-of-war photographs, including portrait photographs of Fricke in Luftwaffe uniform and several group photographs. Also included is his original Allied Certificate of Discharge / Entlassungsschein, documenting his release following captivity, together with an original Arbeitskarte.

The grouping includes the original Luftwaffe Soldbuch, Allied POW discharge document, Arbeitskarte, and several original wartime and POW-period photographs.

A highly desirable and researchable named Fallschirmjäger grouping with a direct connection to the 3. Fallschirm-Division and the Battle of the Bulge. The combination of documented Ardennes combat service, a wartime wound, Fallschirmjäger unit entries, photographs and POW documentation gives this grouping a strong and personal historical narrative.

Condition: The documents and photographs remain in good original condition with expected age, handling and period wear. Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.