Luftwaffe Soldbuch Fliegerhorstkommandantur Detmold & Münster + Transport Units in France (Paris)

An original and well-filled WWII German Luftwaffe Soldbuch issued to Heinrich Michels, born 6 July 1909 in Vynen, Kreis Moers. The Soldbuch retains its original portrait photograph and documents Michels’ military career from 1940 through the later years of the war. Despite honest field wear to the covers and spine, it remains a complete and historically interesting example with numerous wartime entries, unit changes, official stamps, leave records and medical notes.

The Soldbuch was issued on 14 June 1940 while serving with the Rekruten-Kompanie Handorf, Ausbildungs-Lager Schifffahrt. He entered service as a Flieger and was promoted to Gefreiter on 1 January 1941, followed by promotion to Obergefreiter on 1 July 1942.

During his service, Michels passed through several Luftwaffe formations in Germany and then France, including:

• Rekruten-Kompanie Handorf – Ausbildungs-Lager Schifffahrt
• Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur Detmold
• Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur Münster
• Flughafen-Betriebsstoff-Kolonne (mot.) 8/XII
• Transportkolonne der Luftwaffe (80 t) 138/XII

The Soldbuch contains extensive equipment issue pages, pay entries, leave records and numerous official unit stamps documenting his wartime service. Interesting to note that on 29 July 1944, he was still in Paris, France (“Der General der Luftwaffe Paris, Amtskasse“).

A particularly interesting entry records his hospitalization in France. On 8 November 1940 he was admitted to a Luftwaffe-Ortslazarett in Falaise suffering from shoulder inflammation (Schultergelenkentzündung) and remained hospitalized until 26 November 1940. A second hospitalization is recorded at the Ortslazarett Angers (Chirurgische Abteilung) in February 1943, where he was treated for a Blutergüss re. Unterschenkel before returning to duty.

The document also includes vaccination records, clothing issue tables, leave permissions, pay administration entries and multiple wartime endorsements, providing an excellent overview of the administrative life of a Luftwaffe serviceman.

The original portrait photograph remains attached, although it shows period wear and damage, matching the overall well-used character of the Soldbuch. The cover exhibits heavy service wear and losses along the spine, reflecting genuine wartime use rather than later handling.

A solid and affordable original Luftwaffe Soldbuch with portrait photograph, multiple unit transfers, documented hospitalization during the French campaign period, and extensive wartime entries—an attractive piece for collectors of Luftwaffe documents and German military paperwork.

Condition: Good, honest wartime-used condition with complete interior, numerous original entries and stamps, original photograph present, and expected wear to the covers and spine consistent with prolonged field use.