Soldbuch Grenadier-Regiment 1144 & 1239 (Panzergrenadier-Division “Kurmark”!) (2x Awards)

A very interesting and well-documented Soldbuch belonging to Gefreiter Adolf Köppel, born on 16 January 1902 in Oberkotzau. The Soldbuch still retains its original uniform portrait photograph.

Köppel entered military service with Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 356 before serving with frontline infantry formations during the latter part of the war. His Soldbuch documents continuous service through several units as well as numerous transfers, reflecting the increasingly fluid situation on the Eastern Front during 1944 and 1945.

The document also records several hospital admissions, including stays at Reserve-Lazarett Königsberg, Feldlazarett 289, Kriegslazarett 913, and Reserve-Lazarett Liegnitz, showing that he was hospitalized on multiple occasions throughout his military service. The equipment pages remain intact and list his issued Karabiner 98k, bayonet, entrenching tool and other standard field equipment.

Unlike many wartime Soldbücher, this example remains remarkably complete, retaining all of its important service, equipment and award pages together with numerous clear unit stamps, official signatures and wartime entries. The original photograph remains firmly attached, making this a particularly attractive and well-preserved combat Soldbuch with excellent research potential.

Units

• Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1
• Füsilier-Bataillon 1
• Stab III./ Grenadier-Regiment 1144 of the 562. Volksgrenadier-Division
• 3. Kompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 1239 of the Panzergrenadier-Division “Kurmark”
  

Awards

• Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Black Wound Badge) – awarded 11 October 1944
• Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (War Merit Cross 2nd Class) – awarded on 1 September 1944

This is an excellent original combat Soldbuch that combines an original portrait photograph, documented frontline service, multiple hospitalizations, complete equipment entries, and intact award pages. A desirable and increasingly difficult-to-find wartime document for collectors of Wehrmacht documentation and Eastern Front history.