Wehrpass, 3x Award Docs & Photos – Infanterie-Regiment 21 (17. Infanterie-Division)

Offered is an original grouping belonging to Gefreiter Georg Kleemann, born 21 September 1920 in Neuenberg, Kreis Hochstadt, including his original Wehrpass with mounted portrait photograph and handwritten signature, original award documents, Arbeitsbuch, several original period photographs, and additional service paperwork. The Wehrpass provides a detailed record of his service with 11. Kompanie/ Infanterie-Regiment 21, and his participation in the opening campaign on the Eastern Front in 1941.

His combat record is particularly interesting, documenting the 7. Feldzug gegen Russland from 22 June 1941, including the fighting in the Bialystok–Slonim area, the advance through the Bialowiezer Forest, the Battle of Smolensk, fighting west of Dorogobusch, the defensive battles at Jelnja and Smolensk, and the subsequent advance toward the Desna and Ugra. The detailed typed combat insert provides an excellent contemporary record of his movements and operations with the regiment. Infanterie-Regiment 21 was part of the 17. Infanterie-Division, which entered the Eastern Front with XIII. Armeekorps and 4. Armee in June 1941.

The Wehrpass also records a wound sustained on 12 August 1941, during the fighting in the East, for which he was subsequently awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. His award record further documents the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse and later the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, making this a very well-documented combat record from the 1941 campaign.

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

An original Zweitschrift (second issue) of the certificate for Gefreiter Georg Kleemann, 11./Infanterie-Regiment 21, dated im Felde, den 21. Oktober 1941. The document awards the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse) and bears the original divisional stamp. The certificate is signed by Generalmajor Gustav-Adolf von Zangen, Kommandeur der 17. Infanterie-Division. As this is explicitly a Zweitschrift, the later signature of von Zangen is historically consistent and should not be confused with the commander of the division at the original date of award.

Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber

The original Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber certificate was awarded to Gefreiter Georg Kleemann of 11./Infanterie-Regiment 21, dated 20 September 1941 in the field. The certificate carries the original regimental stamp and is signed by Oberstleutnant und Regimentskommandeur Theodor Preu (DKIG+RK!). The award fits directly into the documented sequence of Kleemann’s intensive frontline service during the 1941 Eastern Front campaign, shortly after the battles around Smolensk and Jelnja.

Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz

The original Besitzzeugnis für das Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz records that Gefreiter Georg Kleemann, serving with 11./Infanterie-Regiment 21, received the black grade of the Verwundetenabzeichen on the basis of a single wound sustained on 12 August 1941. The certificate was issued on 11 October 1941 and is signed by the Major und Kommandeur III./Infanterie-Regiment 21. This document is particularly interesting when paired with the Wehrpass, where the wound and subsequent award are also recorded.

Wehrpass

The original Wehrpass is the centrepiece of the grouping and retains Kleemann’s original portrait photograph and handwritten signature. It contains his personal details, service history, promotions, decorations and a highly interesting contemporary record of his 1941 combat experience. Particularly valuable is the inserted/typed combat chronology covering the 22 June 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, the Bialystok–Slonim battles, Bialowiezer Forest, Smolensk, Jelnja, and subsequent operations toward the Desna and Ugra. The combination of the Wehrpass with the matching original award certificates makes the grouping highly researchable and gives a clear chronological picture of Kleemann’s frontline service. He was discharged as being unfit.

Additional Material

The grouping is further enhanced by an original Arbeitsbuch and a selection of period photographs, including a larger group photograph showing Kleemann and fellow servicemen, together with additional wartime photographs. These personal items provide an unusually human element to the otherwise formal military documentation and make the grouping substantially more interesting than a standalone Wehrpass or award certificate.

A very attractive named Eastern Front grouping, combining an original photographic Wehrpass, three original award documents, Arbeitsbuch and period photographs, with the 1941 combat record of 11./Infanterie-Regiment 21 documented in considerable detail.