DAK Soldbuch – Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361 (90. leichte Afrika-Division) – Earned EK2, Afrika Cuff title & German-Italian Medal in Africa!

An exceptional and highly desirable original Wehrmacht Soldbuch with matching Evangelisches Feldgesangbuch, belonging to Obergefreiter Günter Botzen, who served with the 6. Kompanie, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361 of the famous 90. leichte Afrika-Division.

Botzen was born on 14 December 1917 in Miesenheim and entered military service in 1939. His Soldbuch documents his progression from Grenadier to Obergefreiter and later Unteroffizier, while serving with one of the Wehrmacht’s best-known formations in the North African campaign.

One of the highlights of this grouping is the exceptionally well-preserved and extensively completed Soldbuch, containing numerous wartime entries, official unit stamps, equipment lists, promotions, awards, pay records and leave entries.

Documented Awards

The Soldbuch records the following decorations:

• Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938 (Anschluss Medal)
• Deutsch-Italienische Erinnerungsmedaille – awarded 24 April 1943
• Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class) – awarded 4 May 1943
• Kampfabzeichen “Afrika” (Afrika Cuff Title) – awarded 10 May 1943

The award entries alone make this a highly attractive combat Soldbuch.

North Africa Service

Several entries document his service in the North African theatre.

The Soldbuch records:

• 22 April 1942 – “Afrika Boden betreten” (Entered African soil)
• 4 April 1943 – “Afrika Boden wieder betreten” (Returned to African soil)

He served with:

6. Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361
90. leichte Afrika-Division

The 90. leichte Division fought throughout the North African Campaign under Panzerarmee Afrika, taking part in the battles around Gazala, El Alamein and the final Tunisian campaign before the Axis surrender in May 1943.

Equipment

The equipment pages remain remarkably complete and include the issue of numerous items, among them a Maschinenpistole (Machine Pistol) alongside other personal equipment and weapons.

Particularly Rare Feature

Perhaps the most desirable aspect of this grouping is that the Soldbuch has survived completely intact.

Many Soldbücher belonging to soldiers captured in Tunisia in May 1943 have had their unit pages, award pages or campaign entries deliberately removed, either by Allied authorities during captivity or by the soldiers themselves. Complete Afrika Soldbücher retaining these pages are encountered far less frequently on today’s market.

This example still preserves:

• Unit assignments
• Award entries
• Africa campaign entries
• Equipment pages
• Pay pages
• Administrative pages

making it a particularly scarce survivor.

The lot is accompanied by the soldier’s original Evangelisches Feldgesangbuch, carried during his military service.

Condition

Original wartime condition showing honest service wear. The Soldbuch exhibits heavy field use with worn covers and age-related handling but remains complete and fully legible throughout. The accompanying Feldgesangbuch is likewise in good used condition.