Luftwaffe Soldbuch + Kennkarte & Wound Tag – WIA with Radfahr-MG-Bataillon 81 in 1945

A very attractive and complete original WWII Luftwaffe Soldbuch grouping belonging to Heinrich Rieffert, consisting of his original Soldbuch, Kennkarte, attached wartime portrait photograph, original Begleitzettel für Verwundete (Wounded Transport Tag), and additional accompanying wartime documents.

The Soldbuch was issued on 15 January 1940 by Luftwaffe Baukompanie 21/XII and follows the soldier throughout much of his wartime service. His military career is well documented through numerous entries, official unit stamps, equipment records, leave records, payment entries, and promotions.

Rieffert served with several Luftwaffe formations, including Luftwaffe Baukompanie 21/XII, Fliegerhorstkompanie 23/IV, Fliegerhorst-Kompanie E (V) 271/III, MG-Ausbildungs-Kompanie der Division Nr. 408 and ending with 1. Kompanie/ Radfahr-MG-Bataillon 81 (Maschinengewehr). His promotions are recorded from Gefreiter to K.O.A. (Kriegsoffizieranwärter) and finally Unteroffizier.

A particularly desirable feature is the included original Begleitzettel für Verwundete, dated 16 January 1945 at 07:45 hours. The casualty tag records that Rieffert suffered a grenade splinter wound to the right upper arm (Granatsplitterverletzung rechter Oberarm). The tag further notes his evacuation from the Verbandplatz at Kluhagen (?), although the exact place name is difficult to decipher due to the handwriting.

The Soldbuch also records his hospitalization at Marine-Lazarett Stralsund from 13 February 1945 to 28 March 1945.

Another highly desirable entry concerns the award of the Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42” (Ostmedaille). The Soldbuch records the award on 18 December 1942, while a later red-ink entry notes that the award document and medal were physically presented on 5 October 1944 (“Urkunde u. Medaille am 5.10.44 ausgehändigt“). Such documented award entries significantly enhance the historical interest of the grouping.

The original wartime portrait photograph remains firmly attached inside the Soldbuch, and the grouping is accompanied by the soldier’s original Kennkarte, making this a particularly complete personal document set.

Highlights

• Original WWII Luftwaffe Soldbuch
• Original wartime Kennkarte included
• Original portrait photograph still attached
• Original Begleitzettel für Verwundete included
• Issued by Luftwaffe Baukompanie 21/XII
• Service with several Luftwaffe formations including Flieger-Ersatz-Bataillon IV and 1./Radfahr-MG-Bataillon 81
• Promotions through to Unteroffizier
• Documented grenade splinter wound to the right upper arm
• Wounded transport tag dated 16 January 1945 (07:45 hours)
• Hospitalization recorded at Marine-Lazarett Stralsund in March 1945
• Awarded the Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Ostmedaille)
• Soldbuch records both the award date (18 December 1942) and the later presentation of the medal and award document (5 October 1944)
• Numerous official wartime unit stamps, equipment records, leave entries and payment records
• Honest untouched wartime condition with normal service wear throughout

A highly desirable and research-worthy Luftwaffe document grouping that combines an extensively completed Soldbuch, original Kennkarte, wartime portrait photograph, documented battlefield wound, original casualty tag, and a recorded Ostmedaille award. Complete personal groupings with this level of documentation and accompanying original paperwork have become increasingly difficult to obtain and represent an excellent addition to any advanced collection of original German WWII documents.