Organisation Todt Dienstbuch + Arbeitsbuch (Düren) – Westwall Medal

Original WWII Organisation Todt (OT) Dienstbuch together with the accompanying Arbeitsbuch of Peter Habrich, born in Elsdorf, documenting his employment with the Organisation Todt and his wartime construction service in Belgium and France.

Peter Habrich

• Name: Peter Habrich
• Born: Elsdorf
• Organisation: Organisation Todt
• Service: Frontarbeiter
• Oberbauleitung: Düren
• Areas of service: Belgium and France

Habrich was active with the Oberbauleitung Düren, with the Dienstbuch documenting his employment and wartime activities in the Organisation Todt system.

Of particular interest is the entry concerning his activity under enemy action, recording his deployment in Belgium and France during the fighting.

Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen

One of the most notable entries in the Dienstbuch is the award of the:

Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen – awarded January 1940

This decoration was awarded to personnel who had participated in the construction of the Westwall, making the award an important indication of Habrich’s involvement in the German defensive construction programme.

Employment history

The accompanying Arbeitsbuch provides an excellent additional record of Habrich’s employment and construction work.

The book contains numerous original entries, stamps and signatures from different construction companies and worksites, including:

• Carl Brandt Bauunternehmung – Düren
• E. Korte Bauunternehmung – Bochum, Baustelle Udenbreth
• Wilhelm Keufer Bauunternehmung – Duisburg
• Jacob Eikeln Eisenbetonbau – Dülmen
• Adam Hochkirchen – Pflaster-, Tief- und Straßenbau, Frechen b. Köln
• P. Kouzen – Spezial-Abt. Flammschutzimprägnierung, Köln

The entries continue into 1945, giving a very useful picture of his employment during the war.

Condition

Both books show age-related wear, staining, creasing and handling, consistent with genuine wartime documents. The original covers, printed pages, handwritten entries, stamps and signatures remain. The photograph has been removed from the designated photograph area of the Dienstbuch.

A very interesting original OT document grouping belonging to Peter Habrich, particularly notable for his documented connection to the Oberbauleitung Düren, Westwall construction service and subsequent wartime activity in Belgium and France.