WWII Luftwaffe Soldbuch – Wachtmeister – Lehrbatterie Rerik, Feld-FAS, Late-War Flak Units! (7x Awards)

Original WWII German Luftwaffe Soldbuch, issued to Wachtmeister Wilhelm (?), born 3 November 1915.

The Soldbuch was originally issued in 1939 and remains complete with its original portrait photograph. The holder served throughout the war in the Luftwaffe Flak arm, with the document containing numerous period entries, unit stamps, training records, medical/lazaret entries, leave entries and other service annotations.

Of particular interest is his service with:

• Lehrbatterie Rerik
• Feld-Flak-Artillerie-Schule (Ost)
• zbV Flak-Batterie 14050
• gemischte Flak-Abteilung 1117 (v)

The Soldbuch contains a particularly interesting collection of Flak artillery qualifications and awards, including:

• Sudetenland Medal with Spange
• Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern
• Tätigkeitsabzeichen für Flakartillerie
• Schießabzeichen für Flakartillerie
• Kampfabzeichen der Flakartillerie
• Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
• Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz

His training record is particularly impressive. It records instruction on a wide variety of infantry and Flak weapons, including:

• Karabiner 98k
• Pistole 08
• Handgranate 24
• MP 40
• 3,7 cm Flak 18 u. 36
• 2 cm Oerlikon
• 4 cm Bofors

Later training specifically records him as a 3,7 cm Flak 43 gun commander, and he attended a conversion course on the 3,7 cm Flak 43 at Flak-Regiment 19 in September 1944.

The Soldbuch also contains an entry for the Feld-Flak-Artillerie-Schule (Ost) 40. This was an operationally relevant Luftwaffe Flak school associated with training and employment on the Eastern Front. The presence of this entry provides additional research interest when reconstructing the holder’s wartime service.

There are numerous additional entries throughout the book, including several changes of unit, field-service and training entries, leave authorisations and multiple hospital/lazaret records. The quantity of original handwriting, official stamps and period annotations gives this Soldbuch excellent research potential and provides a detailed insight into the holder’s service and progression within the Luftwaffe Flak arm.

The original portrait photograph is still present, showing the holder in Luftwaffe uniform with his original insignia.

Condition

Heavily service-used condition, exactly as expected from a Soldbuch carried throughout the war. The booklet has extensive staining, fading, water damage, edge wear, creasing and general handling wear. Some pages are difficult to read, but a considerable amount of information remains legible.

An especially interesting Luftwaffe Flak Soldbuch, with extensive weapons training, Flak qualifications, combat-related awards and a well-documented progression through several Luftwaffe Flak formations.