Soldbuch & Document Grouping – Artillerie-Regiment 34 (Italy) – Nahkampftage Combat Document & Original Photos

Interesting original WWII German document and photograph grouping belonging to Hermann Haferkamm, centered around his original Soldbuch and accompanied by additional wartime documentation, combat-related paperwork, photographs and period military phrasebooks.

The grouping includes the original Soldbuch of Hermann Haferkamm, born 24 April 1913. The Soldbuch is extensively filled in and contains numerous original entries, stamps and signatures.

His early military service is documented with 1./A.R.34, with further unit and personnel entries visible throughout the booklet. The Soldbuch contains a number of period entries concerning his service, equipment, leave and medical/lazarett history.

A particularly interesting piece within the grouping is the original typed document recording Nahkampftage (close-combat days) for Stwm. Hermann Haferkamm. The document records:

• 17.12.1943 – Gegenstoß bei Markarowskije
• 26.01.1944 – Kampf um Pawlowka und den Bahndamm südlich davon
• 05.03.1944 – Kampf um Rubanny-Most, Bagwa und Umgebung

The document is officially stamped and signed, making it a particularly interesting piece of supporting combat documentation.

The Soldbuch’s awards section also contains several original entries and associated stamps/signatures, providing additional information on his military service and decorations.

The grouping is further accompanied by a substantial selection of original wartime photographs. These include individual soldier portraits, groups of German personnel and field scenes, including photographs showing soldiers around field positions and dugouts. The photographs are original period prints, several retaining their attractive scalloped edges.

Also included are two original wartime phrasebooks:

• Deutsch-Polnischer Taschen-Sprachführer, by F. Sulzberger
• Russisch für Soldaten, published by Horsch & Bechstedt, Köln

These publications are excellent period additions and fit naturally with the wartime documentation in the grouping.

Grouping includes

• Original Soldbuch – Hermann Haferkamm
• Born 24.04.1913
• Service documentation including 1./A.R.34
• Original Nahkampftage combat document
• Original awards entries and military stamps/signatures
• Original wartime photograph group
• Several original field/portrait photographs
• Deutsch-Polnischer Taschen-Sprachführer
• Russisch für Soldaten
• Additional original wartime paperwork

A very nice, coherent paper and photographic grouping with considerably more interest than a Soldbuch alone, especially because of the separately preserved Nahkampftage document and the accompanying original photographs.