Original Luftwaffe soldier's book

The Soldbuch, meaning Paybook in German, was a small, pocket-sized robust book carried by every serving German soldier or officer as a means of record and identification. The Soldbuch was presented on request. it not only acted as proof of identity but served a multifaceted role within the German armed forces during World War II. It was seen as essential item, issued to soldiers at the start of their military career, and was carried throughout the full duration of the soldier’s service. It would have been presented many times for identification, security checks, for updating details such as awards, payments, issued equipment, injections, eye tests and hospital stays; thus keeping a clear record of his career. The use of the Soldbuch was governed by strict rules and regulations covering such things as tampering or falsifying entries. In spite of the strict regulations, however, it is not uncommon to find Soldbücher with small mistakes, corrections and even non-regulation style photos.

They are stories that relate the reality of war, leaving nothing to the imagination. The Soldbuch, unlike most other German militaria, is rich in detail. Knowing everything about a particular soldier has become a passion for many collectors;  Soldbücher and Wehrpässe (service record books) have filled this gap. Through the prism of units, awards and other entries, finding a soldier’s individual story has become the hobby of many collectors, military historians and authors. The Soldbuch today is a treasured item in many collections, providing a firsthand account of a specific battle or unit, a unique item giving a real glimpse into the life of its former owner.

Soldbücher come in various editions for each branch of service and this can be quickly deciphered by looking at the cover. They can be broken down into the Waffen SS, Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine. Some soldiers even bought leather covers for their Soldbuch to protect it from damage, as it would be carried in harsh conditions including with them in the battlefield.