Personal Documents

[jon m.]

I am considering purchasing documents from a woman in Germany that belonged to her late husband. These range from all of his NVA papers, Gesundheitsbuch, Wehrdienstausweis etc., to those of his from civilian employment (Urkunde etc.) and his Personalausweis, FDGB, FDJ and other various Mitgliedsbuch's. I almost forgot, also included is his complete work file/folder "Personalbogen."

Do any of you have any idea of what this is worth?
I only ask because I want some sort of inkling as to what I will be shelling out.

I haven't asked her because this will only be a secondary transaction, since I am primarily buying all of her, and her extended families, old DDR documentation, wares and books.

Thanks in advance, Jon.

[GREENEDUDLEY]

The value would depend on the number of documents, how old, what awards, signatures on the documents. Do they come with the medals and what condition? It sounds like a very interesting group of items. I have paid up to $300.00 for DDR award documents but they came with the medals and they were from the late 1940's and 1950's. A rule I kinda go by is the earlier the items the more they are worth because they are harder to find. Many of the early medals were serial numbered and the number was put on the document also. This makes for a very nice group. It all comes down in the end is how bad do you want the items.

[torstenbel]

the obvious answer is: there are two options, its either worth as much as you are willing to pay for it or its worth as much as she is willing to sell it for...I will not give you any advice on how much this might be worth, because I do not know and I do not have the set in hand and have no idea what is in it...its all relative...you want to pay as little as possible and she wants you to pay as much as possible. Set yourself your own limit...a number that you are happy with and start to barter and haggle...most important piece of advice is to get her to name the first number and then take it from there... Cheers, Torsten.

[jon m.]

Dates

He served in the NVA towards the end of the 1980's. I already knew that the things would not be worth as much as say something from 1964, however the medals are all present (both military and civilian). He was killed in an automobile accident in 1994 at around 28 years of age (born in 1966).

The only reason I asked about the price is because I would actually have to pay for them. The other items that I am purchasing from her I ONLY have to pay the cost of shipping to the USA.
In her words: "I am just glad that they are going to someone who is so interested in our history and who would appreciate them." I forgot to mention that these "freebies" include her older brothers army stuff, which he said to just throw away, hence they are now mine. (They are from 1989 as he was still in the army when the wall came down.)

Hope this helps some.
Jon.

[GREENEDUDLEY]

Sounds like a very interesting but tragic set of documents. I do not want to sound crazy or out of touch but I would also ask if she had a memorial card from his funeral. This would make a nice closing statement for the group of documents but it would also make it more personal like a memorial type thing. I have a nice document group from a German WWII soldier. The soldier's family sold all of the items from his father's military history: documents, medals, photo albums, and uniform pieces after he died. I was lucky enough to buy the documents and soldbuch from a guy selling them at a flea market. These were the only things left. For over six years I had these documents which give a good detail of the soldier's life before, during and after the war. In the group was a paper which stated the address where the soldier had last lived. So a few months ago my wife and I went to this town here in Germany and found the house. It was falling down no had lived in it for many years. We then went to the cemetary to see if we could find the man's grave. It took awhile because the cemetary was pretty big but by luck we found it. I got some photos of his grave where he is buried with his wife. This made a nice ending to this soldier's history that when ever or if ever I sell this group it makes it more than just a bunch of papers but it attaches a life to it. Out of my entire military collection that group is the most special to me. When ever I move I hand carry that group of documents and history with me. Maybe it is something I feel because I am a soldier also. But I think that is what draws me to collecting military items. It is the history and story that the things can tell.

It sounds like a good set of documents. I would go for it unless the price is very high.

[GREENEDUDLEY]

Posting some photos for Jon M. of the documents of former East German soldier.

[GREENEDUDLEY]

Another shot

[GREENEDUDLEY]

More

[GREENEDUDLEY]

Some books

[GREENEDUDLEY]

2 more boooks

[jon m.]

Thanks for posting those images Dudley.
Jon.

[jon m.]

I am giddy with excitement. We have worked out a deal where I pay her for the other DDR items and she will , are you listening, , throw in her late husbands things for ..........FREE

Jon.

[Ralph P]

Jon Very nice indeed. Sorry I missed viewing the posts back in October.

[jon m.]

The items should arrive within the next week or so.

Obviously I will post a lot of pictures, since I now know how to .

Jon.