ss soldbuch design

[phil1942]

Can someone please tell me it if was standard design for SS soldbuchs to have a portrait of Adolf Hitler as the first page ?
If this was the design, was it then phased out as the war progressed ?

Thank you kindly for any info.

[Jay Gillespie]

SS Document Books

There are several pretty good books published that cover the entire SS soldbuch and other documents. I suggest you do a google search, or even take a run at the book section on Manions auction site and pick up especially the ones authored by Emilie Caldwell Stewart on Wehrpasses and Soldbuchs. You'll also find a good by authored by her on Identity Documents of the SS as well as one done by Berger. Investing in a few simple books will not only increase your knowledge but probably save you substantial cash in the long run.

[DanCz]

As far as I am aware - only the Volksturm soldbuch came with a picture of Adolf Hitler as standard - - - this was usually torn out after capture or at the wars end which is why you will have to pay a premium for a complete Volksturm soldbuch. They are rare in any case.

[JUNGCO]

I have a Soldbuch from the 25 Waffen Gren. Div the SS with a portrait added between the front cover and front page. This is the late war brown cover type and is from that batch that came on the market a few years ago.


Jeff

[F L Clemens]

pick up especially the ones authored by Emilie Caldwell Stewart on Wehrpasses and Soldbuchs.

No sleight meant to Emilie, but you'll find a lot better info on this forum than in her books. Her books were very much introductory in nature - they filled a gap but the collectors here are far more detailed in their knowledge.

I'm not a hardcore SS collector but there certainly was a standard SS Soldbuch which included Hitler's portrait, but it wasn't necessarliy the ONLY design. Keeping in mind the Volkssturm Soldbuch, I would believe that the inclusion of Hitler's portrait is more of a later war feature than early war. The Nazis definitely weren't decreasing the political element as things got tough, they were boosting it!

Hopefully, some of the bigger collectors here can give a more definitive explanation.

[phil1942]

OK thanks guys, however I am still unsure of the status of the Adolf Hitler portrait page in the front of SS soldbuchs.
It would seem that one design of the standard SS soldbuch had it, and others did not. Perhaps this was the later war model SS soldbuch that had the HItler portrait page.

Thanks for any further info.

No sleight meant to Emilie, but you'll find a lot better info on this forum than in her books. Her books were very much introductory in nature - they filled a gap but the collectors here are far more detailed in their knowledge.

I'm not a hardcore SS collector but there certainly was a standard SS Soldbuch which included Hitler's portrait, but it wasn't necessarliy the ONLY design. Keeping in mind the Volkssturm Soldbuch, I would believe that the inclusion of Hitler's portrait is more of a later war feature than early war. The Nazis definitely weren't decreasing the political element as things got tough, they were boosting it!

Hopefully, some of the bigger collectors here can give a more definitive explanation.