Soldbuch SS Norwegian Volunteer

[Stormfighter]

I have been collecting Soldbuecher for many years, but never came across an example like this. It was issued by the Norwegians to SS=Sturmmann John Johansen who served with SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Westland" of the 5th SS Division "Wiking." Like standard Wehrmacht Soldbuecher, it records leaves, units, next of kin, etc. I can't read Norwegian, but it looks like he received at least one award. He was apparently fatally wounded and died on 14 October 1944 in Kriegslazarett 2/581. At the reverse of the Soldbuch, Johansen recorded the name and address of one of his SS comrades of "Westland," Rolf Guldrandesen. Below this is a Feldpost number for the Medical Company of "Nordland."
I would like to hear what anyone has to say about this ID. Did all Norwegian volunteers carry them? Any info about these Norwegian Frontkaempfer book would be greatly appreciated.

Barry

[Stormfighter]

Photo 2

[Stormfighter]

Photo 3

[Stormfighter]

Photo 4

[Stormfighter]

Photo 5

[Stormfighter]

Photo 6

[Stormfighter]

Photo 7

[Carl Ellingstad]

There exist three version of this "Soldbuch" they are all unoffical as they where intended to be used when the plan was to organize Den Norske Legion with Norwegian officers and uniforms. The Germans never allowed this and the Soldbuch`s and some insignias was rejected (including this books)
Im not sure which number of the three books this one are, but Im surprised to see that the German`s did fill out in this book, all the Norwegian volunteers would have been given a standard German SS Soldbuch which was the only offical soldbuch to be used by the volunteers.

[Jokka]

Cover Frontkjemper Boka = Frontfighter book.

Page 1
Yrke= Occupation
Tjenestetid fra: Servicetime from
Fronttjeneste fra : Frontservice from

Page 2
Fars navn = fathers name
Mors= mothers
Foreldres adresse= parents address
Søsken = siblings
Navn og fødselsdato = name and birthdate

Page 3
Permisjoner = duty leave
Grunn = reason

Page 7
Utmerkelser = awards

He became SS-Stum (sturm?), got iron cross EKII, and got frontfghter badge durings his duty leave


Send me a PM if you wanna sell it

[DeMil]

Hi Stormfigther.

I collect norwegian SS Soldbuchs and have never seen this book before.
The badge on the frontside "Frontkjemper" was first distributed in October 1943, so this book have to been printed and used after this date.
Personal I think this book was given to some ex. frontfighers for use in Norway, but this soldier used the book in German service in 1944.

Regards
Derek

[Ludwig]

-

Nice and interesting!
I guess you are drowning in e-mails from Norwegian collectors...

[norge]

Nice and interesting!
I guess you are drowning in e-mails from Norwegian collectors...

Very interesting item Barry! Thanks for posting it! If you wanna sell or trade please email me..He He. Best, norge

[Björn Jervas]

Hello!

An amazing booklet!
Here is his entry in the German Wargrave Association:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="94%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Nachname:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">Johansen </TD></TR><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Vorname:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">Jahn </TD></TR><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Dienstgrad:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">Rottenführer </TD></TR><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Geburtsdatum:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">10.06.1923 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Geburtsort:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">Sarpsborg </TD></TR><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstendatum:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">14.10.1944 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=headtabelle width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstenort:</TD><TD class=bodytabelle width="64%">Krgslaz.2/581 Thorn </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD width="100%">

Jahn Johansen ist vermutlich als unbekannter Soldat auf die Kriegsgräberstätte in Mlawka (Polen) überführt worden.

Leider konnten bei den Umbettungen aus seinem ursprünglichen Grablageort zum Friedhof Mlawka (Polen) nicht alle deutschen Gefallenen geborgen werden. Es besteht jedoch die Möglichkeit, daß Ihr Angehöriger einer der deutschen Soldaten ist, deren Gebeine geborgen wurden, die aber trotz aller Bemühungen nicht identifiziert werden konnten.
Sein Name wird im Gedenkbuch des Friedhofs verzeichnet.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[HPT]

Very interesting to see another "Frontkjemperboka" - I naively thought I had the only one!

Mine is the same as the one illustrated and sadly has no photo. But it makes up for that by having been issued to a Swede, Johan Herje Westrin, born in Stockholm on 17 September 1916. After serving in the Swedish forces between December 1939 and April 1942, he joined the Waffen-SS in May 1943, specifically 3. Kompanie Regiment "Norge" and then 3. I./SS-Pz.AA 11. Can anyone tell me more about him and his career/fate?

Mine has a red horizontal ink stamp at bottom right on page 1 (rather than the circular stamp on that illustrated), but does also have the ink signature of E. M. Knudsen of the Frontkjemperkontoret in Oslo. So my Swede was obviously living in Oslo at the time the Boka was issued to him.

Very interesting to read that this was one of three variations: can anyone describe the other two types?

I found my Boka when enjoying a wonderful year in Oslo in 1966: sorry, but it is not for sale.

hpt

[Björn Jervas]

Hello Hugh! Good to see you here!

About Westrin:

SS-Oberscharführer Johan Westrin was born in Stockholm 17 Sep 1916. He was a nazi supporter and served as a NCO in the Swedish army.
When the Soviet Union attacked Finland, he volunteered and later served in Finland again Aug 1941 to Mar 1942 when he deserted. He was caught and imprionsed.
He later returned to the Swedish army before deserting again 13 Apr 1943, this time to join the Waffen-SS.
He was stationed with SS Panzer Division Wiking and later SS Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier Division Nordland as SS-Unterscharführer. He went to SS-Junkerschule and was stationed with SS-Panzer-Brigade Gross as SS-Oberscharführer.
He was killed with five others when their car hit a mine near Saukenai, Lithuania.
He was originally listed as missing and was not declared dead until 1987, when a court in Sveg managed to contact a german former SS-Unterscharführer who could verify that Westrin had indeed been killed.
(http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2818)