Soldbuch to a Hetzer crew member

[Panzer Rob]

Hey guys-

Here's another one from the "Henner Collection" - A Soldbuch to a Panzerjäger who served in Panzerjäger-Abteilung 731 and who could quite possibly have been a Hetzer crew member. He was definitely a driver, based on the awards..........


But what do you make of the portrait photo??????

[Panzer Rob]

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[Panzer Rob]

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[Panzer Rob]

IMHO, everything looks original and period and the only "issue" is the overlapping stamps which - again IMHO - good (same color ink, same fuzzy worn stamp). My initial reaction was that the photo shifted when it was stamped but it's secured in there pretty tight - and notice that the overlap actually extends off the photo, onto the cover - so it couldn't have shifted.

The overlapping occurs on 'both' corners, and then the lower right corner of the lower right stamp is missing! I'm 99% sure that it's the same stamp (letters/text matches up) and his eye and hair color match up, and the signature is 100% his - no doubt about that, so......

What's going on here ???????????

[Panzer Rob]

some more pages of the book:

[Panzer Rob]

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[Ian Jewison]

IMHO, everything looks original and period and the only "issue" is the overlapping stamps which - again IMHO - good (same color ink, same fuzzy worn stamp). My initial reaction was that the photo shifted when it was stamped but it's secured in there pretty tight - and notice that the overlap actually extends off the photo, onto the cover - so it couldn't have shifted.

The overlapping occurs on 'both' corners, and then the lower right corner of the lower right stamp is missing! I'm 99% sure that it's the same stamp (letters/text matches up) and his eye and hair color match up, and the signature is 100% his - no doubt about that, so......

What's going on here ???????????

In my opinion if it was the same stamp I would expect to see the Feldpost number on the lower right and not just upper left! Clearly the FP Nr. stamp without number has been used through the book from what you show, so why have it on the photo!?!?!?
Also there are a few differences in the thickness of the outer ring of the stamp on the photo and on the inside cover.
Signature would match as that is written on the cover and not the photo......
If it is the same persion then it has been removed from another document such as driving license but without other evidence I would not be happy with this.

/Ian

[Gary T]

Looks like the clerk 'rocked' the stamp. Personally, based on the actual awards (drivers awards were not given to armoured vehicle crews) and lack of an assault badge I would say he was a soft skin vehicle driver. The fact he was part of the Stab would back this up but of course it's impossible to know.

[Gary T]

In my opinion if it was the same stamp I would expect to see the Feldpost number on the lower right and not just upper left! Clearly the FP Nr. stamp without number has been used through the book from what you show, so why have it on the photo!?!?!?

Actually, looking at it closer, yes I agree...the stamp on the bottom right is well out of alignment as evidence by the wing.

[Ian Jewison]

Whats that on the shoulder boards?

FP Nr 23899

(24.8.1943-5.4.1944) 24.2.1944 Stab u. Stabskompanie Panzerjäger-Abteilung 731 (Sf).

[Eric JB]

I was first thinking of a photo that was first only glued into the Soldbuch, got loose after some wear and was later stapled, but that doesn't work with the stamp on the right.

Stamp on the right : on the photo it shows Dienststelle and further on the cover a small part of an e and the rest shows lle, so that stamp alone shows two different stamp parts, so not stamped at once or at one time.

Staples are rusty and bleed in on the photo and on page 1, but with some chemicals any one can do that by himself.

Did the one who stamped the photo, stamped first the one on the left - realised that the number was on it - made it black and removed the ink from the stamp when he stamped the right one.

But still the stamps do not fit well on the photo and the cover.

Interesting that on page 22 all awards are stamped with a stamper were the Feldpostnummer is cut out - removed or just not inked at all.

This is a hard one.

Rob do you know if there is any other material to this man ?
Is it possible to show more pages with stamps.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[Daniele C]

I dont know,

I think the picture Might Have some chances,The clerk probably as we seen in other parts of the book tried to put stamps maybe puttin a piece of paper underneath the part of the stamp where the FP is to hide it and on the top left stamp he probably forgot.

Doing so, it s easy that while putting the stamps on the picture,because the picture wasnt as flat as the rest of the cover, he probably moved sliding it a bit
Look at the ink that continues the same line of the ink of the photo,

if the picture was from somewhere else there wouldnt be these type of continuation of the ink...IMO

[Ian Jewison]

There is at least an EK II in the pocket and 1 other......if it is him it would be a KVK...can't make out what it is.....
Also that would mean the photo was taken after 10.8.1944...........

Why would the FP Nr. be ommitted in all the stamps but left in one corner of the photo? It does not appear to match that of his unit !?!!?!!?

[Panzer Rob]

Looks like the clerk 'rocked' the stamp. Personally, based on the actual awards (drivers awards were not given to armoured vehicle crews) and lack of an assault badge I would say he was a soft skin vehicle driver. The fact he was part of the Stab would back this up but of course it's impossible to know.

Interesting statement. How do you then explain this photograph? That sure looks like a PAB he's wearing, not to mention the black cloth backed driver's badge on his sleeve...

Rob

[Panzer Rob]

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