Nice Soldbuch to a member of the DAK and Pz.Lehr Division

[Ian Jewison]

Heres a Soldbuch that I have had for around 10 years but with my work load and family life I have not got round to translating or researching it so lets do it now. (Incidentally this was 14:00 GMT when I started writing this....)

A well used Soldbuch with tell tale stains of use and combat life!

The inside cover bears the signature and photo of Karl Reim in Unteroffizier uniform wearing 1.10.1938 ribbon bar, EK II ribbon to the second button hole and the Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze on the left pocket. Clearly the photo has been used on another pass before being used in the Soldbuch!

Soldbuch issued whilst his rank was Schützen and shows promotions through to Feldwebel.

Alterations have been made to both Soldbuch number and Dog tag number.

In addition his blood type has been rewritten in red. I seem to remember this was an actual order to write the glood group in but I forget when this was.....no doubt Jeff will know.

Also written in pencil above his rank is 27387. This is the Feldpost nummer for 3 Schwadron, Aufklärungs Abteilung 3.

[Ian Jewison]

Herr Reim was born 1916 in Reschen which was in Kreis Römerstadt (Sudetenland). He was an Evangelist (protestant) and was trained as a fitter/metal worker.

The Soldbuch was issued 10.3.1939 by 3 Schwadron, Aufklärungs Abteilung 3 based in Stahnsdorf bei Berlin and is authorised by Leutnant Behr. (As an Oberleutnant Winrich Behr won the Ritterkreuz on 15.05.1941)

The date of issue however is highly unlikely as Soldbücher were only issued on mobilisation. This date could actually be when he joined the Wehrmacht and the probable date of issue was August 1939.

Page 3 bears 5 alterations to page 1:

1 - Alteration to the Soldbuch and Dog tag number on 30.8.1939 whilst serving with 3 Schw./Aufkl.Abt. 3. This is authorised by Leutnant Paulus.
2 - Rank (Gefreiter) on 5.1.1940 with the above unit.
3 - Rank (Obergefreiter) on 1.10.1940 with the above unit.
4 - Rank (Unteroffizier) on 25.9.1942 with Wehrkreis Unterführerlehrgang III.
5 - Rank (Feldwebel on 22.6.1944 with Panzer Aufklärungs Lehr Abteilung 130, however authorised by a representative of the Main Dressing Station of Sanitäts Kompanie 130, Panzer Lehr Division.

[Ian Jewison]

Page 4 shows the units he served with in section B and C with the responsible Replacement unit in section D. He may or may not have actually served with the unit in section D.

Section B:
a. 1 Genesenden Kompanie, Kradschützen Ersatz Bataillon 4 - Formed 1.10.1941 in Stahnsdorf by renaming Ersatz Abteilung für motorisiert Aufklärungs Einheiten 3.
b. 2 Kradschützen Ersatz Kompanie, Kradschützen Ersatz Bataillon 4.

Section C:
a. 3 Schwadron, Aufklärungs Abteilung 3 - Formed 1.10.1934 as Kraftfahr-Abteilung Wünsdorf; Renamed 15.10.1935 to Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 3 in Stahnsdorf Wehrkreis III; 1941 with the transfer to Afrika reorganised with: 1 (Panzer-Späh), 2 (Kradschützen), 3 (schwere) and 4 (Batterie) Companies; 1943 renamed Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 90.

Under:
3. Panzer-Division:
1939 Pomerania, Poland
1940 Netherlands, Belgium, Francei
5. leichte Division (motorisiert) since 15.1.1941, Afrika
21. Panzer-Division since 1.8.1941, Afrika

Replacements:
3 (motorisierte Aufklärung) Stahnsdorf

Officers with 3 Schw. at the outbreak of war: Hptm. Freiherr von Lüttwitz, Lt. Behr and Lt. Paulus.

b. Kradschützen Kompanie, Wehrkreis Unterführerlehrganig (mot.) III - Formed 10.7.1942 in Zossen with Regimentsstab, Infanterie Bataillon (motorisiert) with 4 and 5 schwere Kompanie, Kradschützen-Kompanie, FH Batterie. 12.3.1943 formed the reinforced Grenadier-Regiment (motorisiert) 890 for rebuilding the 6th Army (Stalingrad).

[Ian Jewison]

Page 6 and 7 show numerous kits issues from various units....30.10.1941 Reserve Lazarett 105, 1 Genesenden Kompanie, Kradschützen Ersatz Bataillon 4, Grenadier Bataillon (mot.) 890 etc.

[Ian Jewison]

Page 8 again showing kits issues and the notation at the bottom to see the attachment for tropical clothing, this unfortunately has been removed. Of course no need to keep it in as he had left Africa, no reason at the time to think of us collectors!

Page 9 vaccinations.

Clearly there is an insert missing from between page 8 and 9, could be the tropical clothing page or even issue of weapons and equipment which was intended for insertion here.

[Ian Jewison]

Hospitilisations.

27.6.1941 suffered with a kidney stone which resulted in him being transported to Naples from Tripolis by Hospital Ship. From there he returned home and remained in hospital until 11.8.1941. Only to suffer from chronic appendicitis in September and was hospitalised again until the end of October.
24.2.1942 suffered from tonsilitis of which they were removed an again remained in hospital until 28.4.1942 and returning to his Replacement unit Kradschützen Ersatz Bataillon 4 in Stahnsdorf.

27.6.1944 suffered from 31b - hand grenade wounds and was tended by 1 Kriegslazarett 1/607. From here transferred on 18.7.1944 by hospital train to Reservelazarett Merzig/Saar (recorded on page 14). From here to Reserve Lazarett Sprotau where he remained until 31.12.1944 when he was discharged provisionally fit for active duty but suffering from L 6 (Fractures or bone diseases are healed with movement restrictions, so that the exercise are more difficult and the ability to work is substantially reduced) and L 18 for 3 months (Chronic diseases of peripheral nerves that affect the use of limbs or the overall performance is not significant for a constant output).

[Ian Jewison]

Security checks etc. page 14-15. In date order:

Security check dated 18.1.1943 from Kradschützen Kompanie, Unterführerlehrganig (mot.) Wehrkreis III.
Security check dated 1.12.1943 from 3 Kompanie, Panzer Aufklärungs Lehr Abteilung
Transfer to Reservelazarett Merzig/Saar on 24.7.1944 and discharge on 1.9.1944
Security check dated 11.9.1944 from Reserve Lazarett Sprottau

6.7.1944 awarded Wound Badge in Black from Reservelazarett Merzig/Saar
20.4.1945 awarded Iron Cross 1st Class.....what unit as there is no stamp? Appears to be signed by Hptm.u.Btl.Kdr. Heim? Seeing as it is a Bataillon and not Abteilung it would no longer appear to be Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 130!

[Ian Jewison]

Page 17 continuation of units:

Section B.
a. Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie, Unterführer Lehrgang der Panzer Truppen
b. Marschkompanie, Panzeraufklärungs Ersatz und Ausbilundgs Abteilung 4
c. Panzeraufklärungs Ersatz und Ausbilundgs Abteilung 4 Stahnsdorf

Section C.
a. Panzer Aufklärungs Lehr Abteilung 130 - Formed 4.4.1944 by numbering the already existing since 29.10.1943 through Panzer-Truppenschule II Berlin-Krampnitz aufgestellten Panzer Aufklärungs Lehr Abteilung (without number); Destroyed in Normandy and reformed October 1944 in Sennelager with 5 Companies.

Under:
Panzer-Lehr-Division:
1944 France, March Hungary, May Paris then Normandy (Falaise)
1944 After reforming. Eifel, Saarpfalz, Ardennes;
1945 Ardennes, Lower Rhein, Ruhr

Replacements:
4 Stahnsdorf/Teltow, Wehrkreis III

[Ian Jewison]

Page 18-19, pay details.

10.3.1939 (same day as Soldbuch was issued!!) shows his pay group as M. M denoted Mannschaften. 22.8.1939 this was changed to Wehrsoldgruppe 16.
All groups correspond with his ranks on page 1.

[Ian Jewison]

Page 20-21, pay from a unit other than his own.

Numerous pay entries including confirmation of Wehrsold, front and tropical pay from FP Nr. 39851 - Kriegslazarett Tripolis. Also Africa pay of which he was in Africa from 14.2. - 11.7.1941, a total of 198 days.

[Ian Jewison]

Page 22-23, awards and leaves over 5 days.

Confirmation of awards shown in the photo

Sudetenland Commemorative Medal of 1.10.1938
2.8.1940 Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze
Iron Cross 2nd Class
5.1.1942 Armband "Afrikakorps". This being removed according to orders from 1943.

Numerous leaves, however none into 1945 to indicate what unit he was attached to when he was awarded his EK I!

Again bears the signature of Winrich Behr RKT this time as Oberleutnant u. Kp. Chef.

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Now that I have translated it I need to research it!!! Need to verify what actions Behr received his RK for and of course whether or not Reim was with him during this action.......unfortunately as the EK II has no date it is difficult to say when it was awarded, however it is entered after his Panzer Assault Badge which was awarded 2.8.1940, so might be Africa related!?!? But then again might not..........

Also, need to verify what Pz. Lehr Division was doing in Normandy on or around the 22nd of June seeing as that is when he was at the Main Dressing Station.

And of course what when and where did he get his EK I but I think that will be difficult!

Enjoy.............

/Ian

[JUNGCO]

Ian,
Ziffer 60 AHM. 1943 eliminates the "Afika Korp" armband but according to the same regulations, he should have then gotten the "Afrika" armband, as he needed 6 months in country and he had 198 days, just over.
Jeff

[Eric JB]

Ian,

Nice Soldbuch and nice explanation from you to go with it.

Such a Soldbuch presentation you did a long time ago.

Yes I know you are a busy man.

Thanks for showing.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[hucks216]

Very nice soldbuch and telling of the mans story. That soldbuch is just how they should be in my opinion; used,worn and oozing history.

[Justin P]

Thanks, for the informative read !