Kriegsmarine Soldbuch- U-boat Crew Member?

[mboyd]

So, it is not U-Boat, which is fine....except for the picture(which we think may be added) what is your verdict on this.....fake or real?

[Ian Jewison]

It's real, not U-Boat but a gunner on an artillery barge in Europe.

Posted the unit info in post 13. Nice awards as well, however down side the photo have been replaced and may not be him. Also it has at least 10 pages missing.

/Ian

[mboyd]

Scan is on its way soon.

[mboyd]

Here is the scan of pg 33


I know you are the expert and I really appreciate your time, help etc. Just to educate me further, I paid $125 for this, too much...just right.....

[Ian Jewison]

With those things that are wrong with it, it narrows down who will be interested in it unfortunately.
Shame that the pages are missing and photo replaced as it would have been a nice book to a not very often encountered type of unit.

I can not see much more than £50-£60 in it....that's about $80-$95....but you did get a fake EK II so that probably is about right then.

/Ian

[mboyd]

Well, that is good news then. The fact it is real, value around what I paid, but also, when the day comes that I will "pass it on" to the next collector, I can relate the information honestly....unlike how it was presented to me.

Again Ian....thanks for your help, I will continue my search for a U-Boat Soldbuch. Really wish I could find a 10th Flotilla one as they were very active down here on the Texas Gulf coast....particularly boats U-171 and U-166.

Cheers my friend, Mike

[Ian Jewison]

You are welcome Mike,

For your interest, unfortunately not for sale, here are a couple of scans from the Soldbuch to Bootsmaat Gerhard Rädel. It was issued 4.12.1944.

Firstly his awards:

The EK II was awarded December 1939 and the High Seas Fleet War Badge December 1942. These were for actions aboard Panzerschiffe Admiral Graf Spee.

The Auxiliary Cruiser Badge was awarded August 1941 for service aboard HSK-1 Auxiliary Cruiser Orion, after his escape from Pow captivity in Argentina he served with HSK-1 for roughly a year.

The U-Boat Badge awarded October 1942 for service aboard U-171 which was sunk 9.10.1942 after a successful first voyage returning to Lorient.

Remaining awards including EK I, U-Boat Bar in Bronze and Silver, and German Cross in Gold for service aboard U-170.

Secondly the photo from the Soldbuch wearing most of his awards.

Regards,
Ian

[mboyd]

Wow Ian....thank you so much for sharing that. He most definitely was on U Boat 171 when it sank the Mexican freighter Oaxaca in 1942 right off the Texas coast near where I live no more than an hours drive(maybe less). It is in 60 ft of water, it's main cargo of 250lb bales of rubber still wash up on shore from time to time.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is protecting it as a historic site which is great.
A few weeks back ,I had the pleasure of giving a lecture on the U'Boat activity in our area at the Maritime Museum in Rockport,Texas....the museum is less than 30 minutes from the Oaxaca site. (I've attached an image of the Oaxaca)
Had a full house and the hour lecture with questions lasted over two hours. People here are fascinted with the idea that German U Boats were not something just in the waters off Europe, but right here in the Gulf. I focused on U-171, U-166 and the Oaxaca. If you are interested, I created a thread in the Living History section on my talk here on Wehrmacht Awards with several pictures of my display, etc....take a look if you like.
That is why I am interested in Soldbuchs from the Gulf, particularly those 2 U Boats, to use the info and items in my talks. My collection is a modest one, but that is the fun of it...the hunt....and, of course, learning about it as you go.
You made my day today and your sharing of the U-171 Soldbuch was the icing on the cake.....Thanks so much, Mike

[fasol]

any chance its mr gerhard dog tag ??

You are welcome Mike,

For your interest, unfortunately not for sale, here are a couple of scans from the Soldbuch to Bootsmaat Gerhard Rädel. It was issued 4.12.1944.

Firstly his awards:

The EK II was awarded December 1939 and the High Seas Fleet War Badge December 1942. These were for actions aboard Panzerschiffe Admiral Graf Spee.

The Auxiliary Cruiser Badge was awarded August 1941 for service aboard HSK-1 Auxiliary Cruiser Orion, after his escape from Pow captivity in Argentina he served with HSK-1 for roughly a year.

The U-Boat Badge awarded October 1942 for service aboard U-171 which was sunk 9.10.1942 after a successful first voyage returning to Lorient.

Remaining awards including EK I, U-Boat Bar in Bronze and Silver, and German Cross in Gold for service aboard U-170.

Secondly the photo from the Soldbuch wearing most of his awards.

Regards,
Ian

[Ian Jewison]

It matches......is it original?

[fasol]

YES guaranteed !

[fasol]

It matches......is it original?

do you have his soldbuch ?