Soldbuch Mystery

[Edward]

A couple of years back I bought this small group from friend and fellow forum member Tim de Crane. Along with the group he sent a link from which I still have not been able to solve. The mystery of which will be explained towards the end.

On first appearances the Soldbuch looks nothing out of the ordinary, but what sometimes turns up can be quite interesting.

From his Weimar Militärpaß he served in France during WWI with I.R. 444 and was awarded the EKII. After WWI Schmidt stayed on with various Ersatz Kompanies of Garde Granadier Regiment 4. In 1919 -1920 he joined the well known Freikorps Lützow, and afterward the lesser known Freikorps Lichtschlag. From 1920 thru 1929 he remained in uniform and served with various Weimar Infantry Regiments. For his service he received promotions up to the rank of Unterfeldwebel.

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Called up in 1940 Schmidt was assigned to various Bau Battalions.

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[Edward]

From 1940-42 Schmidt served with Bau Btl. 91. As part of the 9<SUP>th</SUP> Armee he took part in Operation Barbarossa and was awarded the Ost Medal.

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Due to illness he was re-assigned to 1./Arb.Btl.(L)5. This was a forced labor unit made up of Dutch citizens sent to work in Germany and assigned to the Köln area from 1943-44 clearing bomb damage.

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[Edward]

From the link provided is an actual group photo of some of the men who made up 1./Arb.Btl.(L)5. It is highly probable that Schmidt was in charge of these very men and would have known them.

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http://appl.gemeentearchief.rotterda...sarbeiter3.htm

Interestingly in 1943 Schmidt was punished and an entry was made on page 14 which was unfortunately largely crossed out at some point. This is the first Soldbuch I have had where such an entry was made in a Soldbuch.

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In the Fall of 1944 the men of 1./Arb.Btl.(L) 5 were sent to Buchenwald, Camp Dora 11 and put to work on production of the V-2 until liberated by the US ground forces. In May, 1945 they were put into a DP Camp and by June-August 1945 were back in Holland.

In March, 1945 Schmidt went to Bau-Pi.Ers.u.Ausb. Batl. 11 stationed in Halberstadt until wars end. From the Soldbuch it is known that he continued to serve with 1./Arb.Btl. (L) 5 until at least Sept., 1944. It is not known if Schmidt would have remained with 1./Arb.Btl. (L) 5 during it’s transfer to Camp Dora 11. What occurred between Oct, 1944 - Feb, 1945 is the mystery. Would he have gone to Camp Dora 11?

[naxos]

Edward, a very intersting Soldbuch!


It reads:

gestrichen
"Strafe in Stubenarest umgewandelt"

the punishment entry was officially erased and turned into CB (confined to barracks)

[Edward]

Thanks Naxos. It is the only officers Soldbuch I have come across with a punishement entry in it. Would have been interesting to know what it was for!

[naxos]

Thanks Naxos. It is the only officers Soldbuch I have come across with a punishement entry in it. Would have been interesting to know what it was for!

Edward, can you post a very large scan of this and the back (on page 13) - perhaps we can decipher what was written.

[mufasa]

congratulations, a special Soldbuch!

[Edward]

Here you go. Looks like the administrative office did a good job in crossing out the entry!

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[Edward]

congratulations, a special Soldbuch!

Thanks mufasa. His service between Oct, 1944 - Feb, 1945 is an interesting mystery. I do not know what type of presence the Heer would have had at Camp Dora II, if any. This brings up the possibility that perhaps when 1./Arb.Btl.(L) 5 was transferred to Camp Dora II the Heer component which included Schmidt may have gone with them. It is all just a guess though. If not, then where else could he have been between those dates?

[Edward]

back of page 14

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[Oberbootsmann]

Nice Officer Soldbuch, Jerry!

The entry below the crossed out text reads "Strafe ist in Stubenarrest umgewandelt" what means that they changed his originally penalty to "confinement to barracks".

Regards

[Edward]

Nice Officer Soldbuch, Jerry!

The entry below the crossed out text reads "Strafe ist in Stubenarrest umgewandelt" what means that they changed his originally penalty to "confinement to barracks".

Regards

Thanks for the kind comment and information Oberbootsmann.