The Show of Shows this year, in my opinion, was much better than last year for ID collectors. I bought about a ten “good” IDs and several friends showed me their purchases. I’m only keeping three IDs that fit into my Normandy/D-Day collection and will soon be offering the others on the WAF. The great thing about the Show of Shows is that you can walk the aisles all day long, and you’ll keep seeing new things, German IDs included – some you get, some you don’t. I like when my friends bring their buys to my table for show and tell. Sometimes they even offer them to me.
This Wehrpaß is my favorite acquisition of the show, thanks to a friend from Belgium, who I have been in contact with for several years and only met for the first time at this show (I’ll let him identify himself if he wishes). On Thursday, 18 February, this Belgian collector/dealer and I were discussing D-Day IDs and I asked him to keep me in mind if he ever picked up any because I would pay a premium for any “good” D-Day IDs. Well, he came to my table later in the day and showed me this Wehrpaß. I respected my friend for telling me he found the Wehrpaß among a stack of mostly insignificant IDs that an “older” dealer had and that he had paid very little for it. We chuckled about this great find and I told him it didn’t matter to me what he paid and that I was happy for him. We made a deal – I gave him cash and a very nice early Luftwaffe photo album – and we were both happy. Now allow me to present the Wehrpaß of Gefreiter Walter Hüther.
Walter Hüther was born on 16 January 1925 in Großniedesheim, Westmark, Germany, the son of Johann Hüther and Anna Hüther (née Nack). Hüther’s father was a Schweißer (Welder). After completing Volksschule (Primary School), Walter Hüther was trained as a Maschinenschlosser (Maschinist). Walter Hüther was 1.70 centimeters tall (5’6”), had blue-grey eyes, a thin build, and dark blond hair. His blood group was “A,” he was a Protestant, and he was not married. Hüther held a Klasse IV (Class IV) civilian driver’s license. He named his father, Johann Hüther, as his next of kin, who resided at Pilgerstraße 15 in Frankenthal, Pfalz, a home that still stands today. It’s possible that Walter and his father worked at the same machine shop or garage.
Walter Hüther was a draftee and was called up for military service by Wehrbezirkskommando Ludwigshafen am Rhein (Ludwigshafen on the Rhine Recruiting Headquarters) on 25 August 1942. Classified as fit for military service and placed among Ersatzreserve I (Replacement Reserve I, the highest draftee level), Hüther’s Wehrpaß was issued that same day by Wehrbezirkskommando Ludwigshafen am Rhein. That same day, Hüther was supposed to be called up for Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Labor Service); however, this service was cancelled for the time being. On 2 February 1943, Hüther was again called up for Reichsarbeitsdienst and served with RAD unit 8/311 as an Arbeitsmann (literally workman, the lowest RAD rank, equivalent to a military private) in Neckargerach in Baden-Württemberg from 28 February – 9 April 1943. The reason for his early release from the RAD was being called up for military service.
In May 1943, Walter Hüther was ordered to Darmstadt to report to the Stamm-Schwadron (Cadre Squadron) of Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 6 (Reconnaissance Replacement Battalion 6). On 19 May, 1943, he was entered into the unit roster, medically examined, classified as fit for combat service on 21 May 1943, and sworn in on 25 May 1943. Because Hüther served just ten days with Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 6, he doubtlessly did not receive his basic training with this unit.
After Hüther’s brief assignment to Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 6, he was transferred to the 2./Schnelle Abteilung 512 (2nd Company of Mobile Battalion 512) of Schnelle-Brigade 20 (Mobile Brigade 20). Hüther served with this unit from 30 May – 25 September 1943. With this unit, he most likely received basic training; according to pages 20 and 21, Hüther qualified on the K-98 rifle, light machine gun 34, and the P 08 pistol (Luger); most significantly, Hüther received special training as a Scharfschütze (Sniper). An entry on page 28 reveals that Hüther was given a briefing regarding secrecy matters, espionage, and sabotage on 17 July 1943. After his four-month assignment to the 2./Schnelle Abteilung 512, Hüther was assigned to the following units:
26 – 30 September 1943: 4./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 389 (4th Company of Reconnaissance Battalion 389)
1 October – 20 November 1943: 4./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 352 (Aufklärungs-Abteilung) 352 (4th Company of Reconnaissance Battalion 352)
21 – 27 November 1943: 3./Pionier-Bataillon 352 (3rd Company of Pioneer Battalion 352)
28 November 1943 – 12 June 1944: Stabskompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 916 (Headquarters Company, Grenadier Regiment 916)
Page 30:
30 May – 25 September 1943: Deployed in the Occupied Western Territory.
26 September 1943 – 5 June 1944: Coastal Security on the French Canal and Atlantic Coast.
6 – 12 June 1944: Deployed at the Invasion Front.
Page 34:
Hüther’s Wehrpaß was closed out by Oberveterinär (Graf?) of Grenadier-Regiment 916. The entry reveals that Hüther was killed in action on 12 June 1944. The fact that Oberveterinär Graf closed out Hüther’s Wehrpaß shows that no officers or NCOs of Grenadier-Regiment 916 were available to update or close out Wehrpässe, suggesting that all had been killed, wounded, or were still heavily engaged in combat.
Page 22:
On 30 January 1944, Hüther was promoted to Gefreiter (Corporal). This entry was made by a Major and Chief of Wehrmeldeamt Frankenthal on 25 August 1944. The entry reveals that the promotion was recorded in Hüther’s Wehrstammbuch (Military Service Record Book) on page 42 and copied into the Wehrpaß (Hüther’s Wehrstammbuch was apparently stored in Grünstadt, located east of Frankenthal). This entry is the only clear evidence to show that Hüther’s Wehrpaß was sent to his recruiting office after his death on 12 June 1944. Shortly after this entry was made, the Wehrpaß was forwarded to Hüther’s parents.
From 6 – 12 June 1944, Gefreiter Hüther was most likely employed as a sniper at the Normandy Invasion Front. On 6 June 1944, D-Day, his last unit, the Stabskompanie of Grenadier-Regiment 916, was ordered to St. Laurent sur Mer, located directly on Omaha Beach. There, his unit engaged the U.S. 29th Infantry Division. I have little doubt that Hüther was picking off U.S. unit commanders (officers and NCOs) during the first days of the Normandy Campaign. Where Hüther finally fell on 12 June 1944 is unknown. He may have been in a church tower or building and knocked out by an artillery strike or he may have been picked off by an American infantryman, perhaps even a sniper. Snipers on both sides were not treated kindly and sometimes were mutilated by their opponent. After Hüther was killed, his body may have been robbed of his belongings, including his Soldbuch and dog tag, which could have been used to identify his body. What is known is that Gefreiter Walter Hüther has no grave in Normandy according to the German War Graves Commission. He was killed on 12 June 1944 and most likely, he was buried as an unknown soldier. His parents were certainly sick to learn that their son fell at Normandy at such a young age – he was just nineteen. Hüther served a little more than a year in the military and was in combat for just six days. The things he saw in those six days must have been horrific.
Barry
This Wehrpaß is my favorite acquisition of the show, thanks to a friend from Belgium, who I have been in contact with for several years and only met for the first time at this show (I’ll let him identify himself if he wishes). On Thursday, 18 February, this Belgian collector/dealer and I were discussing D-Day IDs and I asked him to keep me in mind if he ever picked up any because I would pay a premium for any “good” D-Day IDs. Well, he came to my table later in the day and showed me this Wehrpaß. I respected my friend for telling me he found the Wehrpaß among a stack of mostly insignificant IDs that an “older” dealer had and that he had paid very little for it. We chuckled about this great find and I told him it didn’t matter to me what he paid and that I was happy for him. We made a deal – I gave him cash and a very nice early Luftwaffe photo album – and we were both happy. Now allow me to present the Wehrpaß of Gefreiter Walter Hüther.
Walter Hüther was born on 16 January 1925 in Großniedesheim, Westmark, Germany, the son of Johann Hüther and Anna Hüther (née Nack). Hüther’s father was a Schweißer (Welder). After completing Volksschule (Primary School), Walter Hüther was trained as a Maschinenschlosser (Maschinist). Walter Hüther was 1.70 centimeters tall (5’6”), had blue-grey eyes, a thin build, and dark blond hair. His blood group was “A,” he was a Protestant, and he was not married. Hüther held a Klasse IV (Class IV) civilian driver’s license. He named his father, Johann Hüther, as his next of kin, who resided at Pilgerstraße 15 in Frankenthal, Pfalz, a home that still stands today. It’s possible that Walter and his father worked at the same machine shop or garage.
Walter Hüther was a draftee and was called up for military service by Wehrbezirkskommando Ludwigshafen am Rhein (Ludwigshafen on the Rhine Recruiting Headquarters) on 25 August 1942. Classified as fit for military service and placed among Ersatzreserve I (Replacement Reserve I, the highest draftee level), Hüther’s Wehrpaß was issued that same day by Wehrbezirkskommando Ludwigshafen am Rhein. That same day, Hüther was supposed to be called up for Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Labor Service); however, this service was cancelled for the time being. On 2 February 1943, Hüther was again called up for Reichsarbeitsdienst and served with RAD unit 8/311 as an Arbeitsmann (literally workman, the lowest RAD rank, equivalent to a military private) in Neckargerach in Baden-Württemberg from 28 February – 9 April 1943. The reason for his early release from the RAD was being called up for military service.
In May 1943, Walter Hüther was ordered to Darmstadt to report to the Stamm-Schwadron (Cadre Squadron) of Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 6 (Reconnaissance Replacement Battalion 6). On 19 May, 1943, he was entered into the unit roster, medically examined, classified as fit for combat service on 21 May 1943, and sworn in on 25 May 1943. Because Hüther served just ten days with Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 6, he doubtlessly did not receive his basic training with this unit.
After Hüther’s brief assignment to Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 6, he was transferred to the 2./Schnelle Abteilung 512 (2nd Company of Mobile Battalion 512) of Schnelle-Brigade 20 (Mobile Brigade 20). Hüther served with this unit from 30 May – 25 September 1943. With this unit, he most likely received basic training; according to pages 20 and 21, Hüther qualified on the K-98 rifle, light machine gun 34, and the P 08 pistol (Luger); most significantly, Hüther received special training as a Scharfschütze (Sniper). An entry on page 28 reveals that Hüther was given a briefing regarding secrecy matters, espionage, and sabotage on 17 July 1943. After his four-month assignment to the 2./Schnelle Abteilung 512, Hüther was assigned to the following units:
26 – 30 September 1943: 4./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 389 (4th Company of Reconnaissance Battalion 389)
1 October – 20 November 1943: 4./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 352 (Aufklärungs-Abteilung) 352 (4th Company of Reconnaissance Battalion 352)
21 – 27 November 1943: 3./Pionier-Bataillon 352 (3rd Company of Pioneer Battalion 352)
28 November 1943 – 12 June 1944: Stabskompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 916 (Headquarters Company, Grenadier Regiment 916)
Page 30:
30 May – 25 September 1943: Deployed in the Occupied Western Territory.
26 September 1943 – 5 June 1944: Coastal Security on the French Canal and Atlantic Coast.
6 – 12 June 1944: Deployed at the Invasion Front.
Page 34:
Hüther’s Wehrpaß was closed out by Oberveterinär (Graf?) of Grenadier-Regiment 916. The entry reveals that Hüther was killed in action on 12 June 1944. The fact that Oberveterinär Graf closed out Hüther’s Wehrpaß shows that no officers or NCOs of Grenadier-Regiment 916 were available to update or close out Wehrpässe, suggesting that all had been killed, wounded, or were still heavily engaged in combat.
Page 22:
On 30 January 1944, Hüther was promoted to Gefreiter (Corporal). This entry was made by a Major and Chief of Wehrmeldeamt Frankenthal on 25 August 1944. The entry reveals that the promotion was recorded in Hüther’s Wehrstammbuch (Military Service Record Book) on page 42 and copied into the Wehrpaß (Hüther’s Wehrstammbuch was apparently stored in Grünstadt, located east of Frankenthal). This entry is the only clear evidence to show that Hüther’s Wehrpaß was sent to his recruiting office after his death on 12 June 1944. Shortly after this entry was made, the Wehrpaß was forwarded to Hüther’s parents.
From 6 – 12 June 1944, Gefreiter Hüther was most likely employed as a sniper at the Normandy Invasion Front. On 6 June 1944, D-Day, his last unit, the Stabskompanie of Grenadier-Regiment 916, was ordered to St. Laurent sur Mer, located directly on Omaha Beach. There, his unit engaged the U.S. 29th Infantry Division. I have little doubt that Hüther was picking off U.S. unit commanders (officers and NCOs) during the first days of the Normandy Campaign. Where Hüther finally fell on 12 June 1944 is unknown. He may have been in a church tower or building and knocked out by an artillery strike or he may have been picked off by an American infantryman, perhaps even a sniper. Snipers on both sides were not treated kindly and sometimes were mutilated by their opponent. After Hüther was killed, his body may have been robbed of his belongings, including his Soldbuch and dog tag, which could have been used to identify his body. What is known is that Gefreiter Walter Hüther has no grave in Normandy according to the German War Graves Commission. He was killed on 12 June 1944 and most likely, he was buried as an unknown soldier. His parents were certainly sick to learn that their son fell at Normandy at such a young age – he was just nineteen. Hüther served a little more than a year in the military and was in combat for just six days. The things he saw in those six days must have been horrific.
Barry
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