D-Day Omaha Beach Sniper's Wehrpaß

[Stormfighter]

Hey Barry,

Based on the identical writing styles, I'd say the "Scharfschütze" entry on page 21 was done by the same hand that wrote the first entry on page 30 ("30.5.-25.9.43 Einsatz im besetzten Westgebiet").

Jason

Jason,

Thanks for pointing that out - you have eagle eyes. That supports what I previously stated, that is, that Hüther was trained as a sniper while serving with the 2./Schnelle Abteilung 512.

Barry

[Stormfighter]

I must admit its the first time I have seen simply "Scharfschütze" mentioned in a Wehrpaß!!! Those that I have always mention the course......

A good point Ian. I have never seen just the word Scharfschütze written in a Wehrpaß either. It suggests that this was his primary role.

[Lionel H.]

Here are two scans from a confirmed sniper soldbuch. It shows two things, the equipment issued and pasted in and the awardentry of the sniper badge. That is as close as you are going to get. J

Hi Jaquesf ! Fantastic Item § Entries. EXtremely rare ! Tks for showing.

[InfanterieSammler]

The guy was an infantryman who fought and died during the first week of the Normandy campaign in the Omaha beach area. As it stands that's the most that can be said with certainty.

Yes, this was exactly my point.
<O</O
Barry, you had written “I have little doubt that Hüther was picking off U.S. unit commanders (officers and NCOs) during the first days of the Normandy Campaign.” I feel that is a bit of a stretch based on the one entry. I would need corroboration before I can get there, but that’s ok.

My reason for pointing the Rgt. HQ typically includes “clerk, orderly, messenger, or driver” is simply because I feel the odds are equally as good that he was employed in this manner as well.
<O</O
Regarding his death you had written “I also want to reiterate that Hüther has no grave in Normandy. To me, this is a sign that his body was robbed of his belongings and handled with little respect.” I understand that you are linking this to how snipers were treated when killed/captured and this is certainly a well-known fact. Again, for me it is just a stretch to get from a lack of a grave to this. It’s equally as likely that we was buried in a mass grave or blown to pieces by a mortar round, etc.
<O</O
You have a nice Wehrpaß there, one I would have been happy to buy if given the chance. I think I just feel a little less strongly about the meaning of the “Scharfschütze” entry on the training page. It’s absolutely possible he was employed as a sniper in the way you have envisioned. I also think it’s equally a likely that he was not. Without any other information, we are just speculating.<O</O

Best,<O</O
John<O</O

[Hundestaffel]

Regardless of one’s opinion(s) on Barry’s interpretations / presentation, for anyone who has collected ‘paper’ for an eternity (or more) there clearly are no issues – real, imagined or wished – with Barry’s Sniper Wehrpass itself

The Sniper Solbuch that Jacquesf posted is indeed a superb example (and was nearly purchased by myself about 20 years ago). That said, who remembers this piece being sold and re-sold (the package and story getting fatter with each sale) by various Bigger Name Dealers over the years ??? Does anyone remember the climax of the madness when Detlev N. dolled up this exact Soldbuch for one of his Friday morning sales with a period Soldbuch cover and a host of other goodies that were never originally associated with it ??? It was quite the visual…a straight out of a Hollywood farce – a real stretch indeed….nice to see it (finally) posted without all the other rubbish ‘force fit’ to it over the years

[Michael Root]

Nice assessment John. It's good to see you still keepin' things real on the forum.

[InfanterieSammler]

The Sniper Solbuch that Jacquesf posted is indeed a superb example (and was nearly purchased by myself about 20 years ago). That said, who remembers this piece being sold and re-sold (the package and story getting fatter with each sale) by various Bigger Name Dealers over the years ??? Does anyone remember the climax of the madness when Detlev N. dolled up this exact Soldbuch for one of his Friday morning sales with a period Soldbuch cover and a host of other goodies that were never originally associated with it ??? It was quite the visual…a straight out of a Hollywood farce – a real stretch indeed….nice to see it (finally) posted without all the other rubbish ‘force fit’ to it over the years

Remember that one well. I knew one of the previous owners and then guy who ended buying the put-together version from Detlev. Not the first time he did this to the collector either.

Hey there Mike Root, it's sure been a few years. Hope your doing well.

John

[christof]

FANTASTIC Wehrpass !

[Stormfighter]

It's hard to believe I started this thread three years ago. I just acquired this Wehrpaß for a sniper, who served with Grenadier Regiment 118 and was killed in a forest in Russia on 22 February 1944. The entry reads: Vom 2.11 bis 10.12.43 am 2. Scharfschützenlehrgang der 171. Reserve-Division teilgenommen, als Scharfschütze geeignet (From 2 November - 10 December 1943, took part in a sniper [training] course given by the 171st Reserve Division, [and was deemed] suitable as a sniper).

[Lee Luke]

Another nice one Barry.

I have a matching sb/wp sniper set that has training for using a scoped rifle and was issued the same. He was attached to the regimental staff of one the Grenadier Rgts of the 181st Inf Div in the Balkans.

I have read a couple German sniper autobiographies and they also belonged to the Rgt staff.

[Stormfighter]

Another nice one Barry.

I have a matching sb/wp sniper set that has training for using a scoped rifle and was issued the same. He was attached to the regimental staff of one the Grenadier Rgts of the 181st Inf Div in the Balkans.

I have read a couple German sniper autobiographies and they also belonged to the Rgt staff.

Sounds like a great Soldbuch/Wehrpaß set. Yes, it's interesting that snipers were assigned to the Stabskompanie (Headquarters Company) of infantry regiments and perhaps all types of regiments. I imagine their role was to pick off any approaching enemy soldiers, especially if the headquarters was in danger of being overrun. These snipers were especially important when a regimental headquarters had to relocate after the regiment was not able to hold its position.

[PanzerElite]

Luke and Barry,

can it be considered a snip entry?

thank you!

chen

[Lionel H.]

Hi Chen. It may be. But only partial Views don't allow a definte answer to yr question.