‘Soldbuch Zugleich Personalausweis’: Collecting the paybooks of the German Wehrmarcht

The soldbuch was not a paybook per se as it contained no recordings of payments received, but instead was used to give the holder the ability to draw a designated pay amount by grade from his military paymaster. Any military guard, military police officer or high political leader could demand to see a soldier’s soldbuch in order to verify his identity, but they were not allowed to remove the book from the soldier. Confiscation was done only when the individual was placed under arrest and a “Dienststreifenausweis” (military prisoner identification document) issued instead. When presenting the soldbuch as identification to civilians (such as innkeepers), only the first two pages with the name and physical description were to be shown by the soldier. The other pages were considered to contain military information not to be shared with the general public for security purposes. 

All entries made in a soldbuch could only be made by the proper military authorities with any unauthorized changing of these records resulting in severe punishment. Even so, front line combat soldiers were often ordered to remove or deface certain areas within their soldbuchs (such as previous unit assignments) in order to not divulge relevant information to the enemy in the event of the soldiers’ capture or deaths. If a soldier was killed and his “Erkennungsmarke” (dog tag) lost, his soldbuch could also be used to identify his remains.

Soldbuchs of the “Heer” (army) measured 14.5cm x 10.5cm with a light, but sturdy tan cardboard cover fronted with a large outstretched eagle and swastika above the title, “Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis”. The book contained 24 pages and an internal pocket for additional papers. Inside was the holder’s photo, stapled or glued to the cover, with overlaying ink stamps and his signature below. The first page contained his rank, promotions, name, dog tag number, blood group, gas mask size and “Wehrnummer”. The “Wehrnummer” was made up of an abbreviation of his “Wehrbezirkskommando” (armed forces sub-district recruiting headquarter), the last two digits of his birth year, the police precinct number of his military registration, the induction sheet number, and the roster sheet line number. Page two started with his birth date and place, religion (“kath” for Catholic, “ev” for Evangelical, “gottlos” for atheist or “gottglaubig” for non-denominational believer), and “Stand/Beruf” (profession). This was followed by his physical characteristics such as height, eye color, hair color and face shape, then his signature, issuing unit, date and unit officer. Page three was for changes and additions to page one or two. Page four listed all of his assignments with older entries to be lined out, but still left legible. 

Additional entries for service were continued on page 17. Page five contained next of kin listed in order of wife, parents, relatives or fiancé. Pages six and seven showed uniform and equipment issues with additional pages glued onto the originals as needed. Pages 8A, B, C, and D listed modifications and additions to equipment and weapons issued. Page 9 recorded vaccinations, while 10 and 11 were used for eye and physical exams, chest X-rays and the date the soldbuch photograph was taken. Pages 12 and 13 listed hospital admissions and discharges with the types of injuries or diseases indicated by one of thirty-six numerical codes (such as 7 for influenzas or 31a for bullet wounds). Pages 14 and 15 listed valuables the holder had while in the hospital, with the pages often left blank or used for other notations. In addition, security checks were entered on page 15 beginning in 1943.  Page 16 listed dental records. Pages 18 and 19 showed the soldier’s pay grade (from 1 – highest to 16 – lowest) and promotional changes signed by a paymaster, along with any bonuses or additional rations issued. Pages 20, 21 and 22 listed payments from places other than the soldier’s main unit, such as during hospital stays or in schools. Also listed on these pages were decorations and awards given to the recipient. Pages 23 and 24 contained the soldier’s leaves and furloughs, destinations and officer signatures.  

“Luftwaffe” (air force) soldbuchs were the same size as army books, but covered in light blue cardboard printed with an outstretched flying eagle clutching a canted swastika over the title. The soldier’s photo was attached with overlaying stamps to the inside cover with his signature below. These were on top of the Luftwaffe’s 10 “Gebote fur die Kriegsfuhrung” (Commandments for war conduct). Page one was similar to the army book with the exception of a series of boxes and roman numerals on the top which represented security checks by three-month intervals. Pages two through nine were generally similar to those of the army containing the same spaces for personal and military information. Pages 10 and 11 were used for valuables and personal items the soldier had while entering a hospital, followed by security checks beginning in 1944. Pages 12 through 16 listed clothing issued and vaccinations, in various order depending on an early or later formatted book. Page 17 was used for a continuation of assignments listed on page four. Pages 18 and 19 listed pay grades, advancements and bonuses given. Pages 20 and 21 listed pay received from sources away from his home unit. Page 22 had awards, decorations and the dates given to the soldier. Like the army books, pages 23 and 24 were used to list dates and information about leaves and furloughs.

“Kriegsmarine” (navy) soldbuchs were longer (40 pages) than the army books, and had “Kriegsmarine” printed at the bottom of the light tan cover below the title. The inside cover contained the soldier’s stamped photo with signature beneath. Page one followed the same form as the army and air force, but had a unique naval “Marinestammrollennummer” (the sailor’s recruiting station, specialization and year of service) on the bottom instead of the “Wehrnummer” used by the other services.  Like the Luftwaffe, the navy used a series of boxes and roman numerals to indicate security checks. 

Pages two and three listed the same information as the others, but page four showed awards and decorations given to the soldier. Page five showed next of kin while six through 14 indicated uniform and equipment issues. Pages 15 to 22 corresponded to those in the army (though numbered differently) showing inoculations, hospital stays, medical records and additional notes. Pages 23 to 26 listed unit transfers. Pages 27 to 32 showed payments received from areas outside of the soldier’s regular unit. Pages 33 to 35 contained one of four special entitlements consisting of; one for First War veterans, retired career military, civil service retirees or family subsidies. Pages 36 to 40 were used to record information on leaves and furloughs.

The Waffen SS (Hitler’s armed elite troops) had its own soldbuchs that measured the same size as the other forces, but contained 32 pages. A “Doppelte Sig-Rune” (the SS symbol of the double lightning bolt) was positioned above the title on a tan cardboard cover. Inside a stamped photo was stapled or glued above the owner’s signature. Pages one through three listed personal information as noted in the army books. Page four listed his unit assignments while five showed his next of kin. Pages six through 12 listed clothing issues, while 13 through 16 displayed equipment and weapons given to the soldier. Seventeen through 19 contained vaccinations and eye exams. Twenty to 21 showed hospital stays and wounds he had received or diseases he had contracted. Twenty-two and 23 were for valuables and personal property listed when entering the hospital while 24 and 25 were a continuation of assignments as listed on page four. Pages 26 through 29 listed his pay grades, and any disbursements received while away from his home unit. Page 30 showed his awards and decorations with the dates they were received. Pages 31 and 32 contained leave and furlough entries. 

As the final months of the war ground on, the “Deutscher Volkssturm” (the ill-fated peoples’ army of old men and children) was issued their own soldbuchs. These were produced in a smaller 12cm x 9 cm format with a light brown cover featuring “Deutscher Volkssturm” printed above the title. The 12-to-14-page booklet sometimes contained a place for the photograph of the recipient (though photos became scarce as the war entered its conclusion) or a printed page with the image of Adolf Hitler. The book recorded basic condensed information as to name, physical characteristics, previous military experience, clothing and equipment issue, payments and any awards received. The last pages contained spaces that required the owner to show changes of address as many people retreated from the oncoming Allies, with Volkssturm deserters being hunted down by Nazi “Greifkommandos” (special commands) and shot.  

After Hitler and his Nazi dictatorship were finally defeated, many of the men who carried soldbuchs continued to use them as sources of identification for returning soldiers or as displaced citizens. Even long after the war had ended, many veterans of the Wehrmacht kept their books and paperwork in order to prove their service and qualify for benefits in the new Germany that rose from the ashes of the Second World War.  

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