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  • SS Soldbuch - SS Panzergrenadier Kitzler - SS- Panzer Jäger Abt 11 - NORDLAND - KURLAND 1944

    SS Soldbuch – SS Panzergrenadier Kitzler – SS- Panzer Jäger Abt 11 – NORDLAND – KURLAND 1944

    SS Soldbuch issued to Werner Kitzler, born in November of 1926 in Seidorf (Kreis Hirshberg), Germany. He was trained in civilian life as a car mechanic. By the time he was called up he was still living at home with his parents and unmarried. SS Soldbuch was issued on the 2nd of May 1944, with SS Panzer Grenadier Ausbildungs und Ersatz Batl 9 in Stralsund. This is signed by an SS Obersturmführer who was the Stamm Kompanie leader.   After training, this included training with the Stug training unit SS Panzer Jäger (Stu. Gesch) Ausb.u.Ers.Abt 3.  According also to two security stamps in the Soldbuch Kitlzer was in Heidelarger on the 22nd of June 1944 training on the Stug, he was still there by September of 1944. Kitlzer was assigned to the SS Panzer Jäger Abteilung 11 – 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland It is unknown how long Kitlzer spent with this active unit, which would have been armed with anti tank armoured fighting vehicle but it is safe to assume he made it out somehow and ended up as a Prisoner of War in the West. As payments are added to his Soldbuch post war as a POW in 1945. The Division fought in the Kurland Pocket From late October to December 1944, the Nordland Division fought fierce defensive battles in the Kurland Pocket. Though the division had been assembled at Priekulė for a breakout to the south, the Red Army had become aware of the German intentions. On 16 October 1944, the battles for Kurland Pocket began when Soviet troops met the division’s attack with full force. Nevertheless, the division was able to hold their positions. During a second attempt to break the German forces in Kurland, the division was able to maintain its lines.On 23 January 1945, a fourth Red Army attack to clear the Kurland Pocket, focused on Priekulė, was launched. Multiple Red Army assaults succeeded in breaking into the German positions. However, together with 14. Panzerdivision, Nordland was able to retake their positions after counterattacking. By early December the divisional strength was down to 9,000 men. Pomerania. At the end of January 1945, the division was finally pulled from the front and loaded onto ships in the Baltic port of Liepaja (Libau), where it was shipped out of the pocket to Pomerania.The division disembarked at Szczecin (Stettin), with the Panzer Battalion Hermann von Salza being sent on to Gotenhafen for refitting. In late January, Nordland Division was assigned to Steiner’s 11th SS-Panzer Army, which was now forming in anticipation of the defence of Berlin. In early February 1945, the refitted Panzer Battalion returned to the division, and a trickle of reinforcements began arriving. On 15 February 1945 Nordland was then moved to the staging area for Operation Solstice (Sonnenwende), the Pomeranian Offensive. The offensive had been conceived by Generaloberst Heinz Guderian as a massed assault all along the front but had then been reduced by Hitler to the level of a local counterattack. From the area of Reetz, the division attacked towards the encircled city of Arnswalde. Initially, Nordland’s attack achieved a total tactical surprise and the division soon advanced to the banks of Lake Ihna in all sectors.    

  • Head of Yugoslavian Intelligence in WW2 - Agent Dr Ranko Brasic - Pavelic & Mihailovic collaboration 1945

    Head of Yugoslavian Intelligence in WW2 – Agent Dr Ranko Brasic – Pavelic & Mihailovic collaboration 1945

    Moved to our eBay Page – if you are keen on buying this contact us.  This exceptional lot of IDs and documentation is phenomenally rare, nothing has been seen like this on the open market related to the topic. Brasic was a key player in the final days, acting as an agent between key players in the last days. Dr Ranko Brasic (Lawyer) (Royal Yugoslavian Army Officer) (Named: Agent) (Named head of Intelligence during WW2) (Political and Legal Adviser to King Peter II 1962 -1967). Chetnicks and Ustaša Colaboration (1945), Mihailovic had been eager to cooperate with the forces of the Croatian puppet state “because the common goal was the annihilation of the Communists” He sent his own emissary, a lawyer named Dr. Ranko Brasic, not only to Dr. Pavelic, the head of the Croatian puppet state, but also to the head of the Catholic Church in Croatia, Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac, and also to Dr. Macek, the head of the Croatian Peasant Party, who had passively opposed the quisling government. Although Mihailovic stated at his trial that Brasic was only empowered to contact representatives of the Croatian Peasant Party, it has been well established that Brasic saw Pavelic and Stepinac as well. (The Trial of Draza Mihailovic, pp. 289-96, 453-56). It should be noted that as early as 1943 representatives of Mihailovic and of the Croatian Peasant Party (to which in time many of the Domobran officers gave their support) had some discussions about the future of Yugoslavia. No agreements were reached, however, because the CPP would not recognize Mihailovic as commander in chief of all Yugoslav forces including the Domobrans, and Mihailovic would not agree to disown the Chetnik groups that had been responsible for mass terror against the Croatian population. Pavelic gave Brasic a supply of medicines for the treatment of typhus, which was widespread among the Chetnik troops in Bosnia. Besides Dr. Brasic:, Chetnik Major Zika Andric seems to have been a sort of steady contact with the Croatian military authorities in Zagreb during the last few months of the war. Finally, in mid-April 1945, Mihailovic sent General Svetomir Djukic supposedly on a mission to establish contact with the advancing Allied armies in northern Italy, but at the same time, while passing through Zagreb, to see Pavelic and discuss with him the possibility of cooperation between the Chetniks and Croatian troops and to obtain from him a series of concessions. To assist Djukic in his efforts in Zagreb, Mihailovic sent with him Vladimir Predavec, who had been for a long time a member of the Chetnik Central National Committee. Djukic, accompanied by Predavec and also Brasic and Andric, had two conferences with Pavelic, on April 17 and 22. In them, he asked for the following: release of a Chetnik hospital and its inmates captured by the Ustashas on Vucjak Mountain; release of 1,200 Serb civilians captured by the Ustashas and held in the town of gamac; medical supplies, ammunition, and food for the Chetniks; and free passage of Chetnik troops through Croatia on their way to Slovenia (but without Mihailovic, who would stay behind in the mountains). More information: Captain Nesko Nedic, the official commander of the Valjevo Chetnik Corps, otherwise Mihailovic’s emissary for negotiations with the Germans, traveled with them to Slavonski Brod. In Slavonski Brod they were accepted by the Ustasha Grand Prefect Sobalic. After completing his work, Nedic returned to Draza Mihailovic’s headquarters, and Djukic and Predavac Sobalic drove him to Zagreb in his official car, where they arrived on April 17. Djukic was welcomed by Ustasha generals Ante Maskov and Jozo Rukavina. Soon, Djukic was joined by lawyer Dr. Ranko Brasic, Mihailovic’s permanent representative to Pavelic, and Major Zika Andric, “a kind of Draza’s military attache to the Ustasha” (Karapandzic, 438). On the same day, a meeting was held in the old Ban Palace in Gornji Grad between representatives of the Chetniks, that is, Djukic and Predavac, and Ustasha officials Pavelic and Andrije Artukovic. The next day, a second meeting was held in Pavelic’s castle in Tuskanec. On that occasion, Predavac, Brasic and Andric were with Djukic, and with Pavelic were Ustasa generals Djordje Gruic and Vjekoslav Maks Luburic, the former commander of the Ustasa camp Jasenovac – the greatest strategist of the Serbs. The third meeting between Djukic and Pavelic was held only on April 22. The break was caused by the fact that Max Luburic traveled to Bosnia, where the Ustase massacred the Chetniks of Pavle Djurisic. The result of the negotiations between Mihailovic’s envoy, divisional general Djukic, and Chief Pavelic was that the greatest executioner of the Serbian people promised the Chetniks and did everything that Djukic asked for. As Djukic writes in his memoirs, Pavelic “according to our request, sent trucks with medicines and ammunition, and in addition issued the necessary orders to the competent authorities to allow Draza’s group to pass through Croatia in the direction of Slovenia”. A series of articles by General Djukic about his mission to Pavelic appeared in the monthly newspaper Srpska zastava (Buenos Aires) between December 1954 and May 1955 under the title “From the Forests into Emigration.” Djukic was answered by Ustasha General Luburic in an “Open Letter to the Serbian General Svetomir Djukic,” in Drina (Madrid) in December 1955. Pavelic also, in 1949 , published his recollections of these conferences. However, the events unfolded in their own way, everyone saved his own head, so Svetomir Djukic, Ranko Brasic and Zika Andric benefited the most from the negotiations with Pavelic. They, helped by the Ustas and together with them, fled abroad without hindrance. Society for the truth about the anti-fascist national liberation struggle in Yugoslavia 1941-1945. The Trial of Mihailović Brasic is mentioned numerous times in the trial, he was explicitly called an agent. Interestingly, the full trial in which Brasic is mentioned explicitly around 20 times can be downloaded online for free. Here are some extracts from the trial mentioning Brasic: THE CONNECTION OF THE ACCUSED MIHAILOVIC WITH PAVELIC AND…

  • WW1 German Flak Grouping - Shot down x 2 Planes in 1918! - Ultra Rare! (On Hold)

    WW1 German Flak Grouping – Shot down x 2 Planes in 1918! – Ultra Rare! (On Hold)

    We are pleased to be able to offer this incredible WW1 Grouping for the NCO August Jäger from Prussia. Jäger was born on the 6th of October 1881. Enlisting in WW1 in 1914 Jäger would serve until July of 1915 with various replacement units. Jäger obtained the rank of an NCO as early at 1914. Joining on the 7.7.1915 – Flak Zug 113, Flak Batterie 710 The unit is also mentioned in this book: https://www.amazon.com/Over-Front-Magazine-Winter-2002/dp/B07XKJRPXM Fighting in the following places in 1914/18 – 08.1914: Border Battles – Eastern Prussia Western Front: Arras, Artois, 6. Armee Battle of the Somme, Battles between the Maas and Mosel Rivers, including the Maas Heights. 1916 – Somme, 1917 – Somme, Siegfriedsfront, Cambrai, Seigfried Positions. 1918 – Somme, Aire On the 13th of July 1918, Jäger was accredited with the destruction of one allied aircraft. According to the documentation this was a Sopwith F1 Camel Aircraft. On the 5th of July 1918, Jäger was also accredited with bringing down a R.E.8 Aircraft. Interestingly, in the publication, Westarpscher Taschenkalender für die Luftwaffe, sowie für Luftschutz, Luftverkehr und Luftsport, Volume 7, 1943 Jägers unit is mentioned as shooting down three planes in the space of a week! Needless to say, such entries are extremely rare, and this is the first time from 1000s of WW1 Soldbuch/Military Passes where we have seen accredited aircraft kills. Item will be sent recorded from our US Storage. Pictures/Photo Album: Moved to: K-Flak Batterie 175, October 1918 – interestingly this unit was self propelled. Released from Service: 20.08.1919 Link: Mentioned in this book:

  • M209-B

    WW2 US M-209-B Hagelin Cipher Machine – Mega Rare! (Offer Accepted)

    In 1934 the Swedish cryptographer Boris Hagelin (1892-1983) designed a cipher machine for the French Army. He developed the machine and it was adopted by the United States Army as the Converter M-209 Cipher Machine. By 1942, 400 Hagelin machines a day were being produced at Groton, New York. Eventually, more than 140,000 were manufactured during the Second World War. The M-209 was used by the United States Army as late as the Korean War (1950-1953) Encoding Machine, screwdriver, paper tape, technical manual, webbing bag and pencil. The Converter M-209-B was a small, compact, hand-operated, tape printing, cryptographic mechanical device. It used a series of rotors to encipher and decipher radio transmitted tactical messages rapidly. When properly set and operated it enciphered a plain text message of any length and automatically printed the enciphered text on a plain tape in five-letter groups. The M-209-B also deciphered transmitted messages that had been previously enciphered on another Converter. The Converter printed the plain text on a paper tape with proper spacing between the words. Important: This item is shipped from our US Storage Tracked Worldwide.     

  • WW2 US Navy M1 Helmet - LST 1039 "Battle of Okinawa"

    WW2 US Navy M1 Helmet – LST 1039 “Battle of Okinawa”

    WWII U.S. Navy LST (Landing Ship Tank) 1039 Fixed Loop M1 Helmet & Westinghouse Liner Set Wonderful original WWII U.S.N. LST-1039 M1 helmet set – The McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company produced front seam fixed bale helmet shell has a heat stamp of 272C, dating its production to October 1942 being the third lift of steel blanks from the Carnegie Steel Company in that production run.   In addition to the original hand painted “1039” marking, the helmet retains its original olive drab factory finish, cork texture, and OD#3 (khaki) chinstraps. The Westinghouse liner features non-painted steel A-washers, d15 Production Code, dating the liner’s production to mid-1942. The liner’s exterior exhibits evidence of Navy Lieutenant officers’ rank.  The liner comes complete with an original size 7 rayon headband and a buckled leather liner strap. In addition to the OD#3 chinstrap this piece has been modified with a Navy Mk II Talker Helmet chinstrap which is sometimes seen on amphibious vessel operations.  This exceptional find boasts the faint aroma of salt air when the liner is removed, a unique and unmistakable scent associated with all older naval vessels.  A fine addition to any WW2 advanced helmet collection – recent estate acquisition and presented as acquired. LST-1039 LST-1039 was laid down on 26 November 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation and subsequently launched on 6 January 1945; the ship was sponsored by Mrs. Jack H. Johnston; and commissioned on 9 February 1945, with Lieutenant G. E. Paris in command. During World War 2, LST-1039 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations and participated in the amphibious landings, assault, and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in June 1945.  After the formal surrender of Japan she performed Occupation Service in the Far East until early April 1946. LST-1039 returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 21 June 1946 and struck from the Navy Registry on 31 July that same year. On 2 September 1947, the ship was sold to the Columbia River Packers Association, Inc., for operation. LST-1039 earned one Battle Star (Okinawa Gunto) on her Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and additionally the Navy Occupation Service Medal. Important: This item is shipped from our US Storage Tracked Worldwide. 

  • SS Soldbuch - SS Sturmmann Soldbach - SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 20 ' Hohenstaufen' - Later trained StuG Commander! (Sold)

    SS Soldbuch – SS Sturmmann Soldbach – SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 20 ‘ Hohenstaufen’ – Later trained StuG Commander! (Sold)

    Karl Solbach was born in Essen, 1926. Although, it seems from his name he was from Norway also given the fact where his career began. He enlisted in April 1944 with : Norwegen Kompanie / SS Panzer Grenadier Ausbildungs Batl 11  Indicating once again that Karl Solbach was likely of Norwegian decent. After training he was sent to: SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 20 ‘ Hohenstaufen’ It would seem he was with Hohenstaufen after Arnhem, as there is a security stamp on September 1944 in Lauenburg Pommern with a SS NCO Training school. It could be he seen the battle of the Ardennes, but hard to know given the entries. SS – Panzerjäger (Sturm Geschütz) Ausbildungs und Ersatz Abteilung 3  This training unit was armed with StuG Tank Hunters, and Soldbach Promoted to SS Sturmmann and Unterführer March 1945. A two documents displaying his promotions were found in the back of the Soldbuch along with a training slip that had to be destroyed! Stating: Trained on : K98, MP38, MG 34 and Stuka 40 (Wurfrahmen 40). He was to be used as a StuG Commander according to this document. By April 1945, the school was thrown against the US Army near Pilsen, where he was captured. Summary A nice Soldbuch with some very desirable entries! A really cool pouch holds his SS Soldbuch!

  • Wehrpass Set - Three Brothers Ahlert - Incredibly Rare Set - Tragic Story

    Wehrpass Set – Three Brothers Ahlert – Incredibly Rare Set – Tragic Story

    Incredible Wehrpass Set to three brothers from the Ahlert family. The family were from Aschen, Osnabruck. The brothers worked on their father Rudolf farm. The three sons were: Friedrich Ahlert  Born 21.3.1921, enlisted in the Wehrmacht. Member of: Landesschützen-Bataillon 787 later Sicherungs-Bataillon 787 Initially he was a guard, guarding prisoners of war in Cochem, Germany. Although his unit was mobilised and sent to Belarus for security duties, according to the Wehrpass entries it would seem they were engaged constantly fighting partisans. Namely the destruction of a Partisan group called ‘Below’. Near Smolensk, in September 1943 Friedrich was hit by a Grenade Splinter. (Awarded the Wounds Badge in Black) He was that badly wounded that he was called in for discharge in December of 1943, he would return home to his father and mother. His unit was wiped out after he left. Heinrich Ahlert  Born in 1910, he was the eldest son. He was a member of Artillerie Regiment 171 (71 Inf Division)  An artillery regiment that was sent to the Don, June of 1942 Heinrich died of an infection in a military hospital. The unit rolled into Stalingrad and was wiped out. Rudolf Ahlert  Born on the 21.3.1921, (a twin). He joined the Wehrmacht as a medic in December of 1942, assigned to Infanterie Regiment 39 (26 Inf Div)  After the Winter Battle of Rshew, the regiment rejoined the 26th Infantry Division on 27 February 1942. It was used in the division’s defensive position, which ran about 10 km northwest of Rzhev, north of the Volga. The regimental command post was in the village of Pochinki and later in dugouts to the north and then northwest of it. The divisional command post was in the village of Kovynevo, about 5 km northwest of Rzhev. This position was mostly used for training and position building. In addition, the regiment was replenished in terms of personnel. On March 22, the III. Battalion carried out a shock troop operation on Star Filikino, on April 7, 1942 on Koleswikowo. Arriving in a military hospital in Warsaw, Poland Rudolf died in March of 1942, due to freezing 2nd and 3rd Grade on both feet, septic pneumonia set in and his heart gave in. Included a picture of his grave, his death certificate and the letter informing his father.   Also included: Friedrichs Work Book 13 WW1 Photos of their father Rudolf in WW1. Letter to Daughter Emma Ahlert from soldier on the front (readable). Postcard for Christmas 1941 from the front. 17 Photos – all from the brothers, including portraits of Heinrich.   Summary Never before in the 100s of IDs that have passed through my hands have I found brothers, never mind three brothers two of which were twins. The story of family Ahlert is a sad one, with only one son returning from the war badly wounded. This set is for sure one of the most interesting ID sets I have ever seen due to the fact the story of all three brothers are complete. I dont think another set like it will come on the market anytime soon.  

  • Heer Soldbuch - Uffz David - Festungs Regiment 924 (278 VGD) Venedig Italy 1944 - Iron Cross

    Heer Soldbuch – Uffz David – Festungs Regiment 924 (278 VGD) Venedig Italy 1944 – Iron Cross

    Heer Soldbuch to Uffz August David, born in May 1920 in Altenwald. His Soldbuch was issued with a Artillery training unit in December 1940. He served with: Artillerie Regiment 50 (50 Inf Div)  After seeing combat in the invasions of Poland, France and Greece, the division took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, fighting on the southern sector under the 11. Armee. Following the Crimean campaign, during which it helped capture Sevastopol in June 1942, the division fought in the Caucasus and the Kuban. It seems he was able to dodge the downfall of the unit. Festungsregiment 924 (278. Volks-Grenadier-Division) Italy, 1944 Verteidigungsbereich Venedig The 278th Infantry Division was re-established on November 17, 1943 as the 22nd Wave Division in Northern Italy from the staff of the dissolved 333rd Infantry Division. On December 6, 1943, the order was issued to set up the division in the Padua – Ferrara – Bologna area. By January 13, 1944, the division (excluding the GR 992) had a strength of 3,946 men. By January 16, 1944, the strength of the division had risen to 5,151 men. On January 27, 1944, the division took over the division section of the 362nd Infantry Division at the Army Department Zangen. At the end of January 1944 the division had reached a strength of 8,587 men, on February 9, 1944 it was 9,996 men. At the end of March 1944 the division was transferred to Istria. At the beginning of February 1944, the division was transferred to the Cesena – Ravenna – Lugo – Castel San Pietro area and deployed there for coastal protection. In mid-May 1944, the division was transferred to the Pescara area and deployed south of Chieti in the Orsogna – Arielli – Tollo area. The division was also assigned the defense of the coast between Francavilla and Pescara on either side. For this purpose it was reinforced by the fortress regiment 924 and two field replacement battalions. From June 7th to 19th, 1944, the division withdrew to the Chienti south of Ancona, where heavy fighting with Polish troops ensued. The division suffered heavy losses. During the second battle south of Ancona between 6th and 18th July 1944 the division’s positions were breached and the division had to fall back to the Ingeborg Line south of Montemarciano on the banks of the Esino. Here the division came to rest for the time being until, from July 25, with sustained resistance, it had to go back to the Metauro south of Fano via Senigallia until August 20, 1944. At the end of August 1944, the division was detached from its previous position on the Adriatic and moved further inland to replace the 5th Mountain Division there. The division’s new position was now north and north-west of Urbino. From mid-September 1944 there was heavy defensive fighting around San Marino. During the night of September 24, 1944, the division left the Marecchia position and headed back north across the Rubicon. On 25 September the division took over part of the 90th Panzergrenadier Division’s section just south of the Via Emilia. In October 1944 the division fought in the Savio and Ronco valleys and in November and December 1944 there were battles around Forli, Faenza and in the Senio bridgehead. In mid-December 1944 the division was in the Senio bridgehead in front of the east dam of the Senio river. After smashing the bridgehead, the division retreated across the Senio. In further heavy defensive battles, the division went back to April 1945 on the Sillaro. Awards Crimea Shield Iron Cross Second Class Eastern Front Medal   Summary A nice Soldbuch related to Italy in 1944! He was likely captured as there is no further record of him

  • SS Soldbuch - SS Sturmmann Ermke - SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland" - Das Reich - Captured by US Troops 1945 ! (Reserved)

    SS Soldbuch – SS Sturmmann Ermke – SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 “Deutschland” – Das Reich – Captured by US Troops 1945 ! (Reserved)

    SS Soldbuch to SS Sturmmann Karl Heinz Ermke  Ermke joined the Waffen SS at 17 years old, he was born into a Catholic family in Köln in 1927.  His SS Soldbuch was issued to him in March of 1944, in Nuremberg Germany at the SS training unit for Radio communications. His rank designation was SS Funker (SS Radio Man).  Promotion: SS Sturmmann  – SS Regiment Deutschland 1.4.1945  Ermke was assigned to the following frontline units: SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen : Bataillon Nieschlag in mid 1944.   It would seem that the FPNR on the Soldbuch cover matches:  32208 E (8.9.1943-22.4.1944) – SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 37 (17. SS-Division). It seems Nieschald to whom Ermke was assigned, was a war criminal. If Ermke was also involved we will likely never know. ”In Graignes 25 wounded paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and 30 civilians were killed after the village was captured by 2. Bataillon of the SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 38 under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Nieschlag after two days of heavy fighting.” The 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Götz von Berlichingen was raised October 1943 from replacement units and conscripts. It saw action against the US forces in Normandy from 10 June 1944 and suffered heavy losses. The surviving parts of the division refitted in the Saar during Sep and took of manpower from Heer and Waffen-SS stragglers. It fought around Metz in October and November before once again retreating to the Saar, seeing action there in December. SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 “Deutschland” – Das Reich  On January 12, the enemy managed to break into the northern part of Les Tailles. On January 13th, after detachment, the regiment moved to the wooded areas east of Wilwerdingen. On January 14, the regiment moved to the woods north of Holler. On January 15 the regiment had to be withdrawn across the Ourthe. It marched via Burg – Reuland – Winterspelt – Bleialf to Brandscheid, where it passed between the West Wall bunkers. From February 8th to 13th the regiment was then transferred to the Hungary area. The regiment moved into accommodation at Bö – Sarkany. Subsequent replacements came to the regiment, the weapons and the regiment were repaired. On March 2, 1945, the regiment was alerted again. The II. Battalion remained in the accommodation room because it was not ready for action. The regiment was to take part in Operation Spring Awakening, the final offensive in the Southeast. The attack against the Russian troops began on March 6, but after a few initial successes, it got stuck after just a few kilometers. Heavy fighting broke out at Sarkeresztur. The fighting lasted until March 18, then the regiment was pulled out of the front. and transferred to the area north of Varpalota, where it was used against a Russian offensive towards the Vertes Mountains. On March 22, 1945, the area south-east of Raab was reached. The regiment had to fend off heavy Russian attacks in this area. On March 26, the regiment’s retreat began. On March 31, 1945, the regiment left the area south of Esterhazy with the last backups. The regimental staff moved to Wallern. The regiment was then used in early April in the defensive battles around Vienna. The regiment then marched further north-west. On April 19, 1945, the regiment replaced the “Der Führer” regiment in the Gansbach and Kirschlag security line. On April 20, the regiment prepared to attack St. Pölten from the west. But the attack was called off. The regiment was transferred to the Passau area, where it was used again against the Americans. On April 29th the regiment was relieved and Passau was lost. The regiment was up in the air. On May 5, it was still in combat contact with the Americans at Ernshofen and then secured the Danube – Enns – Ernsthofen line. On May 8, the regiment was taken prisoner by the Americans near Enns. Issued a K98 Rifle and Bayonet: in March 1944 and again in May of 1944 Ermke was captured by US Troops, as per page 1 his POW number indicates. Summary This is a great SS Soldbuch to two famous SS Divisions. The line of when he was with who is grey, although with further research this could unveil more. He was certainly with SS-Sturmbannführer Nieschlag who was a known war criminal. This is over all a great example of a SS Soldbuch with clear uniform photo. According to the security stamps it seems like he was twice assigned to a training unit and twice sent to a different SS Division. What is certain was he spent the last months of the war with Das Reich. A little more research could be done with this one by the new owner.  

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