Heer Soldbuch – Leutnant Kowalkowski – Gren.Ersatz Batl 67 – Spandau – Berlin 1945 – Killed in Action! Featured in Book! Rare! (SOLD)

Leutnant Josef Kowalkowski

Kowalkowski was born on the 6th of August 1897 into a Catholic family, he had served in the First World War. 

Kowalkowski was called up on the 11th of April 1945 in Berlin-Spandau at 48 years old, and given the rank of Leutnant. This was likely due to his service and rank during the First World War, where he had once seen combat he was allowed to wear his Iron Cross Second Class awarded in 1915.  

Kowalkowski was enlisted to the replacement unit Grenadier-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 67 based in Berlin Spandau. He was issued food stamps for his unit, and given payment according to his new rank. In the back pouch of the Soldbuch was his card, which further details his role as a recruitment officer for the home front. On the 16th of April Kowalkowski was given an injection for typhus, and according to the other entries issued a steel helmet, bread bag, water bottle, mess kit and rucksack. It is unknown what happened to Kowalkowski, his half Erkennungsmarke could be the sign he was killed and never listed as killed in action or found again. 

The German Red Cross has listed 115 soldiers of the same unit as missing in action in the final days of the Battle of Berlin. Among those missing are 17 year old boys right up to men as old as 50 with diverse backgrounds such as Lawyers, a Doctor, a bank worker and a gardener. 

Kowalkowski is not listed on the German War graves lists, but the blue penciled 66 on the front page is consistent with other body removed identification documents. The lower part of his Erkennungsmarke; protocol stated that the tag be broken in two, the lower part be kept for records and the top part to remain on the soldier. 

This item is featured in a book on the Battle of Berlin, due out next year. This item is featured alongside 180 other items relating to the battle!

Summary, Berlin 1945 related items are hard to come by, especially KIA or MIA Soldbücher with tags.