Original WWII German Luftwaffe Soldbuch Identity & Payment Book for Flak NCO Unteroffizier Rudolf Behneigen - Flak Replacement Team 29

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fantastic genuine well used WWII German Soldbuch, issued to Kanonier and later Unteroffizier Rudolf Behneigen, a Flak Soldier in the Luftwaffe during World War II, eventually assigned to 3. Batterie, I. Flakerſ.=Abtlg. 29. This is short for 3. Batterie, I. Flakerſatz Abteilung. 29, or 3rd Battery, 1st Company, Flak Replacement Team 29. We have not been able to locate which unit this was a part of during the war, but we can say that they look to have seen extensive service. The cover of the book is now tan, faded from the original blue color, and is definitely missing some pages, having been repaired during the war. A great service used example!

The front page where there would normally be a photo of the owner is missing, so it begins on page one, giving information on when the book was issued, as well as the rank of Rudolf Behneigen during the time period covered by the book. It looks to have been issued during the third quarter of 1940, and there are dates up to 1943. Originally given the lowest enlisted Flak rank of Kanonier (Private), he was promoted to Gefreiter (Senior Private) on 1. 1. 1941, and then to Obergefreiter (Private First Class) on 1. 5. 1942. Behneigen must have acquitted himself well, as on 1. 7. 1942 he is listed as Uffz. Anwärter (NCO Candidate), and on 1. 10. 1942 he was promoted to Unteroffizier, the lowest NCO rank, equivalent to a U.S. Army Sergeant. 

There is information on the later pages of the book, though unfortunately there are definitely pages missing. It's rare that we get books like this which show a rank progression like this so clearly. A great well used Luftwaffe Soldbuch, more than ready for further research!

Of note: the persons filling out the book and the service record wrote using Kurrentschrift, an older form of Germanic script writing, which is why the all the "u" letters are written as "ŭ". In this script the lowercase "n" and "u" are identical, so the latter gets the arc shaped mark over it. This is not indicative of an umlaut or other diacritical marking.

More on the German Soldbuch:
The Soldbuch served the soldier as a personal identification document in wartime and as an authorization to receive pay from his own or outside pay-stations. In addition, it was identification for rail travel, detached service, leave, and for receiving mail. The Soldbuch was always carried by the soldier on his person in a tunic pocket. Leaving the book in one's baggage or in one's quarters was not permitted. The careful preservation of the book was in the best interest of the owner. The Soldbuch had to be kept in an orderly fashion. The owner must see to it, that all changes in pay due to transfer or promotion are immediately entered by his responsible duty station. The Soldbuch was an official document. Entries were only to be made by a Wehrmacht duty station. Making unauthorized changes is punishable as falsification of official documents. The loss of a Soldbuch was to be reported as soon the loss is discovered to the holders unit or duty station, and the issue of a new Soldbuch will be requested.