Germany, Wehrmacht. A Private Pre-War Photo Album

(Wehrmacht Fotoalbum). An interesting private pre-war photo album from a Heer soldier in active service during the mid-1930s. It is constructed of a card stock binding with a faux textured leather exterior liner. The spine is perforated with four eyelets, reinforced with magnetic metal grommets, through which is looped a drawstring that maintains the album’s structural integrity. Affixed to the upper left of the cover is a silvered Stahlhelm, while the lower right corner bears a silvered inscription of “MEINE DIENSTZEIT”. The interior content consists of 24 black card stock pages retaining 220 black-and-white photos. It opens with scenes of the owner’s initial service in the Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service/RAD), with notable images of early uniforms. The remainder of the album features an in-depth look at daily life in Heer service during the early years of the Third Reich (with 1935 the only visible date in an image). These include many scenes of general duties, drilling on foot and with horses, barracks life, and holiday images. The interior of the cover retains a vendor’s label reading “HERMANN LAMPRECHT, MINDEN”. Measuring 31.5 cm (w) x 23 cm (h), the album demonstrates only minor, age-appropriate signs of wear and remains in a near extremely fine condition.