A Large Golden Party Badge with Documents to Wehrmacht Gefreiter Reimann

A collection of Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Joachim Reimann, consisting of an Army ID and paybook (105x146mm, extremely fine condition with some creases on the jacket), a German Labour Front membership book (108x153mm, near mint condition with minor signs of aging), a Labour book (106x149mm, extremely fine condition with some creases on the jacket and four punched holes), and a golden NSDAP party badge, large version; constructed of fine quality manufacture gilded bronze and bright red, white, and black enamels; functional horizontal pinback; party member numbered “23517”, and maker marked “Deschler & Sohn, München 9” as well as “Ges. Gesch.” (Gesetzlich Geschützt) on reverse; measuring 30.40mm; weighing 13.5 grams; with only very light contact marks but otherwise near mint condition.

Reimann joined the German Labour Front on December 14, 1933. The membership book serves as a certificate for his dues. Payments start in June 1935, as can be seen by the stickers glued into the book. They end after 1943, however, according to a handwritten note, payments have still been made until end of August 1944.

Reimann learned the craft of Maschinenschlosser (machinist) in the Staatl. Lokomotiven Werkstatt (national locomotive workshop) in Gleiwitz (modern day Gliwice, southern Poland) from 1922 to 1926. He then got his Fachschulbildung (college education) at the Staatl. Maschinenbau und Hüttenschule (national engineering and metal manufacturing school) Gleiwitz from 1926 to 1928. He worked as a constructor from 1929 to 1933, and between 1931 and 1933 as a constructor and project manager in Tomsk and Novosibirsk, USSR. Since 1933 he was a technical worker for the Dresden Gas, Water, and Electricity Company, working as an electronical engineer.

He joined the Wehrmacht as a Kanonier (Gunner) on December 15, 1944. Wounded in January 1945. Transferred to Reserve-Offizier-Bewerber (ROB) (officer of the reserve applicant). He served in the Stammbatterie  A.E.A. (Artillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung) (core battery artillery reserve detachment) 40 in Bautzen (Saxony), before being transferred to the Techn. Ers. u. Ausb. Btl. Pirna 1. Kp. (1st Company of the Technical Reserve and Drill Battalion in Pirna, Saxony). On April 1, 1945, promoted to a Gefreiter (Lance Corporal).