Germany. A Wehrpaß, Soldbuch, & Documents to Obergefreiter Sträuber, Lappland Shield

The collection consists of: a Wehrpaß (105x147mm, near extremely fine); a Soldbuch (103x145mm, fine, body of the book no longer attached to the cover); five post war 1945 certificates (100x120mm, 210x149mm, 209x297mm, very fine to better than very fine).

The Wehrpaß is dated to March 6, 1940. Interestingly, even though Sträuber had no affiliation with the Kriegsmarine, the Wehrpaß is signed by a Fregattenkapitaen (frigate captain), his name could be Ernst. A certificate has been placed on the very first page, stating that the content is factual and the document has not been tampered with. This certificate is dated to July 9, 1945 and signed by Sträubers Company Chief, a man in the rank of Hauptmann (Captain), the name could be Haap.

The Soldbuch is dated to March 2, 1943. The same certificate as in the Wehrpaß has also been placed on the first page of the Soldbuch.

The additional certificates include: a certificate dated to Rundhaug (northern Norway) on July 3, 1945 stating that Sträuber has the following items he owns in his possession: two pocket watches, a wedding ring, and an undervest; a card stating that Sträuber passed an initial Allied screening in Norway on September 21, 1945; two census sheets, both dated to December 3, 1945; a Russian/German certificate stating that Sträuber is being relocated from Eisenach (central Germany) to Berlin and is in good health.

Footnote: Georg Albert Gustav Sträuber was born on December 12, 1908 in Rixdorf near Berlin (today a part of the Berlin district Neukölln). He was drafted on March 2, 1943 and joined the Signals Replacement Detachment 3 in Potsdam. A week later he was transferred to the 2nd Company of Signals Training Detachment 3. In mid May of 1943 Sträuber spent a month with the 3rd Company of Marching Battalion 5 Lappland, then another month with the 5th Company of Field Replacement Battalion 91, and in late July of 1943 he was redeployed to the 2nd Company of Mountain Corps Signals Detachment 463, tasked with securing the coast of the Arctic Ocean. On January 15, 1944 Sträuber joined the 2nd Company of Mountain Corps Signals Detachment 419, with which he would stay until the end of the war and beyond. In fact, the date of discharge from the unit is given as September 20, 1945. On March 1, 1944 Sträuber was promoted to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal). Between April and early September he took part in battles in northern Finland. Between September and early October the German troops retreated to Norway’s Lyngen and Narvik region. From there Sträuber and his unit were sent back to Finland to defend Petsamo and Kirkenes for the rest of the month. November was spent retreating to the Lyngen and Narvik region once more. Between December 1944 and the end of the war Sträuber helped to secure Norway. On April 1, 1945 he received his second and final promotion to Obergefreiter (Corporal). Sträuber then became a POW in Norway. During this time he was awarded the Lappland Shield on July 1, 1945. He returned back to Germany and arrived in Berlin before the end of the year.