Luftwaffe Soldbuch of Hauptwachtmeister (Sergeant Major) Walter Menke, who was born on 21 March 1914 in Hofgaismar, a town located 21 kilometers northwest of Kassel. Menke was a farmer in civilian life, was married and resided in Hofgaismar. Menke’s Soldbuch was issued to him on 3 September 1939 by the 3./Reserve Flak-Abteilung 341 (3rd Battery of Reserve Anti-aircraft Battalion 341). This unit was formed in Kassel, Germany, on 26 August 1939 and was comprised of three heavy and two light batteries. In May 1941, Reserve Flak-Abteilung 341 was deployed in Hamburg. In 1942, the unit moved to Russia and as of May, was deployed in Kassilowa. In July 1942, the unit was renamed as gemischte Flak-Abteilung 341 (Mixed Anti-aircraft Battalion 341, meaning they used various types of anti-aircraft guns). At this time, the unit was located in Krasnoje-Selo. In September 1942, the unit was deployed in Krasnowardeisk. In January 1943, the battalion was located in Idriza, in February in Mga and in April, in Staraja Russa. In 1943, the unit was increased to six batteries. In March 1944, the battalion was based in Reval (Tallinn), Estonia, and was subordinate to the Stab (Headquarters) of Flak-Regiment 164 (Anti-aircraft Regiment 164) of the 2. Flak-Division (2nd Anti-aircraft Division). In February 1945, the unit was based in Elvenes, Norway, and was subordinate to the Stab (Headquarters) of Flak-Regiment 83 (Anti-aircraft Regiment 83) of the 29. Flak-Division.
During Menke’s military service, he earned the following awards:
13 September 1940: E.K. II (Iron Cross 2nd Class)
21 September 1942: Tätigkeitsabzeichen der Flakartillerie (Anti-aircraft Artillery Proficiency Badge)
30 January 1944: K.V.K. II Klasse mit Schwertern (War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords)
30 April 1945: Lapplandschild (Lappland Shield)
On 1 September 1944, Menke also received the Führergeschenk (Führer’s Gift Packet), which he took home with him while on leave between 2 September and 3 October 1944.
The Soldbuch is in very sound condition, is complete and has not been denazified. It is loaded with entries, including a remarkable amount of clothing issuance entries (interestingly, on 26 June 1944, he was issued a mosquito net and a helmet net). The inside cover of the Soldbuch has a nice photo of Menke wearing a Luftwaffe uniform. Page 8 reveals that Menke owned two of his own pistols, one a 9 mm and one a 7.65 mm (Menke turned in one or both of these weapons after the German surrender in Norway). Menke also was in possession of his own wristwatch. Entries on page 13 show that after the German surrender in Norway, a German Hauptmann (Captain) reviewed Menke’s Soldbuch and certified that all of the entries were correct and that the Soldbuch remained in Menke’s possession. Menke continued to draw pay and bonus pay for having the rank of Hauptwachtmeister through July 1945 (three documents stapled to page 21 show that he received this pay). In the back of the Soldbuch, Menke glued five Merkblätter (instruction sheets) regarding the following: prevention of venereal diseases, providing first aid after a gas attack, protection against the cold, protection against heat stroke, and edible fruits and plants in cold countries (this sheet is large and on its reverse, has drawings of ten of these fruits and plants as well as descriptions of them). This is an interesting Soldbuch for a soldier who served throughout the entire war in Germany, Russia, Estonia and Norway.