(Heer Soldbuch). A group of documents and award certificates named to Josef Mössner and his son Obergefreiter Günther Mössner, consisting of the the former’s Wehrpaß, dated 15 November 1943, measuring 106 mm (w) x 147 mm (h), minor material fatigue evident, otherwise in near extremely fine condition; the latter’s Soldbuch, dated 9 September 1942, measuring 105 mm (w) x 145 mm (h), material fatigue evident, otherwise in very fine condition; Günther’s award certificate for a Tank Badge in Bronze, dated 1 November 1944, measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; an award certificate for a 40-Year Faithful Service Badge in Gold from the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge), dated 2 July 1994, measuring 148 mm (w) x 209 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: Josef Mössner was born 18 May 1889 in Lahr, Germany. As of November 1943 he was a resident of Pforzheim, where he was employed as a bookmaker. He was conscripted into Wehrmacht service on 15 November 1943. He was married to Hilda Schneider, with whom he had a son, Günther, who was born on 1 February 1923 in Baden-Baden. After initially serving in training and replacement battalions, he was assigned to the 128th Panzergrendier Regiment, part of the 23rd Panzer Division. The division was exclusively engaged in combat on the Eastern Front for the remainder of the war. Günther Mössner was hospitalized numerous times for a variety of afflictions, including a muscle condition from 24 April 1942 until 29 October 1942, angina from 19 January until 29 October 1943, dysentery from December 3 1943 until 2 January 1933, gastroenteritis from June 27 1944 until 29 August 1944, sepsis from 2 October 1944 until 24 October 1944, and gastritis from 7 February 1945 until 9 February 1945. He was decorated three times, receiving the Tank Badge in Bronze on 1 November 1944, the Iron Cross II Class on 15 November 1944, and the Iron Cross I Class on 1 February 1945. The tank badge is signed by unit commander Major Gerd Ruge, a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.