Marked with the Army eagle on the cover, inscribed "Wehrpass" below, inscribed black ink "Müller" along the top edge, dual stamped black and white photograph of Krämer with two eyelets, his signature across the photo and below it on page 2, multiple entries and stamps throughout the rest of the book, one glued in insert on page 32, six loose black and white photographs tucked inside the pocket on the inside cover (one illustrates a group of Eastern civilians, one may show Müller with his parents, the other four of various comrades), marked "D.R.G.M. (Deutsches Reichsgebrauchsmuster) 1 367 174" on the inside back cover and maker marked "Wetten & Co., Nationaler Werbedruck, Berlin SW 61" on the back cover, containing fifty-two pages printed in brown ink, plus cover printed in black ink, 105 mm x 147 mm, undulation evident on the cover, the inside pages unaffected, near extremely fine. The Wehrpass is accompanied by the following items: Müller’s Military Driver’s License (on oilcloth, dated May 17, 1941, which was issued by Panzer Signal Battalion 79 and signed by the Battalion Commander); the Award Document for the General Assault Badge (issued to Obergefreiter Friedrich Müller of the 2nd Company of Panzer Signal Battalion 79 on May 11, 1943, signed by the Battalion Commander who held the rank of Major); the Award Document for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (issued to Obergefreiter Friedrich Müller of the 2nd Company of Panzer Signal Battalion 79 on November 15, 1943, signed by the Commander of the 4th Panzer Division, Generalleutnant Dietrich von Saucken, a recipient of the Knight’s Cross, Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds. During the entire war, only twenty-seven soldiers received the Diamonds and von Saucken was the last recipient); the Award Document for the Iron Cross 2nd Class with Swords (issued to Obergefreiter Friedrich Müller of the 2nd Company of Panzer Signal Battalion 79 on December 14, 1943, also signed by the Commander of the 4th Panzer Division, Generalleutnant Dietrich von Saucken); and his Military Service Record Document (issued by the 2nd Company of Panzer Signal Battalion 79, which includes most of the information contained in Müller’s Wehrpass, including his personal information, promotions, qualifications, awards, and deployments, with the same battle listings of the XXIV Panzer Corps and 4th Panzer Division that appear in the Wehrpass glued to it).
Footnote: This Wehrpass was issued to Friedrich Müller on May 25, 1939 in Braunschweig. Müller was born on December 30, 1920 in Zweidorf within the administrative area of Braunschweig and was an evangelist. He was single and his civilian occupation was Schlachter (Butcher). From April 29 to October 15, 1940, he served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Labor Service). Thereafter, Müller volunteered for military service. From November 1st to 5th, 1940, he was assigned to the 5th Telephone-Construction Company of Signal Replacement Battalion 13. From November 6, 1940 to February 5, 1941, he served with the 4th Radio Company of Panzer Communication Replacement Battalion 82. Thereafter, he was assigned to a field unit, the 2nd Company of Signal Battalion 79, with which he served with from February 6, 1941 to May 9, 1945. Müller qualified on the K 98 rifle, received training as a radioman, and held Class I and II military drivers’ licenses. From April 7th to 18th, 1942, he participated in an assistant stretcher bearer course. Before being deployed in Russia, Müller served as an occupation troop in France and the eastern occupied area of the Reich. From the start of Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941, he served under the XXIV. Panzerkorps (XXIV Panzer Corps) through January 28, 1942. From January 29, 1942 to May 9, 1945, his unit was assigned to the 4th Panzer Division. The Wehrpass includes an extensive battle listing of the battles in which the XXIV Panzerkorps and 4th Panzer Division participated, including Bialystok, Minsk, Smolensk, Roslawl, Kritschew, Gomel, Kiew, Wjasma, Brjansk, Moskau, Woronesh, Kursk, etc. During Müller’s service, he received the following awards: the East Medal on August 14, 1942; the General Assault Badge on May 11, 1943; the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on November 15, 1943; the Iron Cross 2nd Class on December 14, 1943; and the “Kurland” Cufftitle on May 1, 1945.