An Wehrpaß For Ss “Totenkopf” Tank Gunner Hubert Peschko; Kia At The Battle Of Höhe

In additition to a complete Wehrpaß, this lot includes:

Two bills, a German five Reichsmark bill (124x69mm) and a French five Francs bill (124x79mm).

A collection of several copies of letters and documents (180x120mm – 281x182mm) has been added, including:

• a report of volunteering

• a declaration of Aryan descend

• a certificate of Vereidigung (swearing-in)

• an SS-Überwachungskarte (supervision card)

There is also a handwritten resume by Peschko, in which he states that he joined the Hitler Youth in 1935, and since December 30, 1939 he had led a Jungzug (platoon) of the German Youngsters.

A unique Wehrpaß (army ID book) of an impressive young soldier, serving in an SS Totenkopf (Death’s Head) Panzer Hunting Division. The owner, Hubert Peschko, had only just turned 17 when he volunteered for service in the SS and eventually became a gunner of a tank destroyer. The Wehrpaß has been well preserved and is in excellent condition. Peschko was born on December 30, 1924 in Leipzig and lived in Belgern (today Belgern-Schildau, Saxony). He successfully completed a merchant apprenticeship. It seems that the life of a salesperson was not what he dreamt of, though. Just a few months after the end of his apprenticeship, he volunteered for service in the Waffen-SS. He joined the SS Police Infantry Signal Reserve Company in February 1942 and began his service on October 1, 1942 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Peschko received training as a “Kradfahrer” (motor cyclist), and a “Richtschütze auf Jagdpanzer ‘39’” (gunner of tank destroyer), 7.5cm.

On November 18, Peschko was removed to the SS Totenkopf Panzer Signal Detachment, on December 11 to the 3rd Company of the SS Totenkopf Panzer Hunting Detachment. He served with this unit until June 30, 1944. During this time he received two awards, the General Assault Badge on March 24, 1943, and the General Assault Badge Grade II on June 30, as well as two promotions, to SS-Oberschütze on August 1, and to SS-Sturmmann on October 1. From July 1, 1944 to January 3, 1945, he was part of the 1st Company of the SS Panzer Hunting Detachment 3. During this time he was promoted to SS-Rottenführer on October 1.

He was stationed at the French Atlantic coast between November 18, 1942 and February 16, 1943. From February 17, 1943 until January 3, 1945, he took part in the Eastern Campaign against Russia, when he died in battle of Höhe (height) 225, N. (nahe = near?) Bayna, Hungary. He was buried on the military cemetery in Tatatovaros, Hungary, field 3, grave 24.

Footnote:  The SS Panzer Division “Totenkopf” was an elite unit that originally consisted of concentration camp guards. It fought in Operation Barbarossa, the German assault on Russia.

On New Year’s Day 1945, the division attacked the Russian forces that besieged the city of Budapest. This attack, that was supposed to bring relief to the German forces trapped in the Hungarian capital, was named Operation Konrad. The first attack, Konrad I, was unsuccessful. Furthermore, it claimed the life of Peschko. Two more attempts were made afterwards to break the Russian siege of Budapest, but eventually the city fell in early February.