Germany, Luftwaffe. A Soldbuch to Erwin Föll, Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 3

(Luftwaffe Soldbuch). Constructed of a blue-grey card stock binding with 24 paginated interior pages lightly filled with stamped and handwritten entries, named to “ERWIN FÖLL”, measuring 10 cm (w) x 14.5 cm (h), a Soldbuch to a training Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) serving in a seldom-encountered unit, in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Erwin Föll was born on 23 December 1925 in Fautspach, Germany. He entered military service with the Luftwaffe on 26 July 1943, and was initially assigned 2. Kompanie, Fallschirmjäger-Ausbildungs-Bataillon for training. He was then transferred to Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, notably serving with Regiment Radfahrzug (a bicycle reconnaissance unit). Notably, during the period of Föll's service with Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, in the summer of 1943 the unit was deployed to Italy to counter the Allied landings in Sicily, with elements directed to Fracofonte, Lentini, and Carlentini to oppose the advance of British forces. It was ultimately pushed back alongside elements of the 1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division Hermann Göring, regrouping along the Etna Line before suffering heavy losses and retreating to the Italian mainland. The unit continued its fighting retreat northward through August and September 1943, ultimately reaching the Gustav Line, which confounded the Allied advance and liberation of Rome until 1944.