A Wehrpaß To Obergefreiter Lausmann; France, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia Wia

Measuring 106x147mm, extremely fine condition with minimal scuffing and creasing of the cover. The document is dated to March 1, 1944.

It is a “Zweitschrift”, a copy due to the original having been lost or destroyed by the enemy.

The back cover carries a stamp stating “Military Reference Library - Property of C. H. Yust, Jr.”. This stamp is also present on the papers held in the cover compartments: Two Nachturlaubskarten (night vacation cards) (105x61mm/105x74mm, near extremely fine), stating that Schütze (Rifleman) Michael Handschuh and Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) August Pohry, respectively, are on “night vacation” until midnight. Both belonged to the 3rd Company of Landesschützen Battalion 819, and both cards are signed by a Captain and Company Chief, the name could be Wein.

Footnote: Willibald Lausmann was born on March 3, 1905 in Silberbach (modern day Stříbrná, Czech Republic). He worked as a musical instruments manufacturer. Lausmann was first mustered in December 1938 and deemed fit for service. Yet he was no stranger to the military at this point, having served in the Czech army from October 1925 to November 1926 as part of the Infantry Regiment 18, stationed in Pilsen. He was drafted into the Wehrmacht on August 29, 1939. Between August and the end of November, Lausmann was put in the 2nd Schützen Replacement Company 97. During that time he was promoted to Oberschütze (Senior Rifleman) on September 12. With the beginning of 1940 Lausmann joined the 2nd Company of Infantry Replacement Battalion 97, stationed in Eger (modern day Cheb, Czech Republic), but only two weeks later he was redeployed to the 10th Company of Infantry Regiment 97. Lausmann would stay with them until the end of 1941. In 1940 he took part in the campaign against France, during which he was promoted to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) on May 1 and won an Iron Cross 2nd Class on July 31. Towards the end of his time at the Western Front, Lausmann was promoted to Obergefreiter (Corporal) on March 1, 1941. Around the same time he was sent to Romania, then Bulgaria, and eventually fought in the Balkan campaign. He received a Romanian Loyal Service Medal with Swords 3rd Class on August 20, 1941, as well as a Sudetenland Medal. In mid December, Lausmann joined another unit, his main unit during the war, since he remained with it until early March 1944. Unfortunately the name of the unit is indecipherable. Lausmann fought with it on the Kerch peninsula, the eastern part of the Crimean peninsula. Afterwards they moved further into Russia, yet no details are known. During this time Lausmann received an Infantry Assault Badge on February 17, 1942, a Crimean Shield on October 12 of the same year, and about five weeks after that a “Romanian Commemorative Medal” on November 17. This is most likely the Commemorative Medal “Crusade Against Communism”. Between March and early June 1944, Lausmann was part of the Convalescent Company of Grenadier Replacement Battalion 302 due to being severely wounded on February 17, 1944. In fact, he had been extremely lucky to survive a headshot. As a consequence he lost his left eye, and indeed the Wehrpaß photo shows him wearing an eyepatch. Lausmann received a Wound Badge in Silver on April 15, 1944. Afterwards he spent two months at the Army Local Administration in Eger, before being deployed to the 4th Company of Landesschützen Battalion 819. He was promoted to Unteroffizier (NCO) on October 1, 1944. There is no further information.