Germany, Heer. A Soldbuch & Document Group To Sergeant Wilhelm Lasch, 30 Id And Pow

(Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis). A Paybook and Identity Card belonging to Wilhelm Lasch, issued on 17 November 1939, constructed with a light brown cover showing the national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, below the eagle is the title SOLDBUCH followed by the words ZUGLEICH PERSONALAUSWEIS, contains a total of 24 numbered pages, the inside cover presents a blue ink drawing of legs wearing combat boots (possibly completed in a POW camp and it was forbidden to modify soldbuchs without permission), stapled to the page, the following pages contain information regarding Lasch’s personal data, military service, clothing and equipment, vaccinations, military hospital stays, and payment categories, the book includes a hand-written English-German dictionary (probably written while in a POW camp), the book measures 10.5 cm (w) x 14.5 cm (h), presenting period repairs, fraying along edges, and in poor condition.

A grouping of documents, including an award document to Wilhelm Lasch for an Infantry Assault Badge, dated 11 June 1941, signed in blue ink, measuring 20.6 cm (w) x 29.5 cm (h), presenting two folding creases and fraying along edges, and in good condition.

A letter of congratulations for receiving an Iron Cross, I Class, dated 9 September 1943, signed in pencil, measuring 20.9 cm (w) x 29.6 cm (h), presenting two folding creases and fraying along edges, and in good condition.

An award document for an Iron Cross, I Class, to Wilhelm Lasch, dated 25 August 1943, signed in black ink by Thomas-Emil von Wickede, measuring 13.9 cm (w) x 19.9 cm (h), presenting a folding crease, with scuffing and fraying along edges, and in good condition.

An Immunization Register to Wilhelm Lasch, measuring 9.9 cm (w) x 16.7 cm (h), and in good condition.

A letter of congratulations for receiving an Iron Cross, I Class, dated 21 December 1943, signed in black ink, measuring 20 cm (w) x 25.9 cm (h), presenting two folding creases, scuffing, and fraying along edges, and in good condition.

A letter of congratulations for receiving an Iron Cross, I Class, dated 24 September 1943, signed in black ink, measuring 20.7 cm (w) x 14.8 cm (h), presenting two folding creases, scuffing, and fraying along edges, and in good condition.

A letter from Lasch’s comrades, dated 14 October 1944, measuring 20.9 cm (w) x 19 cm (h), presenting a folding crease, and in good condition.

Two POW postcards (Card of Capture for Prisoners of War), both addressed to Gisela Lasch, each measuring approximately 14.6 cm (w) x 9.4 cm (h), presenting mild scuffing and fraying edges, and in near very fine condition.

Several newspaper clippings, including a page of military obituaries, pages from Hamburger Fremdenblatt, dated 5 June 1940, and pages from Salzburger Volkszeitung, dated 27 November 1945.

A Certificate of Discharge for Wilhelm Lasch, dated 14 December 1945, bearing numerous signatures in ink and pencil, bearing various stamps, measuring 19.2 cm (w) x 25 cm (h), presenting two folding creases, moderate scuffing, and fraying along edges, and in poor condition.

A civil servant document for employment by the postal office, dated 11 January 1946, measuring 21 cm (w) x 29.6 cm (h), and in poor condition.

A grouping of photographs and postcards, including five small black-and-white photographs, each depicting soldiers in uniform in various scenes, each measuring approximately 9 cm (w) x 6.3 cm (h), and in near very fine condition.

A black-and-white photograph presenting a soldier, possibly Lasch, in uniform standing outside, the reverse dated 15 October 1942, measuring 8.2 cm (w) x 13.4 cm (h), and in near very fine condition.

A picture postcard, the obverse presenting a black-and-white photograph of two men wearing sun hats with pipes in their mouths, the reverse presents handwriting in black ink stating Georgia, U.S.A., Camp-Fort Benning, Waycross, measuring 13.6 cm (w) x 8.7 cm (h), and in near very fine condition.

A picture postcard, the obverse presenting a black-and-white photograph of a group of POWs posing in front of their barracks, the reverse presents unused, stamped MADE IN CANADA, measuring 13.9 cm (w) x 8.8 cm (h), and in near very fine condition.

Footnote: Wilhelm Lasch served in the Infanterie Regiment 46 (renamed Grenadier Regiment 46 in October 1942), attached to the 30th Infanterie Division, from early 1940 to September 1944. He received the rank of Obergefreiter (Corporal) on 1 October 1940 and Unteroffizier (NCO) on 1 August 1942. Lasch fought in the Western campaign, in Holland, Belgium, and France. In late September, he was sent to northern France to participate in Operation Sealion, but, when this operation was suspended, the 30th Infanterie Division was sent to Holland, to the cities of La Haya, Utrecht and Leiden, until May 1941. In June 1941, Lasch participated in Operation Barbarossa, in the conquest of Russia, with Army Group North, fighting in the Baltic Republics to lake Ilmen. From Winter 1941 to 1942, the division was trapped inside Demyansk pocket. When finally released, they were stationed in Staraya, Russia, in defensive positions, until March 1944 when the great Russian offensive made the whole Army Group North withdraw through the Baltic Republics, to get caught in the Kurland pocket. Lasch was promoted on 1 October 1944 to Feldwebel (Sergeant). He was transferred to Grenadier Regiment 1225 and assigned to the 190 Infanterie Division, fighting in the Netherlands and Northern Germany, until its surrender to the Allies. Lasch received several awards, including a Sudetenland Medal, a Wound Badge, Black Grade, an Iron Cross, II Class, and Infantry Assault Badge, and an Iron Cross, I Class. Lasch was a Prisoner of War from March to April 1945 in Marseille, Attichy, Namur, Oran and Gibraltar. According to a Card of Capture for Prisoners of War, Lasch was also a POW at Fort Benning, in Georgia, United States.