Germany, Heer. A Soldbuch To Jäger-Ersatz-Bataillon 49, Siege Of Leningrad

Dated 12 December 1942, measuring 105 mm (w) x 144 mm (h), with 24 pages of records and a fold-out chart of Meckert’s weapons training and results, with two additional black-and-white photos of the bearer, each measuring 83 mm (w) x 134 mm (h) and with reverse inscriptions of “Weihnachten 1943” (“Christmas 1943”), age-appropriate creasing and material fatigue evident, otherwise in better than very fine condition.

Footnote: Jacques Meckert was born on 21 December 1908 in Berlin, Germany. He initially served with Jäger-Ersatz-Bataillon 49, attached to 158. Division, at that time an occupation force in the French city of La Rochelle. In March 1943, Meckert was transferred to Jäger-Regiment 38, attached to Army Group North on the Eastern Front, participating in the Siege of Leningrad. After Soviet forces lifted the siege, the unit withdrew to Pskov, and was later re-deployed to Ukraine, retreating from there to the Eastern Carpathians, Hungary, and Slovakia, where it finally surrendered to the Soviets in May 1945. Meckert did not survive to see the surrender; he suffered a gunshot wound in February 1945 and died of complications from wounds on April 20. He was a recipient of the Infantry Assault Badge and a Führerpacket.