Luftwaffe / RAD photo album - Flak soldier’s service 1939-41

WW2-era German hardcover (measuring around 22cm x 16cm, 3.5cm thick) photo album. 23 double-sided pages chronicling the military service of an unnamed German who completed his RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) service and then went on to serve with the Luftwaffe. The front cover has the owner’s RAD cufftitle (district “Emsland”) and RAD unit’s shield glued on. His unit is identified as Gruppe 315, Abteilung 9, which research seems to indicate was based around Cologne. 

Most of the pages are nicely annotated. 37 photos trace his RAD service: he spent time at an RAD camp for unit 197 / 6 “Julius Schreck SS”, some interesting photos of RAD officers with hewers, troops building fortifications and troops parading or standing at attention. There are 77 photos which trace his service with the Luftwaffe. He joined on September 15th 1939 and judging from the photos he held the rank of Gefreiter and served with Flak (Anti-Aircraft) units. He is seen wearing the  Flak Artillery War Badge (Flak Kampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe) and had the motor vehicle driver trade badge on sleeve. His military service is traced from September 1939 to May 1941. He served, at least for a time, with Flak Ers. Abtl. 24. There are some interesting photos of his swearing in ceremony (nice flags and iconic 88mm Flak gun visible), photos of Flak searchlights, building and manning various fortifications, service at various locations in occupied Holland and Belgium (1940-41), 4 very nice photos of Dornier Do 217 “Flying Pencil” bombers (one plane crashed / was shot up) while serving at a Luftwaffe air base in Brussels, etc. There are also photos of him on leave in Antwerp and Ostende, as well as Belgian children visiting his unit. Overall a very interesting album, the written notes really help to tell this soldier’s story, at least until the Spring of 1941.

*Note: The material that covered the album’s spine detached at some point in the past. The spine itself isn’t fragile and the album holds together fine, displaying nicely. Most photos in the album are shown here.