Soldbuch - Combat Engineer, Mot. Bridging battalion

Soldbuch issued to Pionier (Combat Engineer) Wilhelm Hilland, who was born in November 1901, in Koblenz. His Soldbuch was issued in March 1943. His ranks are listed as Oberpionier (Jan 1944), Gefreiter (March 1944) and Obergefraiter (May 1945). He was issued the standard kit and equipment (winter clothing, Stahlhelm, tornister, gas mask, etc), as well as 2 ammo pouches, a Gewehr 98k rifle and a bayonet. Standard vaccination entries, as well as two brief hospital stays and several short periods of leave are recorded in the Soldbuch. He also received a “Führergeschenk” (Führer’s gift) one-time payment in March 1944 (interesting stamp). 

Pionier Hilland did his initial training with Stamm - Kp. Br.-Bau-Ers.-Btl 4, later serving with Pionier Baubrück Battalion (motorisiert) 255. This was a combat engineer battalion that specialized in bridging equipment / river crossings. Pi. Br. Btl (mot) 255 was attached to (in)famous 6th Army during the summer of 1942 and was later destroyed in the Battle of Stalingrad. Hilland joined the unit in the Spring of 1943, as it was being completely reformed in Germany. His combat record isn’t specifically stated, though it appears that his battalion continued to serve on the Eastern Front, notably fighting in East Prussia during the last months of the war. 

The Soldbuch comes with 4 small leaflets, one 2-page leaflet on malaria and three single-page leaflets on lice / delousing and gas attacks. 

In good condition, no damage to the spine and no loose pages. All stamps and entries have been photographed. Interesting Soldbuch for a combat engineer serving with a fairly uncommon unit type.