Wehrpass - KIA combat engineer, Russia 43

2nd edition Wehrpass issued to Georg Müller, who was born in February 1918 around the city of Mainz. He was inducted into the army in early October 1939, initially serving with a training construction battalion in the city of Mainz (Bau Ers. Batl. 12). He was trained to use the standard Gewehr 98k rifle, as well as the Handgranate 24 and the gasmaske 30 (grenade and gas mask training are often omitted from Wehrpasses). The entry confirming that he completed training as a combat engineer is interesting, stating that he was trained in “constructing defenses, demolition and the construction of bridges” (Sperr, Spreng und Gefechtsdienst / Kriegs u-Behelfsbrùckenbau), an entry that isn’t placed in every engineer’s Wehrpass. He reached the rank of Gefreiter in April 1942 and was interestingly declared fit for tropical service in November 1942 (tropendienstfähig), though he clearly never served in those conditions. 

His wartime military service consisted of being assigned to several different construction battalions from 1939 to early 1943. He constructed military facilities along the Franco-German border from Feb 1940 to late June 1940, including the Westwall defences. He then spent time in occupied Poland (Generalgouvernement) from Oct 1940 to April 1941. He was then on the homefront until July 1942. He began to see combat on the Eastern Front (Ostfeldzug) in March 1943, serving with 2. Kompanie 175 Pionier Battalion, which was attached to the 75 Infanterie division. At the time this division saw heavy action in Eastern Ukraine and Russia, notably around the cities of Sumy and Belgorod. He was killed on August 9th 1943, likely while defending around the city of Belgorod. 

The Wehrpass comes with 5 Feldpost eveloppes (all empty) addressed to Müller in July and August 1943. All are marked Zurück an absender nicht zustellbar (return to sender, undeliverable) with the added explanation Gefallen für Grossdeutschland (died for Germany). Interesting postage stamp celebrating the siniking of 32 million tons of Allied shipping on two of the enveloppes (32 millionen BRT sind weg). 

Interesting Wehrpass, some cool uncommon entries.