Soldbuch for a soldier who was in Dachau

**JERSEY 34** · 11-15-2011, 05:59 PM

This is one of those soldbuch that makes you think. I picked it up quite a few years ago in France and thought then that this chap was a bit of a monster.
D.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 11-15-2011 05:59 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Paul D** · 11-15-2011, 06:21 PM

Interesting one Damien , not sure bearing in mind the units he had previously served with why he would have transfered into the SS and to SS TK Stuba Dachau ?

**JERSEY 34** · 11-15-2011, 06:33 PM

I have no idea either but it looks to be totally ok to me, it does not feel or look messed around with.
D.

**HPL2008** · 11-15-2011, 08:27 PM

by Paul E

Interesting one Damien , not sure bearing in mind the units he had previously served with why he would have transfered into the SS and to SS TK Stuba Dachau ?

At that point of the war, this was not uncommon at all. 1944 saw the transfer of some 10,000 Heer soldiers into the SS' concentration camp guard formations.

The primary reason for this mass transfer was to provide guard personnel for the rapidly expanding camp system (especially the massive slave labor employment in armament production efforts such as the subterranean missile- and fighter craft production facilities). It also freed up younger, able-bodied SS men for active field service.

The army men selected for this transfer were usually at least 40 years of age and not fully fit for field service.

The man in question here fits these criteria perfectly: Assigned to a Wehrmacht replacement unit at the time of his transfer to the SS, he was 43 years of age, and the above certificate by an SS medical officer attests that he suffered from a visual impairment and beginning night blindness.

Allow me one observation:

We have no way of knowing what he thought of his - very likely entirely unvoluntary and unrequested - late-war transfer to the SS and how he behaved at Dachau. Maybe he had a good time, maybe he hated every minute and loathed himself.

Believe me, I have absolutely no intention whatsoever to whitewash concentration camp personnel; all I am saying is we should not automatically presume him to have been a monster.

**Paul D** · 11-15-2011, 08:44 PM

Excellent Andreas many thanks for this very informative post

**JERSEY 34** · 11-15-2011, 08:54 PM

Hi Andreas,
I take your point...but i guess my immediate re-action would have been the same as many others. It would have been a really brave man to refuse to do his duty in such a place, knowing what could well happen.
D.