Original WWII German Arbeitsbuch – Deutsches Reich Employment Record

Description

Original WWII German Arbeitsbuch – Deutsches Reich Employment Record

This WWII German Arbeitsbuch is an original German employment record from the period of the Third Reich, retaining its original cover, internal employment tables, handwritten entries, dates, signatures and administrative stamps.

The Arbeitsbuch was introduced in Germany in 1935 as part of a compulsory system for recording employment. It was issued through labour offices and was intended to document a worker’s professional activity, employers and periods of employment. It should therefore not be confused with military documents such as the Wehrpass or Soldbuch.

What makes this particular example more interesting from a collector’s point of view is that it is not an unused booklet. Several pages contain period handwritten information and official additions showing that it was genuinely employed as an administrative record.

A used German employment record

The original cover is headed “Deutsches Reich” and “Arbeitsbuch”, with the period national emblem forming the central design.

Inside are the structured employment tables used by the German authorities. The photographed pages show handwritten dates, locations or employers, signatures and official stamps.

Among the clearly visible entries are dates corresponding to the 1930s, including an employment period apparently beginning in 1934 and ending in 1937. Other annotations and later administrative additions are also present.

Because only selected pages have been photographed, I would avoid claiming a complete employment chronology without inspecting every page individually. This is nevertheless clearly a used example with substantially more historical information than an unissued Arbeitsbuch.

Historical context of the German Arbeitsbuch

The German Arbeitsbuch system resulted from legislation of 26 February 1935. Workers were increasingly required to possess these records, with local employment offices responsible for their administration. The books recorded employment history and could also include professional training and occupational information.

For historical collectors, an Arbeitsbuch gives a different perspective on Germany in the 1930s and 1940s than military documentation.

Where a Wehrpass records military obligations and service, the Arbeitsbuch documents civilian working life and the administrative control surrounding employment.

This makes surviving examples useful primary historical material for studying everyday bureaucracy, labour history and individual lives during the period.

Original handwritten entries and stamps

The appeal of this example lies particularly in its internal content.

Several photographed pages contain:

• handwritten employment information;
• period dates;
• employer or administrative signatures;
• official ink stamps;
• alterations and later annotations;
• multiple completed employment fields.

The handwriting varies between entries, which is consistent with the document having been completed by different offices or employers during its working life.

Rather than presenting as a pristine unused booklet, it has the appearance expected of an administrative document that was actually carried, handled and updated.

Collector’s interest

This WWII German Arbeitsbuch may be of interest to collectors of:

German civilian documents, WWII German paperwork, labour history, Third Reich administrative material, historical identification documents and personal records.

The Arbeitsbuch is also a useful companion piece to a Wehrpass, Soldbuch, Kennkarte or other German personal document because together these documents illustrate different parts of an individual’s interaction with the state.

From a collecting perspective, examples containing multiple original entries are generally more informative than blank or minimally completed books.

Condition

The document shows genuine age and use.

There is visible wear to the cover, minor rubbing, age-related discolouration and handling. The internal pages display period writing, ink stamps and normal signs of administrative use.

Some handwritten sections are difficult to interpret and several entries have been altered or crossed through.

The photographs should be considered an integral part of the condition description.

Authenticity

Original period German Arbeitsbuch. Offered as an original period piece on the basis of the features described above.

The printing, construction, handwritten entries, stamps and overall ageing are consistent with an original used employment document of the period.

Historical responsibility notice

This item is offered exclusively as a historical, documentary and collecting object.

Any political symbols appearing on the original document are retained solely because they form part of the historical artefact and its period context. Autographs & Militaria does not endorse, promote or sympathise with National Socialist ideology or any totalitarian political movement.

Further Reading

For historical background, see Arolsen Archives e-Guide: “Work book” (Arbeitsbuch).

Before buying, read my Complete Collector’s Guide to WW2 German Documents.