Albert Wilhelm Rattey Wehrmacht Soldbuch with Post-War Refugee ID

Description

Original Wehrmacht Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis belonging to Albert Wilhelm Rattey, born 21 November 1906 in Putzig / Netzekreis, according to the accompanying post-war identity document.

The Soldbuch identifies him initially as Schütze, with a later entry showing promotion to Gefreiter on 1 April 1943. The document includes his portrait photograph, personal description, service entries, equipment and clothing records, weapon/equipment notes, leave or administrative stamps, and several unit-related entries.

One of the visible service references appears to include 2./I.E.B. 458, most likely connected with an Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 458 or similar replacement/training unit. Further entries and stamps include references to fortress/pioneer-related formations, with a visible stamp reading Festungs-Pionier-Maschinen-Gruppe I/80 or a closely related wording. Some unit readings should be treated with care due to handwriting, wear and overlapping stamps.

A particularly interesting part of this group is the later Bundesrepublik Deutschland Ausweis für Vertriebene und Flüchtlinge issued to Albert Wilhelm Rattey in Offenburg on 4 May 1956. This post-war document records his permanent residence in the Federal Republic from 17 November 1947, with address in Offenburg, Moltkestraße 54. This gives the group a stronger biographical arc, connecting wartime service with the displaced/refugee experience after 1945.

From a collector’s point of view, the value lies in the fact that the Soldbuch is not anonymous or isolated. It retains the soldier’s photograph, service identity, equipment entries and a later post-war document belonging to the same man. This makes it more complete and researchable than a single loose military document.

The condition is clearly used and worn, with cover cracking, edge wear, staining, folds, handling marks, loose or stressed areas and general age-related wear. The photographs form an important part of the description and should be reviewed carefully.

Offered strictly as a historical document group and collector’s item.

Historical Context

The Soldbuch was carried by German soldiers as both a pay book and identity document. It recorded personal data, unit entries, equipment, clothing, pay information, leave, hospital or administrative notes and official stamps. Specialist militaria references describe the Soldbuch as a document used for identification and personnel record purposes during military service.

This example is especially interesting because it is accompanied by a post-war Ausweis für Vertriebene und Flüchtlinge, a Federal Republic of Germany document for displaced persons and refugees. Together, the documents show two different stages of the same individual’s life: wartime military service and post-war resettlement.

Collector’s Interest

This group may be of interest to collectors of:

Wehrmacht Soldbücher
German soldier identity documents
WWII German paperwork
Infanterie Ersatz unit documents
Fortress/pioneer-related paperwork
Named military document groups
German post-war refugee documents
Displaced persons documentation
Offenburg local history
Researchable personal archives

What makes this item stronger than a standard Soldbuch is the combination of photo, named holder, unit entries, promotion, equipment records and later refugee/displaced person ID.

Condition and Authenticity Note

The Soldbuch shows heavy period use and age-related wear. There is visible cover cracking, staining, edge wear, folds, handling marks and general deterioration consistent with a document carried and preserved over many decades.

The post-war refugee/displaced person document is better preserved but also shows normal age and handling. The documents are offered as an original period group based on their format, materials, stamps, handwriting, photograph and internal consistency.

Some unit readings are partly difficult due to wear and handwriting, so they should be assessed carefully from the photographs.

Important Historical Responsibility Notice

This item is offered strictly for historical, documentary and collecting purposes. It is not offered with any political or ideological meaning. Autographs & Militaria does not promote, support or sympathise with any regime, ideology, organisation or movement represented in historical material of this nature.

FAQ — Natural AI Search Questions

What is a Wehrmacht Soldbuch?
A Soldbuch was a German military pay and identity book carried by soldiers. It recorded personal details, units, equipment, pay, leave and administrative entries.

Who was Albert Wilhelm Rattey?
Albert Wilhelm Rattey appears as the named holder of this Soldbuch and later post-war refugee/displaced person ID. He was born on 21 November 1906 in Putzig / Netzekreis.

Why is this Soldbuch more interesting than a loose military document?
It includes a photograph, service entries, equipment records and a later Federal Republic refugee document linked to the same man, making it more complete and researchable.

Is the post-war refugee ID part of the same story?
Yes. The later document records Albert Wilhelm Rattey in Offenburg in 1956 and helps connect his wartime identity with his post-war life in West Germany.

What should collectors check before buying a Soldbuch?
Collectors should check the photograph, stamps, unit entries, dates, rank progression, equipment records, condition, completeness and whether accompanying documents belong to the same person.

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