August Kuhlmann Wehrpass and Civil Document Lot – Herford 1940 WWII German Archive

Description

This original German document group belonged to August Kuhlmann, a man from the Herford area, born in 1896, and represents a very interesting named archive from the late 1930s and early 1940s. The lot includes his Wehrpass, a period Führerschein with portrait photograph, a German Reichspost Rundfunkgenehmigung radio licence, and an official typed document addressed to him in connection with his role as a Wachtmeister der Feuerwehr. Together, these papers form a coherent personal archive that reflects not only military administration, but also civilian identity, mobility, communications control and local wartime organisation in Germany during the Second World War.

The central item is the Wehrpass, with its grey-green cover bearing the printed national eagle and the title “Wehrpass”. The interior pages show the personal registration details for August Kuhlmann, including his name, place of issue, family information, occupation and official stamps from Herford. The Wehrpass was one of the key military identity and registration documents used in Germany, recording a man’s military status, eligibility, call-up information, medical details, training, service entries and administrative decisions. In this case, the visible pages show the personal and administrative sections, including pages relating to mustering and call-up decisions. Based on the pages shown, this should be described carefully as a Wehrpass and personal military registration document, rather than as a confirmed combat service record unless further pages prove active unit service, campaigns or awards.

The accompanying Führerschein adds considerable collector interest. It is a period German driving licence issued to the same man, with an attached black-and-white portrait photograph and official stamps. The document appears heavily used, with age wear, surface loss and fragile areas, but it remains an evocative identity document. For collectors, a Führerschein is useful because it connects the named individual to everyday life, local administration and practical mobility in wartime Germany. The fact that it is preserved together with the Wehrpass strengthens the archive, since both documents relate to the same named person and help build a more complete personal profile.

Also included is a Rundfunkgenehmigung, a German radio receiving licence issued through the Deutsche Reichspost system. This type of document is historically significant because radio ownership and reception were highly regulated during the period. Radio was one of the main channels for news, official announcements and state-controlled messaging, and licences of this type are collectible as examples of civilian administration and communication control. The visible paper shows printed text, handwritten entries, postal markings and official formatting typical of the period.

The typed official document is addressed to “Herrn Wachtmeister der Feuerwehr Aug. Kuhlmann” in Steinbründorf über Herford, linking Kuhlmann to the local fire service or civil protection structure. This is an important contextual detail, as wartime Germany relied heavily on local organisations, fire services, air-raid defence and civil emergency systems. Even when a man was not necessarily serving at the front, he could still be involved in local wartime duties, emergency response or administrative structures. This makes the lot especially appealing for collectors interested in home-front history, Feuerwehr-related documents, local German administration and civil defence.

Condition is clearly original and age-related. The Wehrpass shows handling wear, toning, edge wear and signs of use. The Führerschein is more fragile, with visible surface damage, losses, creasing, wear around the photograph and general deterioration to the cover and paper. The radio licence and typed document show fold lines, age toning, marks and handling wear. These condition points are part of the historical character of the lot and should be reviewed carefully in the photographs.

This is a strong named document group for collectors of WWII German paperwork, Wehrpass archives, civil administration documents, local history, Herford-related material, Feuerwehr history and personal paper estates. The value of the lot lies in its coherence: several different documents belonging to the same individual, covering military registration, driving permission, radio ownership and official local service correspondence.

This item is offered strictly as an original historical collectible for research, documentation and preservation. Any period symbols, official stamps or political references visible on the documents are part of the original historical context only. The item is not offered with any ideological affinity, political endorsement or intention to glorify any regime.