WWII German Wehrpass – Peter Bränd, Pionier Units 1939–44

Description

WWII German Wehrpass – Peter Bränd and His Wartime Service Record

This WWII German Wehrpass is an original period military record issued in Duisburg on 1 November 1939 to Peter Bränd, born in Düsseldorf on 13 April 1912. The booklet retains Bränd’s original identification photograph, handwritten personal information, signature, official stamps and an interesting sequence of military-unit entries extending into the later years of the Second World War.

Unlike an unused or minimally completed Wehrpass, this example contains information that allows part of the holder’s wartime military history to be reconstructed. Particularly noteworthy are several entries relating to German pioneer and replacement formations, culminating in a clearly visible entry for 1./Pi. 660, the 1st Company of Pionier-Bataillon 660.

The document therefore has interest both as an individual military record and as a surviving example of the administrative system used to document German military personnel during WWII.

Peter Bränd – Personal Details

The personal-information page identifies the holder as Peter Bränd, born 13 April 1912 in Düsseldorf.

His nationality is recorded as Deutsches Reich, his religion as Catholic and his marital status as single. His occupation is entered as Tiefbauarbeiter, a term generally used for a labourer working in civil engineering, excavation, roadworks or other heavy construction.

The facing page retains his original black-and-white identification photograph. Bränd is shown in civilian clothing, wearing a jacket and tie. The photograph remains attached to the Wehrpass and is accompanied by overlapping administrative stamps.

His handwritten signature, “Bränd Peter,” remains visible beneath the portrait.

These details are important from a collector’s perspective because the Wehrpass remains connected to a specific individual rather than surviving as an anonymous military booklet.

Issued in Duisburg in November 1939

The opening page records the place of issue as Duisburg and the date as 1 November 1939, only two months after the beginning of the Second World War in Europe.

The page also contains Bränd’s Wehrnummer and administrative references connected with his military registration.

A Wehrpass was part of the German military personnel system and could contain information concerning personal identity, conscription, medical classification, training, military units, promotions, campaigns and decorations according to the individual holder’s service.

The German Federal Archives still preserves extensive personnel and unit documentation relating to members of the Wehrmacht. Its collections include records used to trace movements between military formations and can potentially provide additional information when researching an individual named in surviving military paperwork.

Military Units Recorded in the Wehrpass

One of the strongest features of this particular WWII German Wehrpass is the surviving page listing Bränd’s successive Dienststellen, or military units.

Among the visible entries are:

• Landesschützen-Ersatz-Bataillon 6, 1. Kompanie
• a Pioneer replacement formation
• Landesschützen-Kompanie 3/472
• another replacement-company entry
• Marsch-Kp. / Pion.-Ers.-Batl. 253
• a second Marsch-Kp. / Pion.-Ers.-Batl. 253 entry
• Marsch-Btl. Pi. 29
• 1./Pi. 660

Several of these entries fall within 1942–43, and the final entries continue into 1944.

The two Marsch-Kompanie entries associated with Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon 253 are particularly useful historically. This replacement formation was associated with the training and replacement system for German pioneer troops, while specialist wartime-unit references place Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon 253 at Köln-Westhoven.

Pionier-Bataillon 660

The final visible unit stamp, 1./Pi. 660, gives the document additional collecting interest.

Pionier-Bataillon 660 was established in January 1940 under the Wehrmacht commander in Prague. It began as a three-company horse-drawn army pioneer battalion and was later reorganised as a bicycle-equipped army pioneer formation. Specialist unit histories record its deployment in the West before taking part in the war against the Soviet Union from 1941. During 1942 it operated with the 16th Army in Army Group North, and in 1944–45 it was again associated with the 16th Army in the Courland theatre. The Bundesarchiv catalogue also retains archival holdings for Pionier-Bataillon 660.

This does not automatically prove every geographical location in Peter Bränd’s personal service history. The Wehrpass establishes his recorded association with 1./Pi. 660, while the unit history provides the broader operational context. A complete reconstruction would require examining the remaining campaign pages and, ideally, comparing the information with surviving Bundesarchiv personnel records.

That distinction is important when describing military documents accurately.

Pioneer Troops and Their Role

The Pioniere were the German Army’s combat-engineer troops. Their duties could include field fortification, bridging, demolition, mine work, obstacle construction and removal, preparation of defensive positions and technical support for other combat formations.

A Wehrpass connected with several pioneer formations can therefore be more interesting than a booklet containing only routine administrative entries, particularly when the actual units can still be identified.

This example shows movement through replacement, march and field formations, giving it a genuine documentary character and allowing the wartime development of the holder’s military administration to be followed across several years.

Collector’s Interest

From a collecting perspective, this Wehrpass has several desirable characteristics.

It is named and photographed, was issued early in the war in 1939, and contains multiple military entries rather than remaining largely blank. Most importantly, the surviving service page connects Peter Bränd with identifiable pioneer formations and ultimately Pionier-Bataillon 660.

That gives the piece relevance to collectors interested in:

• original German Wehrpasses;
• Wehrmacht personnel documents;
• German pioneer troops;
• Pionier-Bataillon 660;
• Eastern Front-related documentation;
• named WWII military records;
• military genealogy and individual soldier research;
• Third Reich-era administrative documents.

It should nevertheless be valued and described according to what is actually present. No decorations, wounds, combat awards or specific battle participation are claimed from the pages supplied here.

Condition

The Wehrpass is in visibly used period condition.

The cover shows rubbing, edge and corner wear, surface marks, staining and general handling consistent with long use and storage. The rear cover has heavier areas of wear and staining.

Internally, the pages show general age toning, small marks and signs of handling. The original photograph remains present and the most important personal details, stamps and unit entries remain readable.

The photographs supplied form an integral part of the condition description.

Authenticity

Original WWII-period German Wehrpass issued to Peter Bränd.

The construction, period printing, photograph, handwritten information, stamps, paper and visible ageing are consistent with an original used wartime Wehrpass.

No additional service history beyond that supported by the visible entries is claimed.

Historical Responsibility Notice

This item is offered exclusively as an original historical document for collecting, documentary, educational and research purposes.

Autographs & Militaria has no political or ideological affiliation with, or sympathy for, National Socialism, the Nazi regime or the organisations represented by this historical material.