Wehrpass

The Wehrpass was issued when someone registered for military service. Once called up, his Wehrpass was exchanged for a Soldbuch. The Soldbuch was then kept on his person while the Wehrpass was kept with the unit. The Wehrpass was more of a civilian record of military service and registration. While the Soldbuch was more of a day to day service record. Some information was overlapping. The Wehrpass was returned to the owner after their service, or next of kin upon death or MIA status. The Soldbuch was supposed to be destroyed, but many escaped this fate due to the elimination of the Third Reich. It became one of the only sources of ID a nation less soldier would have had at the end of the war.