WWII German Soldier RAD & Wehrmacht Soldiers Military Photo Album 179 Photos France 1940, Arnsberg, Training, Campaign & Combat

Outstanding original WWII German soldier’s personal service photo album containing 179 period photographs, documenting a remarkably extensive progression from Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) service into wartime military service and the 1940 campaign in France.

The gray cloth-covered album with reichskriegfkagge is titled “Erinnerungen an meine Dienstzeit” — “Memories of My Service” — and retains the applied period steel helmet decals insignia/emblems on the inside cover, they have stuck to the onion skin somewhat but still a great touch to the album. The surviving interior insignia and the numerous photographs clearly establish the album’s German wartime service context.

This is far more than a collection of unrelated military photographs. The 179 photographs remain together as one soldier’s personal wartime record, giving the album exceptional continuity and historical interest.

The early portion documents his RAD service at Arnsberg, with photographs of the camp and barracks, formations, marching, physical training, construction and labor details, railway work, groups of RAD men, officers and everyday camp life. RAD service commonly preceded military service for young German men during this period.

The album then follows the owner into military service. Among the many subjects visible are uniformed soldiers in steel helmets, field exercises, weapons training, officers and NCOs, marching formations, field positions, wooded terrain, vehicles and trucks, motorcycles, equipment, barracks, comrades, construction work and extensive field-service scenes.

Several photographs are particularly strong military images, including soldiers assembled in full field equipment and steel helmets, troops apparently undergoing tactical training, groups photographed in wooded field positions, officers addressing formations, and numerous candid photographs showing the men under field conditions.

One page is boldly captioned “FRANKREICH 1940” — “FRANCE 1940.” These photographs show the aftermath of the 1940 campaign, including heavily damaged and destroyed buildings, rubble, devastated areas, troops and vehicles, field scenes and the soldier riding a military motorcycle. Other photographs appear to show troops resting or assembled during the campaign.

The album also contains an excellent series from München (Munich) showing major buildings, streets, monuments and city scenes, together with additional travel and architectural photographs. There are also photographs of aircraft, trucks, motorcycles, railways and other transportation subjects.

Of particular interest is the way this album appears to document the same man through multiple stages of his service. Comparable surviving albums can combine RAD service with later Wehrmacht and France-campaign material, making intact chronological albums especially useful as personal historical records rather than simply groups of loose photographs.

Total: 179 original period photographs.

The photographs vary in size and are mounted on the original black album pages. Many have attractive deckled edges. Album and photographs show normal age, handling and storage wear. There are areas where photographs or insignia were apparently removed, along with adhesive residue and wear to some pages. The front cover lettering also shows wear. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition and content.

An impressive, large and highly collectible single-soldier WWII German photographic archive, with particularly desirable RAD, Arnsberg, Wehrmacht, France 1940, military training, field service, vehicles, motorcycles, ruins and campaign imagery. The sheer 179-photo size and continuity of the album make this a substantial wartime photographic record.

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