Soldbuch 31. Infanterie Division Russia 1941 – Afrika Korps 1943

First issue Soldbuch without photo (never had one) to Unteroffizier Ernst Forst.

The Soldbuch opens at 17 February 1941 and was handed-out by 3./Infanterie ersatz Battlion 404.

After his basictrainings he became part of Infanterie Regiment 12 of the 31. Infanterie Division.

In 1941 this Division took part in Operation Barbarossa as part of Heeresgruppe Mitte and fought towards Moscow.

He got wounded early 1942: “Durchschuss Oberarm und erfrierung beider fusse.”

He got shot through is upper-arm and got frostbite to both of his feet.

After he recovered he was send to an trainingsunit: Infanterie ersatz Battalion 12. In November 1942 he was medically fit for tropical duty.

On 20 January 1943 he entered African soil as part of Panzer Armee Oberkommando 5.

So he went from the freezing cold in Russia to the tropical heat in Africa.

He was most probarly taken POW in 1943 after the defeat of the Afrika Korps.

Medals

1. Reichssportabzeichen

2. Wounded badge in Black

3. Infanterie Sturmabzeichen, awarded by Infanterie Regiment 12

4. Ostmedaille 

Used condition, the units have been blackened on page 4 and page 17 but with the several entries wich are still visible we can see his unit’s throughout the war.

Code: D26362