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RARE ORIGINAL WEHRMACHT SOLDIER ‘CHRONICLE OF HONOR’ ~ 1942

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This is a fine original Ehren-Chronik or Chronicle of Honor presented to German World War II soldiers in remembrance of their wartime service by the NSKOV (Die Nationalsozialistische Kriegsopferversorgung, the National Socialist War Veteran’s Association and the War Victims Office of the Nazi Party) to remember their military service to Germany. In the Preface soldiers are referred to as “Bearer of German Swords and German Honor.”

The black faux-leather cover has an embossed World War II Iron Cross and the title is stamped in silver below it. The pages are held in place with the original brown shoe lace style tassel.

This 9-1/4 x 11-7/8 inch Ehren-Chronik has several different sections. It starts with a beautifully rendered eagle and swastika In Treue und Dank page (shown right) which is protected by a transparent tissue cover. This is followed by a section of glossy paper pages starting with the colorful Reichskriegsflagge, the Conrad Hommel painting of Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht Adolf Hitler, and a full-page photo portrait of Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering.

The following 20 glossy photo pages feature the huge military parade at the Heldenplatz in Vienna in the spring of 1938, Hitler entering Prague Castle (last image below), Hitler at his military headquarters with Goering and other Nazi generals, Hitler at the Westfront at Christmas time, Hitler with wounded soldiers (left), Nazi tanks, coastal artillery in Holland, radio and cavalry troops, at the armistice in Compiègne, Mussolini’s state visit to Germany, Me 110 attacking England, Wehrmacht troops in Serbia and Greece, Generalfeldmarschall List at the victory parade in Athens, and DAK General Erwin Rommel receiving a prestigious Italian medal from General Italo Gariboldi in North Africa in 1942.

This 70+ page Ehren-Chronik was never used. All the preprinted pages have spaces in which the recipient could document his participation in various battles (Ehrentafel and Ehrendienst) as well as family history (Ahnentafel). These spaces are blank and as issued and no photos were ever pasted in the book either.

Above, the beautifuly rendered page topped by a Nazi eagle and swastika in gold ink. The text contains gratitude to the "brave sons of the homeland" who fought for the freedom of Greater Germany an won.

There are also several pages with examples of World War II German Iron Crosses and the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, and pictures of 17 other Nazi medals.

The concept for the Ehren-Chronik and the production of it was the work of Friedrich Ebert and it was printed by Verlag Keuß of Berlin. It is undated but Wehrmacht victory in Greece took place in 1941 and Erwin Rommel was victorious in North Africa in 1942.

The condition of this mid-World War II album is very nice and far above average. The sturdy black pebbled covers have protected the content very well during the past 80+ years. It has no odor. Hard to find in this condition!