Soldbuch to Matrosen-Obergefreiter Franz Perne. First issue from November 1941, opened by the 6. Schiffs-Stamm-Abteilung in Steenwijk, Holland. The then still only 17 year old recruit left Holland early 1942 and continued naval training in Wangerooge among other places. In August 1942, he was forwarded to a unit with Feldpost number M 35078, previously in use by schwere Kreuzer Lützow, but with no official assignment afer that cruiser was sold to the Soviets in 1940. Quite possibly, he already entered a secret "Kleinkampf" training program at this point.  

July 1944, the Soldbuch records a transfer to the "Gruppe J" of the "Marine-K-Verband", listed with Feldpost number M 08942. Later that month, he moves to "Lager Weisskoppel", now less concealed mentioned as part of the "Kommando der K-Verbände" in many stamps throughout the Soldbuch. The soldiers attached to this "Weisskoppel" school were instructed on the use of the one-man Kleinst-U-Boot "Molch". Almost 400 of these experimental midget submarines were delivered by the AG Weser in Bremen mid June 1944; this timing matches perfectly with the Soldbuch entries.  

March 1945, Perne left the "Weisskoppel" school and was forwarded to the "Bereitstellungs-Abteilung der K-Verbände", a reserve unit of the Kleinkampf program. Through a few last Marine-Ersatz units he was likely captured by the Western Allies at the end of the war.  

Unique Soldbuch to a midget submarine operator, worthy of further research!  

Kleinkampf "Molch" U-Boat Soldbuch

  • Product Code: DI1029

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