Product Information

**This grouping includes 1 Wehrpass, 1 Soldbuch, 1 photocopy of his fallschirmjager citation,1 photocopy of his cuff-title citation, 1 signed portrait photo, 1 unsigned portrait photo, 1 signed photo of his fallschirmjager badge**

Wehrpass: Service number 24/61/11/7. Vietinghoff  was born in Bentwisch in Rostock, on the North German coast, to Frederich Wilhelm (white-collar worker) and Margarethe Schmidt. He signed on in the district of Kempton Allgau (southern Germany). His religion is listed as GGL (Gottglaubig: “politically correct” term used for people who believed in God but rejected organized religion). Spoken languages listed include Russian and English.

He was awarded the DJ sports, swimming and marksmanship badges. Also recorded is his  paratroopers award but his cuff-title and EKII have been omitted. Firearms training received are listed as the K98, MG34, and the P08.

This Wehrpass records 6 postings until his capture. He served in North Africa with Fallschirmjäger-Lehr Battalion/XI. Flieger-Korps  (Battalion Burkhardt). He was captured, most likely at El Alemein or Fuka on 5^th November 1942 and escaped but was re-captured 2 days later, nearly dead from dehydration. He spent the rest of the war as a POW, and was repatriated into Germany in 1947 as a physical training instructor.

More on Burkhardt: The brigade arrived in Africa in July 1942 and took part in Rommel’s drive towards the Suez Canal. The British defence solidified at El Alamein and the Axis offensive ground to a halt. The Burkhardt battalion remained further north with the Italian  Montgomery’s plan was for a main attack to the north and a secondary attack to the south. German troops to the south were under threat of being surrounded so the order to retreat was given on the 3^rd of November. Unfortunately, the Fallschirmjäger had no motorised transport, so retreated on foot. Battalion Burkhardt was captured near Fuka while attempting to go west, some of the brigade escaped by continuing west across the desert.

Soldbuch: Personal information includes his religion (listed again as GGL), ID tag number of 62602/191, Gasmask size of 2 (medium). 176cms tall, oval face shape, no beard, slim body type, medium blonde hair, brown eyes, shoe size 43. This information was confirmed and signed by 2./fallsch JG Erg. Rgt 1 Oberleuntnant Stendal.

conscription office: WBK Kempton, Allgau (Bavaria)

Unit (in which the man received his basic training): 16 Fallschirmjager erg regiment 1.

Units of service: 15/04/1942 – 6/05/1942: 2 Fallschirmjager regiment 1 Steadal (jump-school).

10/05/1942 – 3/06/1942: 6 lehr btl 11 fliegerkorps

03/06/1942 – 26/06/1942: fallschirmschule mittstad

26/06/1942 – 1/07/1942:6 lehr btl XI fliegerkorps

Vietinghoff was issued specialised Fallschirmjager equipment such as a kappmesser (gravity knife), shirt, trousers, boots, leather gloves, kneepads, jumpsuit and helmet.  Also listed is his typhus injection on 4/05/1942.

Photographs : 2 full-length, uniformed portraits of Vietinghoff. They are printed on post-war Agfa photography paper, one of which has a dedication and signature on the reverse. 1 photograph of his Fallschirmjager badge, awarded 20/07/42, a photograph of the award is written by Vietinghoff himself “I have had this badge after the Paratrooper training and 6 compulsory dives out of a Junkers 52 in June 1942. Heinrich Vietinghoff 23.1.03” 

The opportunity to purchase any item from such an elite fighting unit is unusual. Needless to say, being presented with a seven-item grouping just does not happen; especially with the (signed) photographs. All items are in exceptional condition, and the photographs are incredibly crisp. If you require additional photographs of any specific pages then please contact us.