Germany – Third Reich: An interesting Afrika Korps Wehrstammbuch and other documents awarded to Iron Cross 2nd Class, Wound Badge in Silver and Afrika cuff-title recipient Corporal Moritz Muller, 115th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 15th Panzer Division who saw service in North Africa suffering a severe wound at El Alamein on 4th August 1942 which would ultimately result in its amputation. He would be discharged medically unfit on 6th June 1944.
1) Good Conduct Certificate dated 30th September 1936, issued when discharged from obligatory military service.
2) Nuremberg Prison authorities statement, confirming that he is in Nuremberg Prison since 28th July 1939 as he is convicted to 7 months in jail.
3) Letter by the Ansbach Prosecutor to the Military Recruiting Department dated 7th November 1939 confirming that Muller is an inmate of the Ansbach prison as he is convicted for one case of ‘Gewaltsunzucht’ (Violent Sexual Offence) and will be released in February 1940.
4) Ansbach Military Recruiting Department, statement dated 28th December 1939. Confirming that he is released early from prison and returned to his home tome of Pfaffenhofen.
5) Military Personal Extracts 4-12-41. Issued when transferred to Marsch-Btl. Afrika 1.
6) 2 x Personal date sheet (both 1942). Relevant military career and personal date regarding his service with the Africa Corps.
7) Driving examination certificate, 11-5-42. Issued by a driving instructor from Schtz.Rgt.115 in North Africa.
8) Military Drivers License, 11-5-42. Issued in North Africa.
9) Sismanoglion Military Hospital Statement dated 27th September 1942. Confirming that the Wound Badge in Silver has been awarded to him for one (severe) injury.
10) Military District VII (Munich) Army Discharge Department statement, 11th February 1944. Confirming that Muller has been notified that he will be discharged from military service.
11) Request for the award of the Cuff-title ‘Afrika’ dated 17th January 1944. Confirming that he has been injured at El Alamein on 4th August 1942. Rare!
12) Military District VII (Munich) Army Discharge Department, statement 9th May 1944. Confirming that he shall be discharged on 6th June 1944 medically unfit for active military service (amputation left leg)
13) Tegernsee military hospital letter to the Military District VII Army Discharge Department, 3rd August 1944. Covering letter with two ‘Afrika’ cufftitles and the award document, requesting to issue them to Muller
14) 23 other documents, the majority of which regarding his military service
15) Uniform passphoto
16) Wehrstammbuch, Counterpart of the Wehrpass. Same entries.
Ernst Muller was imprisoned at Nuremberg Prison before the war, the authorities confirming on 28th July 1939 that he had been convicted of a violent sexual offence and was serving a 7 month sentence, he would be released early from this sentence. Having enlisted, he would transfer to the Marsch-Battalion Afrika 1, subsequently serving with the Afrika Korps in North Africa.
Having arrived in North Africa he would attain his military driving licence, this being issued to him on 11th May 1942 by a Driving Instructor from Schutzen Regiment 115, this unit would be renamed Panzer Grenadier Regiment 115 of the 15 Panzer Division in July 1942.
Muller would go on to receive a severe wound on 4th August 1942, being noted in Sismanoglion Military Hospital on 27th September 1942 when he was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver, having been awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class a couple of days earlier. Having been repatriated to Germany, he would undergo a long period of convalescence and would be discharged medically unfit on 6th June 1944 having had his left leg amputated. He would later receive two Afrika Cuff titles on 3rd August 1944.
