D-182 Kriegsmarine Soldbuch for U-Boot Ober-Stabs
Maat Helmut Bärsch, MIA
In overall very good condition, this Soldbuch has a red wax pencil line in a
diagonal across the cover, which was a primary means of indicating a
Serviceman’s MIA status. In fact we have now learned additional
details on this fellow from our friend Ian (thanks!) that Barsch was aboard the
U-423 which sailed on 09.06.1944. U-423 left Kiel under the command of
Oblt.z.S. Klaus Hackländer on 9th Jun 1944. The boat was lost on 17th Jun 1944
northeast of the Faeroes, in position 63.06N, 02.05E, by depth charges from a
Norwegian Catalina aircraft (Sqdn. 333/D), and all 53 hands were lost. The spine cloth is missing along the rear cover –
but is present on the front. The front cover has light soiling, with the rear
cover panel showing heavier soiling (but no damage). There is a pretty nice
photo of Bärsch in his double-breasted uniform tunic, with shirt & tie. The
interior pages (other than the first are pretty clean – the interior is in
excellent shape overall. The red diagonal line is repeated down the front page,
to show the MIA; there is also the reddish-pink ink stamped letter “U”
(indicating U-Boat service) appearing on that page (for “Untersee Boot). The
book has a decent assortment of entries –the usual personal info, lots of
leaves (4 pages – though two leaves appear to have been cancelled, with red
ink), some clothing issue, and pay receipts. Bärsch’s awards included the
Spanish Cross w/out Swords, the Sudeten Annexation medal, as well as a 4-year
Faithful (Long) Service award – all awarded, it appears, on the same day in
1942. Overall a very nice U-Boot book for another young lost sailor.
$1,150.00
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Item D-180
