Original WWII U.S. Soldier’s Personal Pocket Dictionaries – Found in Belgium
These two pocket dictionaries were found together in Belgium and originally belonged to an American soldier who served in Europe during World War II. Both booklets contain several handwritten notes, names, numbers, calculations and personal entries made by the soldier during his wartime service.
⸻
📘 1. Webster Vest Pocket Dictionary (U.S. Army GI)
This small English dictionary carries multiple handwritten inscriptions of the soldier:
Name: Robert M. Mayer
Service Number: 32024552
Unit: 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Additional reference: 45th Anti-Aircraft Regiment
APO: 758 / 772 (European Theater)
The 702nd T.D. Battalion fought through France, Belgium, the Battle of the Bulge, and Germany, which matches perfectly with the item being found in Belgium.
Inside the booklet are wartime notes, small calculations, an address, and various personal markings, giving the piece a very authentic “combat carried” character.
A Belgian calling card — Raymond Hansey, Rue de Bruxelles — was found between the pages, most likely a civilian the soldier met locally in 1944–45.
⸻
📕 2. Hill’s French–English / English–French Vest Pocket Dictionary
This booklet was carried by the same soldier and also contains his name and handwriting.
A remarkable feature is a large German WWII stamp inside:
“Der Oberleiter der Hindenburgschule – Aachen”
with the eagle and swastika emblem.
This stamp is from a Nazi-era elite school in Aachen and strongly suggests the booklet was picked up or captured by the soldier in Germany during or after the liberation of the Aachen area.
The combination of U.S. soldier notes and a German wartime stamp makes this a highly interesting bring-back item.
⸻
⭐ Condition & authenticity
•Original WWII wartime pocket booklets
•Strong patina, discoloration and wear consistent with field use
•Multiple period-correct American ink entries
•German WWII school stamp (Aachen)
•Belgian civilian namecard included
•100% authentic WWII grouping
⸻
💼 A rare personal grouping
Items like these — directly connected to a named U.S. soldier who served in Belgium and Germany — are increasingly hard to find. This is a rare and complete small grouping of two pocket dictionaries carried and written in by a U.S. GI during his service in Europe.