German WWII "Arbeitsbuch" Work Book

A German state labor record book issued under the Third Reich, with a maroon cover printed with the title "Deutsches Reich" above a national eagle emblem grasping a wreathed swastika, and "Arbeitsbuch" below in Gothic lettering. This document type was issued from 1935 onward as part of the labor administration system, recording an individual's employment history, occupation, and personal details for state labor office purposes. Every worker was required to hold one, and it functioned as both an identification document and a tool for regulating the labor market and workforce allocation.

The Arbeitsbuch was introduced in 1935 under the Reich Ministry of Labour as part of the Nazi state's centralised control over employment, requiring every worker to register with local labour exchanges (Arbeitsaemter). It enabled authorities to track qualifications, work history, and location, facilitating the direction of labour toward priority sectors such as armaments production as the regime moved toward a war economy. Possession of the book was mandatory for legal employment, making it a key instrument of both civil administration and labour conscription in the Third Reich.