German WWII Arbeitsbuch (Worker's Identification Book)

A German worker's employment record book issued under the Deutsches Reich, titled "Arbeitsbuch" on its printed cover. The cover bears the state eagle above a wreathed emblem, printed in a light tone against a dark ground, with the fabric-reinforced spine typical of this document type. These booklets served as mandatory labor-record documents for civilian workers, recording employment history, trade qualifications, and personal details across their internal pages.

Such books were introduced in 1935 as part of the state's labor control system, requiring workers to present them when seeking or changing employment.

The Arbeitsbuch was introduced in February 1935 under the Nazi labour administration as a mechanism to monitor and direct the civilian workforce, particularly to steer labour toward priority sectors such as armaments and construction as Germany rearmed. Issued by local labour offices (Arbeitsaemter), it recorded an individual's trade, qualifications, and employment history, and possession of the book was compulsory for taking up or changing employment. The system reflected the broader state control over labour allocation that intensified through the war years as manpower shortages grew acute.