Rare WWII German Hand-Carved Wooden Spade – Grenz-Einsatz, Westfalen / Dutch Border, 1944

A remarkable and deeply personal original WWII German wooden spade, hand-made and carved in 1944 by German serviceman Gerhard Volkhausen during active Grenz-Einsatz (border security duty) along the Netherlands–Germany border.

The blade is clearly inscribed with “Westen – Borken” and “Grenz-Einsatz”, identifying service in Westenborken (Westfalen), a region located directly on the German–Dutch border. The carved service dates “20. Oktober bis zum 03. Dezember” precisely document the period of deployment during the late stages of the war.

Additional carved symbols include a Hitlerjugend diamond, a Wehrmacht eagle, and personal initials, strongly reinforcing authenticity and indicating a young serviceman transitioning into active military or auxiliary service.

The handle bears the inscription “Westfalen – Wall 1944”, firmly linking the owner to the Westphalia region and further personalizing this object. Unlike standard-issue metal entrenching tools, this is a fully wooden, likely locally made or improvised spade, intended for labor, field use, or symbolic/commemorative purposes during service.

This spade survived with all carvings intact and untouched, making it a rare, historically traceable artifact tied to a specific place, time, and military role.

Condition:
Original wartime condition with honest age wear, handling marks, and darkened patina. All inscriptions and symbols are period and unaltered.

Historical Background – Grenz-Einsatz at the Dutch Border

During 1944, Germany significantly increased border security (Grenz-Einsatz) along the Netherlands–Germany border, particularly in Westfalen, including areas around Borken and Westenborken.

This region was of high strategic importance due to:

• proximity to the Allied-controlled Netherlands
• increased resistance activity and smuggling
• prevention of desertion and illegal crossings
• monitoring of refugee and forced labor movements
• fear of Allied infiltration and reconnaissance
• Grenz-Einsatz duties were often performed by Landesschützen, reserve troops, auxiliary formations, and younger personnel, including former Hitlerjugend members nearing or entering military service. These units operated checkpoints, patrolled rural border zones, guarded infrastructure, and supported local security forces.

The recorded service period on this spade falls just weeks before the Allied advance toward the Rhine, during a time of heightened tension and internal security operations in western Germany.

Key Highlights

• ✔ Original WWII German wooden spade
• ✔ Hand-carved during active Grenz-Einsatz
• ✔ Dated 1944 with exact service period
• ✔ Specific location: Westenborken / Westfalen – Dutch border
• ✔ Hitlerjugend diamond & Wehrmacht eagle carvings
• ✔ Exceptional trench art / personal history artifact
• ✔ Strong geographical and historical attribution