A service record is a collection of either electronic or printed material which provides a documentary history of a person's activities and accomplishments while serving as a member of a given organization.
The service record also documents other changes—promotions, transfers, time at base, the date and place of sickness or wounding, and the names of hospital or clearing station where the person was treated.
Canadian military service records are held by either the Department of National Defence or Library and Archives Canada depending on the age of the file.
The Library and Archives Canada is responsible for with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility for military service files.
Records of the Wehrmacht, that is the regular armed forces of Germany during World War II, are maintained at the Bundesarchiv, also in Berlin.