Gordon Williamson

While serving with the Feldgendarmerie he sees consisderable action around Cholm, Demjansk and Staraya Russa.

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His Wehrpass has an extensive list of combat engagements on both west and east fronts.

In June 1942, he transfers to Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 30 ( again still part of 30 Infanterie Division)where, the fact that he later wins the Driver Proficiency Badge in Gold suggests that he is still acting in the role of a motorcycle despatch rider.

Here he is posing proudly with his new award.

In July 1940, he earns the EK2.

In December 1939 he becomes a Despatch Rider and is serving with Kradmeldung-Zug 30, still part of 30 Infanterie Division. Apparantly, the unit desptach riders didn't just use motorcycles, but horses too. Note he still wears the waterproof motorcyclist coat when on horesback !.

His first posting, in 1938, is to Panzerabwehr Abteilung 30. Here he is on home leave in 1939,now a fully trained soldier and promoted to Gefreiter.

Here he is as a new recruit, issued his uniform but no shoulder straps yet.

Hermann Suhr served throughout his military career with 30 Infanterie Division. His Wehrpass photo is from his service with the RAD

Yeah, somehow I don't see the Feldgendarmerie or the Feldjäger swallowing that excuse :rolleyes:

On the subject of "erring" soldiers here is an interesting period "Wanted" notice from December 1944. Despite being well decorated with EK2, EK1, East Front Medal, Infantry Assault Badge, Krim Shield and Wound Badge in Silver, the subject appears to have deserted and is noted as roaming around between the east and west fronts allegedly looking for his unit. He is to be arrested on sight and delivered to the nearest Court Martial (Kriegsgericht). I wonder if they ever caught him.

hoherer Dienst tabs for Justiz and Geheime Feldpolizei

Interesting book Leigh, thanks for posting. XVI Festungs Infanterie Battaillon 999 was formed in June 1943 and served initially in Greece, before moving to Serbia in 1944 and ended the war in Bosnia and Croatia, so it spent the entire war in the Balkans.

Hi Tony, Very interesting indeed. I'd be fairly sure that he must have been in one of the 999 units. Probationary units were for those who were already soldiers and had committed minor offences ( I think those attracting sentences of up to 3 months). It was considered honourable service and those sent to these units could win awards. Strafgefangenenabteilungen were real Penal units for those who deserted, undermined morale. etc etc. The "999"s were for those in exactly the circumstances you describe for your wife's relative, a political opponent of the regime. Of course the Nazi attitude that such people were "unworthy" of serving in the Wehrmacht soon changed when they had to make up huge combat losses and could no longer ignore this source of manpower.

Forgive my ignorance, but would I be correct in thinking the collar tabs at the bottom of the shot are what would be worn by Carabinieri on the regular grey green WW2 service uniform ? Just so I know what I need to look for.

Yes, VP would make sense. Love to see the pic if you can find it. Interesting also that the Gorget was used by the Railway Military Police, sounds like the Bulgarian equivalent of the Zugwache in Germany who also of course wore a Gorget.

As far as I am aware, the Guards/Supervisors would be regular army soldiers, not "trusted" prisoners. The fact that he was promoted while with the unit probably confirms he was considered a normal regular soldier. I'd agree though that if they were working in a hazardous area, it couldn't have been much fun for the Guards either, being one of a small number who were actually armed.

Excellent ! Many thanks. Do you have an illustration of the armband ? Just a plain green band, or did it have some text on it ?

Front line service on the Eastern Front.

Note his first unit entry is to a construction unit (Baukolonne 13) that plus the fact that there is a promotion entry during the period he is with Feldstrafgefangenenabteilung (prisoners were not eligible for promotions) suggests that he was transferred to the unit as a supervisor or guard.

Having concentrated for some time on Feldgendarmerie and related Provost type units, I decided to go for some showing the other side of the fence - the fate of some of those who fell foul of the Feldgendarmerie. The subject of Penal units can be very confusing and much incorrect info has been posted in various sites. Germany had three basic forms of what might be considered "punishment" units of some sort. The "Bewährungs" units which were Probationary units, not Penal units and were filled with those whose transgressions were not especially serious and were able to fully rehabilitate themselves. The "999" numbered units which were not filled with soldiers being punished but by those who, up to then, had been considered unworthy of serving in the military (Wehrunwürdig). This included habitual criminals and those who were considered "unreliable" such as Socialists, Communists etc. It was considered that allowing them to languish in the "comfort" of Prison whilst others served and died at the front was wrong. Some of these, when eventually accepted into these units, actually performed well, 999 leichte Afrika Division being the prime example. The real "Penal" units were the Feldstrafgefangenenabteilungen. Twenty two of these Battalions were formed and were filled with those who had committed serious crimes - desertion, undermining military morale, etc etc and were fortunate enough to avoid execution. They were used on the Eastern Front on arduous tasks such as mine clearing, builing roads and building bunkers etc. These duties were most often in areas which were infested with partisans and these guys were unarmed. This Wehrpass is to a Gefreiter with Feldstrafgefangenenabteilung 14 serving on the Eastern Front.

I took the attached photo many years ago of a Gorget "Voenna Politsiya" in the collection of a friend in Germany. I have also seen a similar Gorget with the plate gilded rather than silvered which I am led to believe was for officer ranks. Can anyone with knowledge of the Bulgarian forces point me to any further info on these and the uniforms worn by Bulgarian MPs in WW2 ?

I'm familiar enough with the flaming grenade style cap badge but can anyone advise on what collar tabs/shoulder straps they would wear. Thinking specifically here of the field uniform circa, say 1942-44. Looking to add some Axis Military Police to my collection and can find the cap badge easily enough but not sure what to look for regarding other insignia. Many thanks Gordon

Hi Paul, The photo is from the time the Wehrpass was set up, prior to military service and shows him in RAD uniform, not Army uniform.