hucks216

It doesn't mention that but I don't think many did. I know of a handful of officers who made it back to Germany (one was killed aboard the Bismarck) but not of any sailors.

He is listed on the crew list that the Argentines compiled when the crew were interned. The 'Ja' at the end relates to him being married.

Hauptmann Heinrich Moenting Highest rank reached: Oberst Chef 2./Artillerie-Regiment 30 Kdr Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment 35

I have my doubts I have to say. Who is it meant for (the reason it is in English)? Would a dignitary really be writing an essay on a scrappy piece of paper and if it was just a rough draft etc then why sign it (and why sign it on the upper right)? And while this one is just a gut feeling I agree with BalkanCollector, the paper looks more 1950-1960's rather than 1930's. And the use of the word 'Planes' and 'Planemotors' doesn't sit right for some reason (on the extra image you posted on a different forum) but I have no idea of the history of that word or whether it is an Americanism or not so that is also a gut feeling. And finally that signature at the top right does not match that of Joachim von Ribbentropp. This is a 1938 dated example taken from an official document And taken from the Charles Hamilton book on Third Reich signatures this shows two examples (the lower dated 1935). None of them match the one in the first post. And neither does it match the three examples in the Huesken's book on Third Reich Leadership signatures.

If they never received confirmation for the RK, even with the Doenitz Decree, then they can only be classified as non-RKT. As for actually being recommended for it, the pointer might be if they received the Ehrenblattspange. Sometimes, not always, a recommendation for the RK was downgraded by higher authority and the Ehrenblattspange given instead. You will need to dig in the BA-MA for the details.

I wonder if the reason the person is wearing so much stuff to cover themselves and wearing a shapeless greatcoat is because it's a female?

That's probably where the photo was taken - the Bundesarchiv Car Park!

And if we go full CSI:GMIC, zooming in on the man's left eyepiece (his left) shows two people stood watching and the one on the right (as you look) doesn't seem to be wearing a uniform. It looks like he is wearing a short dark jacket, light coloured trousers (jeans?) and dark shoes. If we zoom in any further we can probably tell what they had for breakfast : ) It even looks like his shirt has a motif on it

Generalleutnant Hans-Heinrich Sixt von Armin Born: 06 Nov 1890 Died: 01 Apr 1952 in a Russian PoW Camp (Captured at Stalingrad) Chef Gen.Stab 5.Armee Kdr 95.Infanterie-Division Kdr 113.Infanterie-Division RK: 22 Sep 1941 DKiG: 6 Sep 1942

It has a reenactor look about it. The reflection in his googles seems to show buildings somewhere, Germany or rather Europe perhaps but could be anywhere.

German Military Travel Papers Of The Second World War by Matt DiPalma (ISBN: 9780764350863) (See here for a GMIC Post on this book - Book Review)

As this relates to paperwork I thought I'd post this here rather than down in the Book Section. This book seems to of been released with very little fan-fair but it looks like being a very interesting book to have. German Military Travel Papers Of The Second World War by Matt DiPalma is a big book (published by Schiffer - ISBN: 9780764350863) of 280 pages and covers the various aspects of the process and paperwork required by the German Serviceman when taking leave and/or traveling. The pages are of good quality and photos appear on pretty much every page showing various examples of all the different pieces of paperwork that the German serviceman required including leave request forms, the Reiseverordnung which held the regulations that governed travelling, various types of Urlaubschein & Sonderausweis, ration cards issued for those travelling, leave passes ranging from those for just a few hours leave to home leave for a number of days and postcards to name just a few. Quite often paperwork sets come with those little extra pieces of paper that gets ignored or passed over as so little is known about them but now they can take on a new lease of life within our collections thanks to this book. This is one of those books that appeals to those who not only collect paperwork but also have an interest in the daily life & routines of members of the Wehrmacht.

There are 2 'Brehme' listed in the Volksbund as being killed in July 1944 but neither were born in Hildesheim. There are 4 'Brehme' listed as having been killed in August 1944. One was born in Erfurt and one is listed as Missing so I think they can be ruled out. However, there are two listed who were both born in Hildesheim with the dates of birth being 5 months apart so it is possible that one of them could be who the letter was about.

Nice item. Has it been well filled in?

I can't make my mind up as to whether that has very few entries because of the mistakes so they scrapped it and started a new one or it is a faker practicing his art and likewise screwed up. The pay group signature looks legit so edging more towards the former. But yes, can only agree - in the wrong hands it is easily turned in to a more lucrative option.

Dr Adolf Frank was indeed killed in action on the 12th September (see attachment from the Volksbund). It wouldn't be standard practice to be awarded anything just for being killed n action but it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that he was killed carrying out an action that would see him being posthumously awarded an EK II. Unfortunately the files held in NARA for 2.Gebirgs-Division are plentiful but don't start until January 1940. It might be worth looking into the Officer Files held at NARA (and BA-MA I believe) although there is no guarantee that his personnel file is still available. They are in the A-3356 series and his file (if it still exists) would be in Roll 191 (Fort to Frank, Willi). As the Rolls cost approx $120 each (CD-Rom) it might be worth employing a researcher to have a look to see if his file exists and to get a copy of it - but depending on his costs and how many (if any) pages need copying it might be cheaper getting the Roll.

It was awarded to the LW, but in some cases so was the Minesweeper Badge, normally to those units flying the Ju-52/MS such as Minensuchgruppe 1. But as he doesn't seem to have any other flying badges I would say that he is Kriegsmarine. The wings on his breast eagle look more straight then the wings of a LW eagle. Hard to be sure but his shoulder board might be the thinner KM type which appears to have a cypher on it - possible medical branch?.

Really hard to make out and you've done a good job with photoshop. Can't help but think the wings on the badge he wears are straight (although that might be due to how the badge is sitting on his tunic) and more like a KM Minesweeper's Badge. The more I look at it the more I can see the sea at the bottom and a plume of water in the center.

Thanks for the attempt & effort Dave. That signature is so common with regards to GD paperwork that it has been frustrating not to be able to ID it and link it to a name in my database. It now looks like he got away from the Ersatz organisation and saw front line action as Adjutant I/Pz.Füs.Rgt GD in March 1945.

Nice example - and signed by Karl-Ludwig Rhein who won the RK & DKiG and finished the war as a Generalleutnant.

That is a great photo in the WP and one of the longest campaign lists I have ever seen!

I have two signatures in my GD items that crop up very regularly but have so far denied all attempts to identify them to any degree. I can't work out what he letters are, or when I think I can I then doubt it and think it is something else and I have so far been unable to link my attempts with names in my GD officer database and to the 1942 GD Kriegsrangliste. Can anyone work out what the names are or have a best guess as to what the names are for which I would be grateful? The first example is for an officer in GD's Ersatz organisation: Is it 'Diag__' or does it start with an 'A' or something else? There was a Hans-Joachim Doege but this is not his signature which is already in the GMIC Signature Database. Hopefully someone can work it out.: The second example is for a member of Pz.Rgt GD and served in a number of positions although I have never seen his name as a Kompanie-Chef or such like - always as Adjutant or Ord.Offz.

Many years ago I obtained a photo album to a Wachmeister (and later Leutnant) in a heavy artillery unit. After I decided to thin out my collection and sell the photo albums I had I moved it on but always regretted selling this particular album as it was one of the best I had seen. So when I recently saw it for sale again I couldn't resist getting it back. Not only does it contain over 500 photos but also hand drawings, newspapers and paperwork to give the album plenty of detail. There are plenty of ordnance images from MG bunkers to artillery pieces and also two interesting photos showing the graves of two Spanish pilots who were serving with JG-51 'Mölders'. Due to the album's binding I have had to take photos of the images rather than scanning them in.

Always good to see a nice GD set.

Generalleutnant Kurt Plugradt Born: 14 Nov 1887 Kdr Inf.Rgt 111 Kdr Division Nr 173 Kdr 305.Inf.Division Kdr 339.Inf.Division Korück 584 OFK 395 Befehlshaber Saloniki-Ägäis Kdr Kampfgruppe Wehrkreis V