hucks216

I can't make them out either I'm afraid but it is a nice example of a Dienstbuch.

I've already had one tear in two with a folded crease just to the left of the Queen's head giving way and creating two parts!

Interesting late war document and with a signature not often seen on award citations. Nice item.

I wonder what the men did during the summer months? Revert back to transport/supply drivers maybe?

It's certainly a possibility. Unfortunately I don't have any Artillery officer Kartei in my files so can't confirm or deny the possibility.

Not necessarily but if it is the date he was actually awarded it rather than the date his actions won him the award then there is a gap where he could of been transferred, even if it was on a temporary basis from Führerreserve. There is a link in that I/Art.Rgt 61 was absorbed by Art.Rgt 107 but that was in 1940 and Art.Rgt 61 became Heerestruppen around 1943/44 and I don't think the two units served in the same area in September 1943.

It could be, it looks like that is the word and he was a Hauptmann in 1943 and was an artillery officer. The only thing that might mean it isn't Fetzer is that he won the DKiG in September 1943 (the time of this signature) while with Art.Rgt 61 but that isn't to say he wasn't transferred.

Not necessarily. If we can determine some of the letters we have a chance which is better than no chance.

Korvettenkapitän M.A. der Reserve Johannes Stührenberg Born: 04 May 1892 Died: 24 April 1945 - KIA Battr-Chef Marineartillerieabteilung 116 Kdr Marineartillerieabteilung 116 Kdr Marineartillerieabteilung 204 Kdr Marineartillerieabteilung 244 2.Admiralstabsoffizier Kommandierender Admiral Kanalküste Kdr Marineartillerieabteilung 116 Kdr Abschnitt Wangerooge DKiS - 24 May 1944

This is the only information on his Kartei (NARA T-78 Roll 937).

From what I can see in the 1937 DAL there isn't a complete listing of SS-Nr's from 1 to XXXXX and where the SS-Nr's run in order they aren't complete so are either missing or are in another sub-section of the listings as it seems that the listings is done by another serial number. Here is the 1937 DAL that you can download... SS DAL 1937

That is going to be a hard one to find as it is actually the Abt-Führer rather than commander which means he is in command on a temporary basis. It might well be that he assumed official command later or it might be the senior Batterie-Chef being given the position for a short period of time.

For anyone interested the 'Rangliste der Kaiserlich-Deutschen Marine' that span the years 1894 to 1914 are available at the link as free PDF downloads. There are some years missing but there are 13 years available in total Rangliste der Kaiserlich-Deutschen Marine

Here is another image from the same source. The number of 12329 belongs to SS-Untersturmführer Fritz Michiels. The little emblems to the right of his name are for Totenkopfring, Reichsportsabzeichen & Lebensborn.

It is hard to say whether he would of seen combat but at that stage of the war even taking up a training aircraft took courage with the Allies controlling the skies.

That is Alfred Mahnke. Signature Database Entry - MAHNKE Nice early dated example.

The stamp shows Stalag 381, not 391. Stalag 381 (XXIB) was located at Taps and was open from October 1941 to May 1943. Stalag 381Z was located at Reval. Both locations are in Estonia.

The officer has all the same awards as your man with the addition of the Dienstauszeichnung II & III Klasse and the KvK I Kl mit Schwertern.

I thought it might of been. I have a Soldbuch to a senior officer of Graf Spee who also escaped back to Germany. His EK II entry is dated for 1939 and his Flottenkriegsabzeichen is dated for 1942. The officer never went back to sea again as far as I can work out and if your Flottenkriegsabzeichen is for the Graf Spee I wonder if that is also true for your man?

Sounds like a great set. Was the EK II issued for the war cruise in 1939?

Looking at this clipping from an Australian newspaper dated for 12th September 1942, it gives a number of 130 for those who had escaped from internment so with that in mind it is highly likely that the sailor on the citation is the same as the Graf Spee survivor.

Very hard to say without more details but chances are that it is the same person - same trade as well and the next rank up from the one held in 1939. A couple of years ago someone was selling so called 'Word of Honour' slips of paper that officers and crew of Graf Spee had to sign to say that they would come back from a period of leave. One of those slips was for Berthold Steinhoff. Whether they were original or not I don't know. Someone tried to sell them on GMIC at one point. You have some digging to do! : ) Try posting a question in the Kriegsmarine section of the Axis History Forum asking if anyone has a list of those who escaped internment from Argentina. After the war 850 sailors were repatriated back to Germany, although 400 went straight back to Argentina to start/continue their new life.

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