hucks216

What is the reasoning behind the German General's signature, in this case Joachim Coeler? There must of been British officers around to validate the pass, or was it to provide a sense of extra validation of this soldiers position for ex-members of the Wehrmacht that he might of had to deal with?

I haven't seen one specifically for Bergen but there is one signed in Norway in Volume 2 of Adrian Forman's Third Reich German Documents And Their Values with the citation signed 'An Bord'.

Hello, When seeking out signatures there is a better chance of success if the whole document is shown so that dates, ranks, positions etc can be checked and confirmed or whether it is a fake.

Oberst Karl Ritter von Weber Born: 23rd Aug 1892 Died: 20th Jul 1941 - Wounded in action near Smolensk on 18th July 1941 and died in Lazarett Krasny. Highest Rank Reached: Generalmajor Kdr Infanterie Rgt 93 Kdr 17 Panzer Division Image: 1st Oct 1938 citation.

With regards to Kraftfahr-Ers.Abt 3 I don't think it would of seen any battles or campaign actions as it was based in Wehrkreis III - http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/KraftfahrAbtErs/KraftfahrAbtErs3-R.htm

Nice item - are these hard to come by? It seems the sort of item that is easy to of been discarded through the years but you have to love the optimism of the expiry date! I'm sure I have recently seen (as in the last week) a WP to an officer of that zbV 15 unit but I can't recall where.

Sounds like a nice trade-off - but pray that your sister-in-law doesn't read the comment about her!

I agree, it does look like Kommando - here is another example from 18 Schiffsstammabteilung.

Another nice example for your collection, I particularly like the Finland campaign entries. You seem to of had a decent year for adding Fg Wehrpasse, Soldbucher and the like to your collection.

The WASt holds records on soldiers which includes units but they generally only give those details to Next Of Kin.

That is a great set and the July 1944 full length photo is fantastic. I'm not sure I would describe the award entries in the Soldbuch as 'only' though as the HK entry is a desireable entry Does the soldbuch have a photo in it?

Oberleutnant Albert Krumteich Kdr Panzerzug 2 - Sept 1939 to Jun 1942

There is one book on the 45 Infanterie Division that might provide information... http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=Rudolf+Gsch%F6pf&sts=t&x=68&y=6

That is a great photo in the SB. I can't say I know much about Hungarian awards but I believe that the Order Of The Holy Crown Of Hungary was meant to be awarded to foreigners for meritorious service so maybe he served alongside Hungarian units in some capacity. He is obviously an officer so maybe he could of acted as a German liaison officer in the HQ of a Hungarian battalion or regiment etc that was under the control of a Wehrmacht unit. As for the decorations it might just refer to any additions to the basic award level such as the addition of swords etc. But that is just an educated guess I'm afraid.

That arrived quickly! A very nice 'been there' looking soldbuch. Considering the date of issue I'd say his original one was lost or badly damaged during the fighting to break out of the Cherkassy pocket. And good to see that you have the information on his ultimate fate.

The Wehrpass was always kept in the home ships base port hence why the few examples of Bismarck WP's I have seen all bear the same signature of 'Kubler' in them who worked under the office of 2. Admiral der Ostsee.

The Wehrpass does not show any awards. Finally Karl Burichter is listed on the Volksbund Database with his name being on the Laboe Memorial in Germany and his name does appear on the crew list for Bismarck's war cruise...

The story of Bismarck's war cruise has been told many times and the engagement with HMS Hood & HMS Prince Of Wales is well known and that engagement is listed in the Wehrpass as is the sailor being listed as missing on the 27th May 1941 after the Bismarck was engaged by the battleships HMS King George V, HMS Rodney and torpedoes from HMS Dorsetshire, having been attacked by Swordfish aircraft from the Fleet Air Arm in the preceeding days. Here is a very good timeline for the life of the Bismarck.... http://www.kbismarck.com/histoperi.html

As would be expected for a sailor who only served in 2 units - his initial training Abteillung and then his first/only ship - the Wehrpass has minimal entries but it does show that he served on the Bismarck for a total of 290 days...

The latest item to join my collection and one that I am thrilled to get is this wehrpass to an original ships company member of the Bismarck who sailed with her on her first and final war cruise and went down with her. Karl Burichter joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1940 aged 19 and by June 1940 he was assigned to the newest ship, and pride of the German fleet, Bismarck. During this period the battleship was crewing up and was in drydock for her propellers to be attached.

Otto Dommeratzky: RK - 8./Schlacht-Geschwader 1 - 5th Jan 1943 EL - Staffelführer 6. / Schlachtgeschwader 2 - 25th Nov 1944 DKiG - 8.(Pz)/Schlacht-Geschwader 1 - 3rd Oct 1942 Ehrenpokal - 21st Sep 1942

Hauptmann Wilhelm Dormann Stab III./NJG 1 Staffelkapitän 9./NJG 1 14 Kills Seriously wounded and baled out 17/18th August 1943 following an attack by a 141 Sqn Beaufighter. DKiG - 17th Oct 1943 Ehrenpokal - 25th Jul 1943 Image: JG 2 & NJG 1 ground crew soldbuch

Kapitän zur See Siegfried Sorge Born: 10th Jul 1898 Died: 13 Sep 1989 Highest rank reached: Konteradmiral Navigating Officer 'Gneisenau' Chef des Stabes des 2. Admirals der Ostsee 2. Admiral der Ostsee Seekomdt. Westpreußen Festungskomdt. Gotenhafen/Hela

Hauptmann Georg Baumunk II/Panzer Rgt 204 Kdr schwere Panzerjager Abt 653 Kdr III/Pz.Rgt GD DKiG - 12th Feb 1943 Image: Assault Badge citation.

Oberstleutnant Ernst Freiherr von Jungenfeld Kommandeur schwere Panzerjager Regiment 656 DKiG - 1st Nov 1943 Image: Ost Medal citation.