Polizei Polizei Wehrpass - Question

[Valkyrie]

Hello Fellas,

I recently acquired a Wehrpass to a man that served in the Polizei. The Polizei Dienstpass, unfortunately, was not part of the acquisition. The only details of this man's service that I have are limited to those contained in the Wehrpass and the information provided via the Volksbund. I wish to somehow determine, if possible, which of the Polizei Regimenter this man may have served with at the time of his death.

Info from the Wehrpass:

Wehrpass issued from Wehrbezirkskommando Koblenz on February 15, 1938. (Wehrbezirkskommando Koblenz was located within Wehrkreis XII)

The man, Philipp Pinger, was born February 9, 1912 in the municipality of Welling, which is in Western Germany.

Philipp's father, Josef, was a miner. Philipp's civilian occupation is listed as Schieferspalter? I am not familiar with that term.

Philipp was a recipient of the SA Sportabzeichen.

He was found fit for combat duty on October 31, 1939 and classified as untrained, not called up, under age 35.

In an entry dated February 21, 1940, it appears that Philipp chose to enter the Schutzpolizei instead of active military duty.

Info from the German War Graves Site:

Rank at death: Polizei-Zugwachtmeister

Date of Death: March 12, 1944

Place of Death: Northwest of Newel, Russia

http://www.traveljournals.net/explor...057/newel.html

Buried: Sebesh, Russia

http://www.maplandia.com/russia/psko...-rayon/sebezh/

I believe his place of death puts him within the operating zone of Army Group North.

Well, that's about it. I will post images of each page in the Wehrpass that contains any writing. I will also post a screen shot from the German War Graves site.

If anyone could help me determine or at least narrow the possible Polizei units that Philipp served with at the time of his death, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Edited July 22, 2008 by Valkyrie

[Guest Rick Research]

A Schieferspalter is a slate splitter. That is, he was trained as craftsman who made slate roofing tiles. My great grandfather was a slate roofer-- I still have his "mountaineering" hammer which had a long blunt "pick" opposite the hammer head to tap out the holes by which each such "blank" tile was individually fastened.

I'm quite surprised that he could have risen to the Police equivalent of Feldwebel in less than 4 years of service. If the entry showing he volunteered for Police service in February 1940 wasn't there, I'd have suspected that he already WAS a career policeman. I'd have expected at the least 6 years to reach that rank, especially in somebody with NO apparent military or police service before 1940. Perhaps he had belonged to the S.A. or some other Party uniformed branch whose service gave him a seniority edge?

[Valkyrie]

A Schieferspalter is a slate splitter. That is, he was trained as craftsman who made slate roofing tiles. My great grandfather was a slate roofer-- I still have his "mountaineering" hammer which had a long blunt "pick" opposite the hammer head to tap out the holes by which each such "blank" tile was individually fastened.

I'm quite surprised that he could have risen to the Police equivalent of Feldwebel in less than 4 years of service. If the entry showing he volunteered for Police service in February 1940 wasn't there, I'd have suspected that he already WAS a career policeman. I'd have expected at the least 6 years to reach that rank, especially in somebody with NO apparent military or police service before 1940. Perhaps he had belonged to the S.A. or some other Party uniformed branch whose service gave him a seniority edge?

Hi Rick,

So that is what a Schieferspalter is. Thank you very much.

You make a very good point regarding his rank. I recall reading that the great majority of NCOs (at least in the case of the Feldgendarmerie) were recruited from within the existing Police NCO ranks. I am not sure, however, if S.A. men would receive the similar benefit of having their ranks honored upon transitioning to the Polizei. It certainly sounds reasonable.

Do you have any idea which unit this man could have possibly served with at the time of his death?

[Chris Boonzaier]

I think the cahnces of finding out are zero from the limited info given in the Wehrpass :-(

[Valkyrie]

I think the cahnces of finding out are zero from the limited info given in the Wehrpass :-(

Hello Chris,

Thank you for chiming in. I appreciate the response.

[Chris Boonzaier]

My wifes grandfathers Wehrpass is the same dead end. A Heeres Pionier in 1938. To the Navy the same year as a doctor. It ends there.

Luckily I have all the other documents to add to it. On its own the Wehrpass did not do the man justice.

It is great that you have the other info.

best

Chris

[Valkyrie]

My wifes grandfathers Wehrpass is the same dead end. A Heeres Pionier in 1938. To the Navy the same year as a doctor. It ends there.

Luckily I have all the other documents to add to it. On its own the Wehrpass did not do the man justice.

It is great that you have the other info.

best

Chris

Hi Chris,

Perhaps one day the missing pieces to this man's service will surface. I have seen it happen a few times. I might try and make a WASt request for further information. I know that they ordinarily do not release information to non-family, but it is worth a try. :)