Blood Groups in Soldbücher/ Wehrpaße

[Matt L]

Hi Guys,

I'm just wondering if anyone knows specifically when a soldier's blood group began to be recorded in his Soldbuch/ Wehrpaß- any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[Gaspare]

were they recorded in the WW1 soldbuch??

[Matt L]

I wouldn't think so- blood groups were only first discovered in 1901 I think it was, and the first experiments with tranfusions were conducted during the war by Allied doctors. I'd expect that the Germans didn't really catch-on until the post-war publishing boom that I'm sure must have taken place. Apparently, even during WWII, the Germans didn't have a particularly good blood supply system in place, so I really wonder just how often transfusions took place anyway. Since the Rhesus factor wasn't discovered until after the war, there would have still been some significant hazards to the treatment.

I'm mainly interested in whether or not the blood group was listed in the Soldbuch/ Wehrpaß from the start of the war because it's my understanding that it only began to be marked on the Erkennungsmarke in mid-1941- presumably as a faster way to determine a wounded man's blood type than having to search him for his documents- but I'd heard that the Kriegsmarine was doing it much earlier, begging the question when did the Wehrmacht start testing for and recording this information.

Matt

[Ian Jewison]

Hi Matt,

The printed entry for the blood group was there from introduction of the Soldbuch after mobilisation August 1939. The entry should be made in red ink, however this was not always followed.
It is not uncommon to see entries stating that the holder can not give blood (donor) because he has suffered from malaria!

I have just plowed through about 1 foot of orders and Verordnungsblatt but did not find anything related to the blood group and dog tag.

Regarding the Wehrpaß, I would imagine it was the same and inserted after mobilisation. However there was no special area for this in the early style of Wehrpaß or second style, only the third from 1942 onwards. The blood group was actually written in most of the time......

I will have a dig around in my other documents later.

Regards,
Ian

[Lynton Battrick]

Blood Group Entry..

Hi Ian,
Quoting this from your above post..
However there was no special area for this in the early style of Wehrpaß or second style, only the third from 1942 onwards. The blood group was actually written in most of the time......

I am led to to believe that the second Type Wehrpass had a Sub-Version that had a space for the Blood group at the bottom of page 2.I have an example of this version and include a scan here for you..
Best regards,Lynton.

[Matt L]

Thanks Ian and Lynton- that's very interesting information. It seems a little odd that the Soldbuch would have a soldier's blood group recorded, but the Wehrpaß wouldn't, but then again I seem to recall that the Erkennungsmarke's markings weren't recorded in the early Wehrpässe either- or at least there was no formal spot for the information anyway.

I'll be very curious to know if you find anything else Ian.

Cheers

Matt

[Ian Jewison]

Thanks Ian and Lynton- that's very interesting information. It seems a little odd that the Soldbuch would have a soldier's blood group recorded, but the Wehrpaß wouldn't, but then again I seem to recall that the Erkennungsmarke's markings weren't recorded in the early Wehrpässe either- or at least there was no formal spot for the information anyway.

I'll be very curious to know if you find anything else Ian.

Cheers

Matt

Yes, the early style Wehrpaß with droop winged eagle and second style from 1937 were pre mobilisation and there were no requirements for dog tags in peacetime!

There is also a modernised version of the second style from February 1939 which again is pre mobilisation without the entry, however I do not have any others to hand at the moment except the last style brought in in 1942 which does have the Blood group along with personal description as in the Soldbuch.

I will post these later......

Lynton's version is the second style which has been updated....what is the date of issue of this Wehrpaß and what date is on the reverse where printer is? (Metten & Co. Berlin, SW 61)

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Found it.....Lynton's is the second style with reprinting/updating from 1940.

That is when the Blood group appeared in the Wehrpaß.

Written to the reverse of this one:

Metten & Co., Nationaler Werbedruck, Berlin SW 61
Neudruck November 1940

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Here's a Soldbuch from 25.8.1939 after mobilisation.

[Ian Jewison]

Clearly can be seen the Blood group and according to orders, written in red

[Lynton Battrick]

Hi Ian,
Don't quite know what is going on with mine,Mine has the following printed on the reverse,

Metten & Co., Nationaler Werbedruck, Berlin SW 61
Neudruck Februar 1939

Not the other with November 1940 on.

The Wehrpass itself has been issued in 1943 I would think as a Zweitschrift,as this man began his Military service in 1921.
Regards,Lynton.

[Lynton Battrick]

Hi again Ian,
Here is a poor quality photo to show the markings on the back of this Wehrpass.
Thanks,lynton.

[Ian Jewison]

Hi Ian,
Don't quite know what is going on with mine,Mine has the following printed on the reverse,

Metten & Co., Nationaler Werbedruck, Berlin SW 61
Neudruck Februar 1939

Not the other with November 1940 on.

The Wehrpass itself has been issued in 1943 I would think as a Zweitschrift,as this man began his Military service in 1921.
Regards,Lynton.

Strange....I only had about 20 to hand of which 10 were Februar 1939 and none had a blood group section on page 2!!!!
Will have another look through others when I return home.

/Ian

[Lynton Battrick]

Hi Ian,

Looking at it , there maybe a chance that the cover of this Werhpass has been replaced at some point.Although if it has,it was some time ago,as there does seem to be some traces of glue on the spine.I don't know if this is a possilbilty,but it could be an answer to why the printing date doesn't match.
Thanks,Lynton.

[Gary T]

Hi Ian,

Looking at it , there maybe a chance that the cover of this Werhpass has been replaced at some point.Although if it has,it was some time ago,as there does seem to be some traces of glue on the spine.I don't know if this is a possilbilty,but it could be an answer to why the printing date doesn't match.
Thanks,Lynton.

I just looked at a couple. Second one was 'Neudruck Februar 1939' and that has the blood group section. The other 'Neudruck Februar 1939' doesn't have the blood group section.