Wehrpass unit and service help

[Willmore]

Hello everyone,

Just a quick couple of questions about the units and service in a Wehrpass. The Wehrpass belonged to a member of the Luftwaffe, who served with the condor legion during the Spanish Civil War.

Service history.

1. 1/4/1933 - 30/9/1933 - 9./a.R.6
2. 1/10/1933 - 30/9/1934 - 2./F.6
3. 1/10/1934 - 30/9/1935 - 1./ F. W
4. 1/10/1935 - 7/11/1936 - 3./ Flak.Regt.13
5. 8/11/36 - 4/8/37 - R. L. M sonderstab w.
6. 5/8/1937 - 1/10/1837 - 2./ Flak.Regt.13
7. 1/10/1937 - 31/7/1938 - 1./ Flak.Regt.13
8. 1/8/1938 - 24/8/1939 - Stabs Batterie Festungs Flak abtlg 31
9. 25/8/1939 - 14/10/1939 - W. Fest.Flak rgt. 31, Traben Trarbach
10. 15/10/1939 - 17/2/1940 - 6. Batterie Res.Fest.Flakabt.311
11. 18/2/1940 - 14/3/1940 - 2. Res.Fest.Flakabt.322
12. 15/3/1940 - 17/12/1940 - Nachsch. Stelle f. Bebe.2 Aun. Saarbrcken.
13. 18/12/1940 - 20/1/1941 - Flak-Rgt.138
14. 21/1/1941 - 16/6/1944 - Flg.H.Kdtr Metz-Frescaty
15. 17/6/1944 - 30/6/1944 - Stab-Flak.Rgt.49
16. 1/7/1944 - 14/9/1944 - 1./ Lei.Flakabt.973 (o)
17. 15/9/1944 - Luftgaukommando XII/XIII

I’m pretty confident with the translation apart from these units below

Number 8) 1/8/1938 - 24/8/1939 - Stabs Batterie Festungs Flak abtlg 31
Number 9) 25/8/1939 - 14/10/1939 - W. Fest.Flak rgt. 31, Traben Trarbach
Number 11) 18/2/1940 - 14/3/1940 - 2. Res.Fest.Flakabt.322
Number 12) 15/3/1940 - 17/12/1940 - Nachsch. Stelle f. Bebe.2 Aun. Saarbrucken.

My second question is - his last award and promotion were,

1/5 1940 - Deutschen Schutzwall Ehrenzeichen (West wall medal)
1/1/1941 - Oberwachtmeister

My understanding is that this is because of his trade or speciality, eg he was a member of various regiment staffs and not a ‘frontline’ soldier.

Any help, guidance or input is greatly appreciated,

Kind regards,

Will

[Willmore]

Promotion page from the Wehrpass.

Last promotion listed -

Oberwachtmeister - 1/1/1941.

[Archi]

Hello !

I think you did a good job on deciphering and I would agree with most of your readings.

Where I would suggest something different :
9. 25/8/1939 - 14/10/1939 - W. Fest.Flak rgt. 31, Traben Trarbach
I would read : Stb. [=Stab] Fest.Flak Rgt. 31

12. 15/3/1940 - 17/12/1940 - Nachsch. Stelle f. Bebe.2 Aun. Saarbrcken.
I would read : Nachsch. Stelle f. Bekl. & Ausr. Saarbrücken
[= Nachschubstelle für Bekleidung und Ausrüstung, located at Saarbrücken]
Not totally sure on the second one though ....

The second question I do not understand :
The Schutzwallabzeichen was awarded to almost anybody, somehow involved in the building of the Westwall.
This could be soldiers or RAD building the actual fortifications, but also men of assisting field units,
here : Flak-Abt./Rgt. 31
http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/fest31.html

The rank (Ober-) Wachtmeister is just a variant of/equivalent to : (Ober-) Feldwebel and is independent
of the task (frontline or rearward position).

Best regards,

Archi

[Willmore]

Thank you for your kind words and help Archi, I really appreciate it. I am getting better at reading the writing, but I am definitely still learning!

Sorry I didn’t phrase my second question very well, I meant can anyone tell me what his profession in the Luftwaffe was.

I can see on page 20 he was trained on normal small arms and on page 21 he had his führerschein klasse 2 und 3.

Also in page 21, I can see he went on a course (lehrgang) 17/5 - 22/5/43. Possibly ‘befestigung’.

But there is nothing I can see that points to his actual role or job.

Kind regards,

Will

[Gerdan]

In some enries you find that he was envolved with "Bekleidung" (clothing/textile).

What was his civil profession ? Tyler?

Gerdan

[Willmore]

Brilliant, thank you Gerdan,

So the way I understand it, he would have been a Luftwaffe quartermaster. Is that right?

Kind regards,

Will

[Willmore]

In some enries you find that he was envolved with "Bekleidung" (clothing/textile).

What was his civil profession ? Tyler?

Gerdan

Here is his civilian occupation.

[pauke]

Trained to be a baker.

[Willmore]

Thank you pauke.

[Ian Jewison]

R.L.M. Sonderstab W was the special Staff formed to oversee the German operations in Spain with the Legion Condor.


/Ian

[Willmore]

R.L.M. Sonderstab W was the special Staff formed to oversee the German operations in Spain with the Legion Condor.


/Ian

Hi Ian, thank you,

It was the Sonder Stab W, and award entries that attracted me to the Wehrpass.

I have had some great help so far, but I’m struggling to find out what his specialty was. I’m leaning towards some kind of quartermaster related role, but can’t get a definitive answer.

Kind regards,

Will

[Ian Jewison]

Incidentally it's not the West Wall Medal he was awarded but the Shooting Lanyard - Schützenabzeichen 1 Stufe


/Ian

[Willmore]

Incidentally it's not the West Wall Medal he was awarded but the Shooting Lanyard - Schützenabzeichen 1 Stufe


/Ian

Thanks you Ian, I really appreciate the translation for that.

Sorry, I should have posted the awards page earlier.

Kind regards,

Will

[Willmore]

* For some reason the photo upload page isn’t working, it just won’t load, so I will try to post the photo of the awards page later today.

For now here is what is written on the page.

Dienstauszeichnung iv klasse für 4 jahre dienstzeit in der Wehrmacht
(The Wehrmacht Long Service Award fourth class)
Medal awarded - 9.11.37

Medalla de la Campaña 1936−1939
(The Medal for the Campaign of 1936−1939)
Medal awarded - 30.9.38

Medalla Militar
(The Military medal)
Medal awarded - 30.9.38

Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwertern
(The Spanish Cross in Silver with swords)
Medal awarded - 6.6.39

Deutschen Schutzwall Ehrenzeichen
(West wall medal)
Medal awarded - 1.5.40

Die Richtigkeit der Eintragung vorstehender Auszeichnungen bestätigt
Metz Frescaty 1.7.42
(The correctness of the entries of the listed awards is confirmed/The correctness of the registration of previous awards is confirmed)

Eine Armbanduhr zum Preis von RM 22, erhalten Metz, den 31.1.1944 Unterzeichnet Stabszahlmeister
(A wristwatch received for RM 22/Got a wristwatch for RM 22 - Met

[Willmore]

* Eine Armbanduhr zum Preis von RM 22, erhalten Metz, den 31.1.1944 Unterzeichnet Stabszahlmeister
(A wristwatch received for RM 22, Got a wristwatch for RM 22 - Metz, 31.1.1944 Signed by Staff Paymaster