Award entry in KM Wehrpass

[erichcraciun]

Hello:

The award entry to this KM Maat Zierow of the 4. Marinekraftwagenausbildungs Abteilung.

As a member of the KM he received the KVK 2. Klasse without swords, then three months later the EK 2. Klasse. He was part of the Marinekraftwagenausbildung Abteilung which was in action in the Terek area of Russia and in Italy. I believe this unit later became part of the Marine Kleinkampf unit.

Erich Craciun

[Angel Farré]

Interesting evolution, from a non combat award like the KVK without swords to a bravery medal, very nice piece, could you say us something about this unit, what was its main task, where it was and where it combat? I must confess I know almost nothing about KM and I like to expand my knowledge.

Angel

[erichcraciun]

Ian Jewison told me everything about this book that I know. Apparently these units supplied unit in the rear areas of Russia (hard to believe, but naval supply units far from the coast) and later became part of Small Combat units (frogmen). Zierow died on 10. Juni 1944 in Montalcino, Italy. A post war letter from 1948 from the Community of Montalcino that came with the Wehrpass says that he was buried in the communial cemetery. I also have an article about these units in action in Russia that was published in Soldat im Volk a few years ago. I will have to find it.

Erich Craciun

[Angel Farré]

Ian, master in the decyphering art of Soldbuch and Wehrpass, I always wonder when he couldn't find an answer to our questions? this day a myth will be dead, I hope never reach this time.

Angel

[Ian Jewison]

Thanks for your kind words....hopefully I will be around for a long time to come!!!

I must admit on the face of it this Wehrpaß didn't look all that interesting until you started looking at his units.....Erich did manage to find an article on the K-Verband unit that was quite revealing!

/Ian

[Rick Research]

I can't believe that any serving member IN the MILITARY got the KVK WITHOUT Swords. All military personnel automatically got the swords because of their status, not for anything having to do with "in the face of the enemy" or not.

In the absence of a confirming award document or a photo of him wearing a ribbon bar KVK without swords, I'd say this was a clerical error... some harried clerk copying without thinking and making an error.

Civilians and paramilitary types (RAD etc) could get KVKs with or without swords, but I have NEVER encountered a Wehrmacht recipient other than "civilian" Beamten who got a KVK withOUT Swords.

[Ian Jewison]

I do have a copy of this somewhere but wouldn't know where to start looking at the moment!

Erich, What was the date of the Award? Was this prior to his military service?

Mind you Rick, with that said I have one that I will post later to a Kriegsmarine Oberzahlmeister who has KVK II o/S and KVK II m/S whilst as a serving member, however he also had the Luftschutzdienst Medaille so maybe he got it for his part time role and/or status?

More later, Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Heres the photo and page 1 to the Marine Oberzahlmeister....you can just see his ribbon bar but not enought to tell what he is wearing!!!

[Ian Jewison]

Page 4 showing his awards of KVK II with and without Swords.....also the Air Defence Medal II Grade...

/Ian

[erichcraciun]

Hi Ian,

he was awared the KVK 2. Klasse on 30.11.42 - just a few months before he won the EK 2!!! At that time he was already a member of the KM.

Erich

[Rick Research]

However, Ian's fellow was a "Marineverwaltungsinspekteur," a civilian employee when he got the KVK2.

In the past, we've seen a KVM to a civilian army motor pool mechanic here, and I posted a KVK2 which is still in my files somewhere if lost on the original ancient post from my old image hosting site of a civilian PLUMBER attached to the German military mission in Rome!

Now Erich has to root out his paperwork and show us how his strange award could have happened

[erichcraciun]

Rick:

unfortunately, I cannot tell you much more about Kraftfahrer Maat der Reserve Karl Heinz Zierow. He enlisted on 14.7.1939 and was KIA on 10. June 1944. He received all grades of the military driver's license, was a driving instructor and traded on the "Flak SB (Land)".

I have not yet looked on the Kriegsgraeber page, but it still would not help in determining why he was award the KVK 2. Klasse without swords.

As for Ian's book with both 'versions' of the KVK 2.Klasse with and without swords - how exactly would these awards be worn?

Erich Craciun

[Ian Jewison]

Hi Rick,
I thought "Marineverwaltungsinspekteur" was Beamten not a civilian with Military rights? Marineoberzahlmeister was the same rank if I remember correctly but after reorginisation of these "TSD" ranks during 1944.
If as you say he was in this position when he received the KVK II o/S, he was also in this position when he received KVK m/S!!!!
As can be seen he is clearly wearing a uniform in the photo....I will have a look through my books

Erich,
Regarding your KVK, when did he join the KM....could this have been a late award as the paperwork too a long time to go through?
What was his civilian trade?
I know I have photocopies of this Wehrpaß somewhere but not been able to lay my hands on them at the moment...

/Ian

[Rick Research]

All I can say is presumably Ian's guy was of civilian employee status (a "Wehrmacht Gefolge" type with a title but no uniform) then, and laterally transferred into uniformed MILITARY Beamten status (civilians could get swords OR no swords--I have an old thread on a Hamburg Reichsbank Inpector who got one with swords for air raid civilian bravery) because I have NEVER seen "Ohne Schwerten" to anyone with Wehrmacht status.

According to regulations, when the same grade with swords was awarded, the class without swords was replaced. Both were not worn together (though you will see photos showing that being done, with 2nd Classes, anyway)-- although given that they were awarded for different things, they SHOULD have been.

Here's the one I posted for Tom from his collection ages ago, lost from an old image hosting thread. This man was a CIVILIAN plumber attached to the Luftwaffe air base at Rome!

[erichcraciun]

Zierow enlisted on 1.10.1941.