SS Totenkopf Wehrpass "Le Paradis massacre"

[Oberbootsmann]

.....

[Oberbootsmann]

...

[Oberbootsmann]

..

[Oberbootsmann]

.

[Oberbootsmann]

Hello. I'd like to introduce a very rare and interesting Wehrpass and document lot of a Unterscharführer of the "SS Totenkopf Infanterie Regiment 2". That soldier was one of 17 SS soldiers who had died on May 27th 1940 in "The battle of Le Paradis" in Northern France. The commanding officer of his unit, SS Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein, took revenge for their death and gave order to kill 99 unarmed British soldiers. Two of them survived the slaughtering. That is called the "Le Paradis massacre" which was one of the worst things the SS ever did.
The Wehrpass has a total of 3 entries of SS Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein. This Wehrpass is the only existing one known, referring directly to the "Le Paradis massacre".
For the ones interested in learning more of the massacre as well as the SS Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein, here are two very good links:

Le Paradis massacre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Paradis_massacre

Fritz Knöchlein: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Kn%C3%B6chlein

[Eric JB]

Boots,

That is a very nice and historical SS Wehrpaß you show us here on WAF.

Interesting to see that Knöchlein himself signed for the closing of the entries.

That massacre was his own death-sentence after the war.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[Oberbootsmann]

Boots,

That is a very nice and historical SS Wehrpaß you show us here on WAF.

Interesting to see that Knöchlein himself signed for the closing of the entries.

That massacre was his own death-sentence after the war.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

Thanks, Eric-Jan. Kind of scary that the very same day Knöchlein made those Wehrpass entries he gave order to kill the British soldiers.

Regards

[Tim DC]

I haven't seen many 1940 KIA SS Wehrpässe, and the connection with Le Paradis massacre makes it even more interesting... very nice indeed!

[Nordfront]

Quite unique and historical item!

Still I guess that Le Paradis-massacre is not anywhere near one of "the worst things SS ever did"...

[christof]

Rare and very interesting Wherpass. I like the Knöchlein signature to.

[Erwin L]

Very nice and interesting wehrpass. The Knöchlein makes it even more rare. Like EJ he was sentenced to death for this after the war.

regards

Erwin

[GOTZVONB]

Le Paradis massacre

Thank you for posting the pics of this wehrpass. I've been reading about the SS-TK units for many years, and this book is one of the most interesting documents that I have seen in a long time. I've read about the Le Paradis massacre in many Waffen SS history books, but this is the first time that I've seen a document related to this infamous incident. I have a death card for a SS-TK soldier KIA on 27 Mai 1940 near Arras. Thanks again for posting this rare & historical wehrpass.

[dennisb]

Very nice and early KIA SS Wehrpass, this is the first SS KIA Wehrpass that I see for may 1940.

[Oberbootsmann]

Hello and thank you guys for all the nice comments and PMs regarding the WP. Within the next couple of days I'll post pictures of the Feldpost letters belonging to the WP because I can't read the "Old German" writing. Perhaps someone might help me translating them. There are some letters from the SS Totenkopf Division as well as from the Oberkommando of the WH.
It depends on my brother how quick I can show them as I'm at my Argentine residence at the moment and he he has to take the pictures of the documents in Germany.

Regards

[stgeorge64]

As a paperwork/document collector with an avid interest in the Waffen-SS units, I can only echo the previous sentiments as to what a truly historical event this Wehrpass represents.

Added to the fact the the man held respnsible for the atrocity has signed the Wehrpass on the same day, it is a remarkable piece which certainly warrants some reflection.

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to put this up for all to see.

Regards Richard.