KG40/KG2 Wehrpass

[stgeorge64]

Can anyone please help in translating the 'Aktiver Wehrdienst' pages on this Wehrpass issued to a Bordfunker who flew with KG40 and KG2?

hucks216 has kindly helped however, there are still some entries which I need to complete the picture.

So far I have:

26/5/41 - Operations in the homeland ............???

1/8/41-18/10/41 - Airwar over/against England..........???

20/10/41-1/1/42 - Operations over the Atlantic area against English......????

2/1/42-20/4/42 - Operations in the area of operations against England.

Also, on page 34 the entry beneath Gefallen I am unsure of, especially as he is already entered as Gefallen on the previous page.

Finally, it is usual for the final entries and stamps when the holder was KIA to be entered by the Stabsquartier rather than the Staka or Gruppenkommandeur?

All help will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Gerdan]

Here the German text:

21. 6.41 - Einsatz im Heimatkriegsgebiet Fligerhorst Landsberg / Lech

1.8.41 - Luftkrieg gegen England

18.10.41 - Kampf gegen Geleitzüge an der Englischen Ostküste . Angriffe gegen englische
Rüstungswerke und gegen Einfuhrhäfen
Einsatzhafen Soesterberg
Feindflüge

20.10.41 - Einsatz über dem Atlantik gegen die englische Handelsschiffahrt

2.1.42 - Einsatz im Operationsgebiet (Holland) gegen England

Insgesamt 4 Feindflüge.
page 33

am 29.4.42 gefallen


page 34

29.4.42 gefallen

s.(iehe) Eintr.(ag) Seite 33




Gerdan

[Eric JB]

Hi Richard,

Can you show some other pages too, or give some information.

Did he first fly with KG.40 and then with KG.2 ? (KIA with KG.40 or KG.2 ?).

Can you give his full name ?

If KIA with KG.2 it is possible that he is mentioned in the books by

Ulf Balke

Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1939 - 1941 ; Die Einsätze des Kampfgeschwaders 2 gegen Polen, Frankreich, England, auf dem Balkan und in Rußland / Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1941 - 1945 ; Die Einsätze des Kampfgeschwaders 2 gegen England und über dem Deutschen Reich

Sorry to say that I have no longer the KG.2 books myself.

And there is a very small possibility that he is mentiond in the Focke-Wulf 200 Condor books.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[Gerdan]

I found two from KG 2 KIA in Soesterberg (Crash landed):

29./30.4.1942 : Uffz. Hermann Schiffer and Uffz. Alfred Kawoluk


Gerdan

[stgeorge64]

Gerdan & Eric

Thank you very much indeed for your help with this Wehrpass recording the military career of Uffz. Hermann Schiffer.

I have carried out some preliminary research on this man, I just wanted to sort of the 'Wehrdienst' pages before I dive in deeper. He is indeed mentioned in Ulf Balke's book, as a casualty on the 'Baedecker Raid' on Norwich.

When it is fully researched I shall post on this forum showing the results.

I have posted the units page here as requested, and I have a question concerning the previously posted Wehrdienst pages.

Is the Insgesamt 4 Feindflüge entry solely referring to the '2.1.42 - Einsatz im Operationsgebiet (Holland) gegen England' entries or Schiffers entire military service in KG40/KG2?

Any help as always will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Eric JB]

Hi Richard,

I have no idea what exactly to make of it, it first show Feindflüge, but not how many he made till then filled in, maybe they didn't know how many Feindflüge he did make till that date, so they left it open.
And the other Feindflüge entry does show that he made four of them, maybe that is the number of Feindflüge he made with his last operational unit.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[stgeorge64]

Hi Richard,
I have no idea what exactly to make of it, it first show Feindflüge, but not how many he made till then filled in, maybe they didn't know how many Feindflüge he did make till that date, so they left it open.
And the other Feindflüge entry does show that he made four of them, maybe that is the number of Feindflüge he made with his last operational unit. yours friendly Eric-Jan

Eric

I think it is as you say, it does appear there is a gap before 'Feindflüge' is written on the page regarding his KG40 entries, maybe it was because the total was for some reason unknown, I do not think we will ever know for sure.

This of course raises the question as to whether he was entitled to the FFS fur Kampfflieger in Bronze. There are no awards listed in the Wehrpass however, a portrait photo (repeated on his Sterebild) shows the Fliegerschutzen abzeichen being worn on his Fliegerbluse. So.........if his qualification award is not listed it is not unreasonalbe to think he might of also been awarded the FFS in Bronze and this was also ommited from the Wehrpass.

Serving in two Kampfgeschwader for a considerable amount of time, I would of expected his total missions to fo exceeded 4. It is a possibility however, it is also speculation.

Finally, it is usual in a Wehrpass for the final entries and stamps when the holder was KIA to be entered by the Stabsquartier rather than the Staka or Gruppenkommandeur?

Regards Richard.

[Ian Jewison]

There are no awards listed in the Wehrpass however, a portrait photo (repeated on his Sterebild) shows the Fliegerschutzen abzeichen being worn on his Fliegerbluse. So.........if his qualification award is not listed it is not unreasonalbe to think he might of also been awarded the FFS in Bronze and this was also ommited from the Wehrpass.

That is not uncommon at all that a qualification badge is missing from the Wehrpass....if there is mention that he completed the training for whatever role on page 21 then he should be entitled to that badge.....however other awards who knows...you could say that about every Soldbuch or Wehrpass!

If he did have a Spange it would be Bronze....then there is a possibility he could have an EK II also....however those I would have expected to be mentioned on his death card.....unless posthumous and this took a long time to award.

Every Wehrpass to someone missing or killed in action has this dilemma!!!! Then of course those that were not also has a simliar dilemma.....I have one Soldbuch where the NKS in Silber, Heeres Flak Abz. and Ehrenblattspange are not entered but supporting evidence proves it................without evidence then it is what it is..........

I have seen some deales hike the price up because "he should be entitled to more awards"...how the hell do they know

/Ian

[stgeorge64]

Ian, beleive me I am very pleased with this Wehrpass (as part of a small group) for what is it, and not what it might be. My main driver for purchasing the set was the fact that he was killed as a result of a raid on Norwich, a city where I lived and worked for some time.

I am content that his only proven award is the Fliegerschutzen Abzeichen, because I have a photo of him wearing it, any other awards are only conjecture until proven otherwise. I raised the point about the possible FFS in Bronze simply due to his length of service in two frontline Kampfgeschwader, allied to a blank again his Feindflüge entries whilst serving in KG40.

As you say however, there are dealers out there who will imply that the former owner "should of been entitled to further awards" and ask an inflated price accordingly, however in this case, I just bought the set for what it was, a link to a place where I lived and worked (but never took to the football team!)

Regards Richard.

[Hundestaffel]

Another KG 40 / KG 2 veteran:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ighlight=KG+40


"Hundestaffel"

[Ian Jewison]

Taken from:

Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1939 - 1941 ; Die Einsätze des Kampfgeschwaders 2 gegen Polen, Frankreich, England, auf dem Balkan und in Rußland / Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1941 - 1945 ; Die Einsätze des Kampfgeschwaders 2 gegen England und über dem Deutschen Reich. Autor Ulf Balke

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

And "The Blitz. Then and Now" Volume 3.

/Ian

[stgeorge64]

Ian thank you very much for the additional information, and in particular the aerial shot of the fine old city (I am sure I recongise Castle Hill on there!)

I keep toying with purchasing 'The Blitz Then and Now' 3 Volume set, I think this will tip the balance and ensure I do indeed buy them.

When the research is complete I will post it on this forum for all to see.

Hundestaffel, a nice set indeed, to which I have answered on the original thread.

Regards Richard.