Wehrpass with a twist

[wehrpasswilly]

Here's an interesting one for the forum. Took delivery of a new wehrpass today for a Fritz Oettel of Chemnitz - DoB 13.6.1910. Wehrpass comes with the postcard shown saying that Fritz was listed as gefallen 30.3.1942. This postcard is dated 17.9.46. Entry in the wehrpass shows him as MIA from same date - However, there are entries in the pass (including the award of the drivers badge) in 1943 !!!! Could anyone throw any light on this - I am sure that all entries are period.

PS if anyone could decipher the entries from page 21 I would be most appreciative.

Regards

Paul

[wehrpasswilly]

Pics 2

Pics 2

[wehrpasswilly]

Pic 3

Pics 3

[Ian Jewison]

Paul,

Looks like a mistake on behalf of the clerk or someone somewhere reporting him killed. The card is typical from the Deutsches Dienststelle unfortunately as you can see reporting bad news!

I do not see a mention of him being missing either, page 34 states he was wounded on 30.3.1942 through a splinter of sorts but can not make it out on this laptop.

Page 21 indicates he was a messenger (Melder). 23.9.-5.10.40 he was on a driving course in Zwickau where he passed his class 2 and 3 military driving license.
Additionally he passed class 2 for heavier vehicles over 10 ton in weight.

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Towards the bottom of page 21 it states his primary use was as a heavy vehicle driver (Zgkw - prime mover) and secondary use as a 5cm PAK gunner.

/Ian

[Tim DC]

Interesting... I also own a Wehrpass grouping to a man who was supposedly KIA in the Kurland pocket. That Wehrpass does have the 'Gefallen' entry. The set even has the letter of the Kompanieführer writing the widow how he fell at the head of his platoon and that he was immediately dead, without suffering... He received a bullet in the breast while on patrol with his Radfahrzug, and his body was left as they were in enemy territory. Also included is the death letter that was printed by the widow. But then, all of a sudden, one piece of paper that changed everything: a POW certificate of discharge from 1946. Appearently, he was picked up heavily wounded from the battlefield by the Russians, and survived the war. This 'Frontschwein' (CCCiB, EKI, 7 wounds) was a real survivor indeed!