Wehrpasses from the Norwegian national archives

[Eric JB]

His name doesn't appear on the volksbund database..but that isn't so surprising.

Great thread Simon.


Thank you for showing all these gems.


One question, the last date in his Wehrpaß is 9.5.1945, so why would he be mentioned on the Volksbund database as he did survive the war.


Best regards


Eric-Jan

[Simon O.]

His parent unit has simply closed the WP down. He was serving in a punishment battalion on the continent, there was no way for them to know his fate. This is confirmed by most of the other WP as well as the notes in them simply record the soldiers last known whereabouts, which i've seen in some cases being back in late 44.

[Eric JB]

Thank you Simon.

Best regards

Eric-Jan

[Jean-Loup]

"His parent unit has simply closed the WP down. He was serving in a punishment battalion on the continent, there was no way for them to know his fate. This is confirmed by most of the other WP as well as the notes in them simply record the soldiers last known whereabouts, which i've seen in some cases being back in late 44. "

I still dont understand why he should be listed in the Volksbund database. Was he killed in the punishement battalion?
Knowing the Germans, it is surprising his parent unit did not receive word of his whereabouts.

[Lionel H.]

One of the things i wanted to look for amongst these books is for those belonging to the 4./GAR 118 mutineers

For the background to the tragic story, here's a thread from a few years ago

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...44#post2354944


I have the list of those involved in the mutiny, most of them making it to Sweden, Sure enough, i found the first one on the list. (this list is an English translation for the allies)

Just read the other Link too.... Amazing Stories I never heard before. Great researches you made there. Fascinating. Thank you very much for the Pleasure you bring us all to share these documents and their attached Stories !! L.

[Simon O.]

"His parent unit has simply closed the WP down. He was serving in a punishment battalion on the continent, there was no way for them to know his fate. This is confirmed by most of the other WP as well as the notes in them simply record the soldiers last known whereabouts, which i've seen in some cases being back in late 44. "

I still dont understand why he should be listed in the Volksbund database. Was he killed in the punishement battalion?
Knowing the Germans, it is surprising his parent unit did not receive word of his whereabouts.

Hi JL, I'm saying that because he isn't in the VB database doesn't mean he wasn't killed, that the WP was closed doesn't tell us what his fate was.
What does the pencil written final entry say?

Going from many of the other WP i went through, the units really didn't know for sure where their men were, only why they originally left their units.

[Hank C.]

The only clue as to what happened comes in the form of who signed the last entries in the book, the adjutant of the battalion rather than an officer of the 4th battery, both of whom were murdered and the unit ceasing to exist.

I notice he was awarded the "Kreta" band....they were probably mad they had been transferred from the warm climate of the Med all the way up to Norway!!!

GREAT thread Simon, hoping you get a chance to add to it in the future.

best
Hank

[Gerdan]

Part of the pencil written entry I read

" 9.5.45 ... Wehrmachtsstrafgefängnis Anklam..."

Gerdan

[Tim DC]

Part of the pencil written entry I read
" 9.5.45 ... Wehrmachtsstrafgefängnis Anklam..."
Gerdan

I agree, and the first word should be "zum" and the last one "vers.(etzt)", indicating he was sent from his penal unit to prison just after the German surrender.
What a find... Hours and hours of great research time ahead of you, Simon. Enjoy!

[Simon O.]

I agree, and the first word should be "zum" and the last one "vers.(etzt)", indicating he was sent from his penal unit to prison just after the German surrender.
What a find... Hours and hours of great research time ahead of you, Simon. Enjoy!

I disagree on the interpretation here as the units in norway had no contact at all, let alone mundane administrative contact with the wehrmach on the continent after the surrender, i think all their doing here is speculating as soldiers under sentence were still imprisoned after the end of the war and he was given a 2 year sentence. His service with his field unit thus ended as such at the end of the war, but he was still under sentence.

Sometimes you will find post-8th may '45 unit entries from Norway, for example when they created units for various jobs, like mine clearing or reconstruction

[Simon O.]

I've been back to the archives again today, i looked through over 250 WP and a few SB today and i still haven't finished the letter B!

Here's a few of the more interesting ones i came across.


Here's Lt. Peter Bäthge, an Me.110 pilot who had 2 kills to his credit, both shot down off the Southern Norwegian coast, a Bristol Beaufighter and an RAF B-24 Liberator.

The interesting thing is that he started the war in the army, earning the EKII during the invasion of Norway as an infantryman, late '41 he transferred to the LW and ended up getting posted back there as a pilot.

[Simon O.]

His awards and promotions

[Simon O.]

His entries end on the 24 March 45, i believe that he left the unit then, being transferred to the continent, i know that he died on the 2 April '45 when the Me 109 he was flying crashed.

[Simon O.]

Keeping to the LW, here's an interesting one to a pretty rare unit.

Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen

He was ground crew, and joined the unit when it was formed in July '44 and served with it until the end, alos after it was redesignated 4./NJG 3

[Simon O.]

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