Wehrpas To Werner Schulze, Aged 16.

[Albert]

Thanks Ian,

I couldn't figure out the last letter; still looks like an L to me. ROB makes perfect sense. He volunteered for service with the Waffen SS though.

Best regards,
Albert

[Ian Jewison]

Why do you say he volunteered for service with the Waffen SS?

That pages says he was a volunteer for the Werhmacht, Waffen SS or RAD.
It is dated and confirmed by his Home Recruiting H.Q. Neisse in December 1944

/Ian

[Albert]

Why do you say he volunteered for service with the Waffen SS? ... /Ian

Ian,
Check out the the markings (follow the arrows). It's hardly visible and I only noticed it yesterday myself...
Albert

[Ian Jewison]

As I said he is a volunteer (Freiwilliger)

for the Werhmacht, Waffen SS or RAD.

there is no indication there as to which arm he joined!!! All Wehrpässe printed after 1942 had Waffen SS printed there, prior to this only (Dienstpflichtiger, Freiwilliger).

The entry in Block 16 confirms he was accepted as a ROB with the Army (Heer)!!! This is the block for decisions concerning joining the Wehrmacht.

[Albert]

Ian,

What you say is correct and not being challenged. However, there is "indication", and we should not ignore it. Fact is all branches are crossed out, Waffen-SS is underlined. Fact also is that the kid went to the Heer. None is mutualy exclusive or contradictory to what I had said before.

To me the entries suggest that the kid could have volunteered for service with the Waffen-SS, and took his medical exam on Dec. 2nd 1944 as a volunteer to the Waffen-SS. Three months later, however, on Feb. 21st, it was decided he'd go Army as an officer candidate.

Sure, the SS had their own recruitment offices but considering this was happening between Dec. 1944 and Feb. 1945 I would not say that's an impossible scenario.

Albert

PS Sorry, oriignaly this wasn't even my post...

[Ian Jewison]

Sorry Albert I didn't see the markings/crossing out, I saw your arrows but I thought you were pointing out the obvious!!
Yes, he could well have volunteered for the SS but for whatever reason he joined the Army.....

/Ian

[Gary T]

Sorry Albert I didn't see the markings, I saw your arrows but I thought you were pointing out the obvious!!
Yes, he could well have volunteered for the SS but for whatever reason he joined the Army.....

/Ian

Fooled me as well...didn't see the faint markings...

[Albert]

Thank Goodness!!! You know, you guys made me wonder for a minute there...