Professional Research

[Angus M]

Can anyone help me. I'm looking to find out about a senior officer (an oberst and regimental commander of an infantry regiment) and are there any researches in Germany that have access to the german archives to find out about officers. The officer in question survived the war but died in 1960. It would be useful if this individual's records would be available and his division records.

In hope

Angus M

[Rick Research]

You're unlikely to get anywhere with official sources.

Who do you want to find out about, and what do you already know? What do you WANT to know?

We are often able to provide substantial information here from our variety of sources.

[Ed_Haynes]

Are there any records in the archives, though?

Has anyone looked?

(OK, I don't read the BDOS journal, guilty as charged!)

Ed Haynes

[mravery]

research addresses

Hey Guys,

Here are a couple of addresses I use for German WW2 Officer's records:

US archives:

National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Rd.
College Park, MD.
20740-6001
Attn. Modern Military Records

(you will need to purchase the microfilm role)


or in Germany:

Bundesarchiv-Zentralnachweisstelle
Abteigarten 6 52076
Aachen-Kornelimuenster
Germany

(I have had limited luck with this one over the past couple of yours. They used to have some great stuff and would look it up for you. Now they are not so inclined)

Hope this helps !

Later
Mark

[Angus M]

Many thanks for the responses. I think I already have all the information that is available from this forum (see previous thread on ObdH Commendation and Oberst Karl Mellwig) ie senior awards, peace time affiliation unit from 44/45 Rangliste. He died on the 31st August 1960 and it would be useful to find out where he died.

What I am after is to find any service records for him ie early service pre-43, did he have any wounds, what were his other awards ie IAB, etc, did he end up a POW in Russia, etc. Also I am after which town he came from or where he lived.

As I'm based in the UK I do not have ready access to the archives in Germany or the States and I wondered if their are any researchers that have that access in the above countries. In the UK we have researchers that provide a service to find out details as above of british military personnel and units at the Public Records Office (PRO).

As the officer in question (Oberst Karl Mellwig) was awarded a RK, I am also looking for a photograph of him.

Thanks
Angus M

[mravery]

Hello Angus,

I can't speak for the German archives however I believe that there are researchers available (for a fee) for the records in Washington.

Write a letter (to the address I posted earlier) and ask then=m this question... I have worked with these folks before in the past and they seem to be helpful.

If there are 3rd parties that will do the research ofr you, they will have the contact information.

Or.. as I mentioned earlier, if you give them the Orricer's name.. they will tell you which role of microfilm his records are on and you can order it (for about $30)... Then you somply take it to your local library and perform the look up yourself....

Cheers
Mark

[Angus M]

Hello Mark,
thanks for this, I sent off a request to the US Archives yesterday which look useful. I will let you know how I get on once I get a response.
Many thanks
Angus M

[TJ Suter]

Angus, you can also try:

Bundesarchiv
Postfach 320
56003 Koblenz
Germany

I have recently obtained some records from them and they were very responsive.

Good luck.

[Angus M]

Thanks, I'll see how I get on with the US first before trying the German Archives as my German is pretty poor for writing letters.
regards
angus m

[Ralph Heinz]

German Archives

Perhaps the Bundesarchiv in Koblenz is more responsive but I sent two letters in German to the Bundesarchiv Zentralnachweisstelle in Aachen and Bundesarchiv Abt. VI - Militararchiv in Freiberg on Aug. 5 seeking information for my cousin concerning her father, an Oberfeldwebel in the LW and she hasn't heard a word back yet!

She'd like to know something about her father who died in Jan. 1946 of illness contracted as a POW in Allied hands. A letter to the German War Graves Commission in July got a quick and respectful response so she at least knows where her father is buried but the other two archives can't seem to be bothered to reply after 5 1/2 months.

My conclusion is that certain German archives don't welcome our inquiries even when they come from the children of the men the request is about let alone one of us collectors.

[Kai-Steffen M.]

Here in Germany, archives with third reich material are not supposed to give information to the public (wether family or collectors) to prevent any neo-nazi beliefs to be spread or the nacionalsacialism to be made look harmless etc.- Collecting third reich stuff is looked upon (by officials as well as the general public) as to be very close to the border of crime- you better dont tell people you do so because in no time you will have the Bundesverfassungsschutz in your home :o)
So- especially as the foreigner and collector- the chance of getting information from there is not too high.

Gruß,
KSM

[Colin F]

Bundearchiv Zentralnachweisstelle

Angus

I have had similar problems to you in getting service records (Personalakte). The one bit of success has been with a Luftwaffe fighter pilot (I have his award docs and various photos) who died in 1994. Luckily I managed to locate his wife who has been really helpful, she signed a letter authorising me to get copies of his service records, and remains a friend of mine. A few months back I received 27 pages of service records which have proved very valuable to my research. On other occasions I have received a polite reply but nothing, although these pilots were not officers. A bit of lateral thinking and exploration of all avenues can also prove successful e.g. tracking down war comrades. The US option looks promising too, I may try this also.

Good luck

[Angus M]

Dear all,
I'm sorry I haven't responded earlier, but I thought I would wait until I got something positive. I have tried the US archives (National Archives and Records Administration at College Park, Maryland) via their website and have recieved a tremendous response.

I asked for the personal records of an army officer and they have his personal records available on microfilm. I also asked for his Divisional records (337th Infantry Division, so pretty ordinary) which they again they have and sent photo copies of what data they have in an index (entitled "Guides to German Records Microfilmed at Alexandria, VA No.73 Records of German Field Commands (328th-369th), Part XIII) so you can select what data you want to order, again on microfilm.

To show how detailed the index is here is an example:
1943/10/07 - Bayevo, Lenino, Astashkovichi, Sysoyevo. Gorki, Tushkovo, Pronya River section - Defensive and assault operations, regrouping training.
For this period it details what actions took place, war journals, interrogation summaries, maps, overlays, after action reports, records of radio and telephone conversations, etc, etc.

In total there is 1 microfilm for the personal service record and 11 rolls for the divisional records. At 39 dollars for each microfilm for sending overseas this is good value if you collect a specific division and want some very detailed history. At this stage, I'm just going for the service record and then I'll select some specific dates from the divisional histories.

Thanks everyone for their help in pointing me in the right direction.
Angus M