Errors on the German Graves Site

[Johnny R]

Have people noticed errors in rank etc. on the Wargraves site? I am just wondering if mistakes have been observed etc. I seem to have what appears to be a perfect match but the rank is too low a grade for a 1939 Stabsarzt, listed as "Oberarzt" on the site KIA in 1944. I was thinking it could be a typo from Oberstarzt which would make sense

[tenoriodj]

Hi John, im sure there are errors as well as missing info

[Gerdan]

The German Volksbund in Kassel has a lot of problems with the documents dealing with the soldier KIA and the informations they have in their files on theses persons.

As they do not have the WASt documents which are in Berlin they mostly have to work with the reduced archive material listed by the German grave registration officers of WWII. And these officers had often to do their job under the worsest circumstances.

Gerdan



Gerdan

[Johnny R]

Thanks, all of the typos are understandable given the task at hand from the documents left. A 35 year old Oberstarzt surgeon seems feasible.

[Jean-Loup]

I have seen a case where the rank was definetly wrong (Grenadier instead of Gefreiter), and an other where the hometown was wrong; and I have only searched a few soldiers. So I think a mistakes are very lickely.

JL

[Simon O.]

Errors of +-one rank grade seem to be relatively common.

[Johnny R]

Thanks, Jean and Simon. The other thing seems to be the common post-death promotions are not on the website but are in the Wehrpass. They must have done this to increase the widows payments etc.?

[Panzer Rob]

I have had instances where the date of death, rank and also home town listed have been incorrect. In two instances I have found that the KIA soldier's name and info are not recorded at all...

It's a great tool but it does have its issues... That said, I am glad it exists and that there is a continued effort to maintain and update the information.

Rob