Help! Family History WWII

[TroyA]

I am in the process of gathering information of my Opa's military past.
This information I have obtained from photos and from Oma who is still alive and well today. Here is what I have got so far.

Franz Adolphs
German Army 1936 - 1945
92nd Inafantry Regiment (division ?)
Rank Obershirmeister

Opa lived in Cologne and joined the army in 1936, he served in Poland, Russia, France (a few months), and Italy.
He married the sister of one of his comrades, she was 16 he was 28.
Oma (still surviving) lost both her brothers in the war. Her brother, Opa's friend was killed in Russia leading his squad in an assault when a grenade landed in front of him. The other brother was a mechanic for the Luftwaffe and he was MIA also in Russia.
Oma and Opa lost two infants also, only one child survived - my father.

Opa reached the rank of Obershirmeister and was asked to go to Berlin to study to become an officer which he declined. He served in many places including Russia when his remaining regiment was moved to Italy just at the begining of the major Russian offensive. In Italy he was captured by the US and ended the war as a POW.

For six months he was held and finally after the war and after being processed her was set free. He made his way to the northern Russian occupied part of Germany to a small town called Grimmen where his wife and Son lived. Oma had no idea of his whereabouts or well being so I can only imagine the emotion of when he arrived unannounced at her front door.

Opa was never formally discharged.

One of opa's photos shows on his breast his ribbon bar which consists of,
War Merit Cross with crossed swords, Easternfront Medal and Sudetenland Medal.

Now this photo was taken in 1942 and it was the latest photo of him in uniform, so I am very curious to find out if he was issued any other medals or badges after that photo. Or if he was entitled to a four year service medal. Was he wounded? Would his Wehrpass have been returned. I don't seem to think so although I just don't know.

I am also interested to find out about his regiments movements and battles and any other information that would regard him and his military career.

I will post up the photos when I visit my Oma next, she will be very happy for me to do so.

If anybody has information regarding my story or where I could contact for german service records for any information it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank-you for your time

[415]

Hi,

You should write a letter to the DD WASt in Germany and try to attain his military records. Here's a link to their site: http://www.dd-wast.de/

Regards,

Chris

[Simon O.]

Hi Troy and welcome to the forum

Whilst contacting the German 'WAST' is your best bet, it will take time to get any answer. When you do you will doubtless need a little help in understanding the information so don't hesistate to ask when the time comes.

In the meantime we can try and answer a few questions.

The rank of oberschirrmeister can be translated as a Quartermaster-Sergeant or Quartermaster-sergeant-major in the British (and i'm pretty sure Aussie) army. ie. the senior NCO who looks after a company's or battalion's equipment. In many ways it's a god like job as he might have controlled things like who got new boots, uniform items etc.

Given his rank and medal ribbons as at 1942 he should have qualified for the 4 year long service medal if he joined in '36. Other than that he could well have earned the War Merit Cross 1st class later on. It sounds like he was one of the typical professional soldiers with a technical trade that signed on for 12 years. As much as the often written about German general staff, these professional NCOs were very much the backbone of the German army.

From what you say about the 92 infantry, it sounds like this could be the 92 infantry division. It was formed at the end of '43 and beginning of 1944 in Italy but it will have included men from other units that had been destroyed. The 92 was itself absorbed into the 362 infantry division in June '44 and went into American captivity at the end of the war.

[mufasa]

.......... for exemple this is another NCO death in Italy of the 92 Infanterie Division .. who knows if they were in the same regiment of your soldier....

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=367715

[TroyA]

I must apologise for not reviewing my thread for some time and to thank those that have responded.

I will write to the organisations that you speak of and see what I can gather.

I have since found that His Regiment was The 92nd Motorised Infantry Regiment.
The 92nd Infantry Regiment, in 1940 was part of the 60th Infantry Division, in 1942 the Division became the 60th [mot] Infantry Division, and in 1943 the Division was reformed the "Feldherrnhalle Division", but unsure if the 92nd was part of this new Division.

I will keep posting information I gather in the future. Hopefull it won't take too long obtaining his records though I certainly won't hold my breath.

Thank-you once again

[Gerdan]

TroyA

pay attention that you sent a copy of some personal document of your Oma/Opa when you will ask the WASt in Berlin and ensure that you are really related with Franz Adolphs. If not they will not give you any information because of privacy.
Best your Oma makes the application in her name and signs the letter personally.

Gerdan

[rbminis]

You might also want to send a copy of his death certificate.

[TroyA]

Here are some photo’s of Opa, Oma and her two Brothers. I have obtained a photo album full of photo’s during the war which is very fascinating and provides a lot of information.

First thing that I must note is some more detailed information about Opa.
Opa (Franz Adolphs) joined the army in November 1936 in Stettin and was in the 92nd Infantry Regiment. The same s Oma's elder brother Karl Heinz. Later he was posted in Stralsund and Greivswald. Oma will have more details on this later.
After the war he was in an Italian prisoner of war camp in North Italy, possibly in Turin or Mailand for approx. 6 months until everyone was processed.
His rank on enlistment was Grenadier (Private).
Then his rank was Gefreite (lance corporal in English/private first class in American.
Then he was an Unteroffizier (non-commssioned officer NCO/or corporal. One star on the uniform.
Then after a course of study in Berlin he became a Feldwebel (other name Oberschirrmeister), ie Sargeant. He held this rank until he left the army in1945 when the war ended.

Now when he became UnterOffizier or FeldWebel he was transferred from the 92nd Infantry Regiment to where I do not know as yet. However during the course of his move in rank and Regiment he obtained a specialist trade badge on his sleeve, I will post the photo. I am not exactly sure what it means.


Franz Adolphs Military Portrait.JPG

Opa - Franz Adolphs
Note the medal bar - War Merit Cross with Swords Second Class, Eastern Front Medal, Sudetenland Medal. Perhaps he was due to receive a long service medal as he was in service for 9 years. This photo taken in 1942


Opa Oma Wedding Photo Adolphs Dellwardt.jpg

Oma & Opa - Marie Louise Dellwardt & Franz Adolphs

Note his Rank. This was taken back around 1938, no quite sure.

[TroyA]

Opa Oma Photo.jpg

Oma & Opa - The effects of the war reflect in Oma's face



faceOpa's Arm Patch.jpg

Opa's Sleeve Badge. Trade Specialist Badge?

[TroyA]

Karl-Heinz Dellwardt Military Portrait.jpg

Oma' Brother - Karl-Heinz Dellwardt KIA. He was a very popular man and inspiring leader in his company.




Karl-Heinz Dellwardt Relaxed Shot in Uniform.jpg

Oma' Brother - Karl-Heinz Dellwardt KIA. Note the Sudetenland bar. He would later earn the Iron Cross Second Class for actions he took in which he became mortally wounded.

[TroyA]

[ATTACH]1465653[/ATTACH]

Oma's Brother - Hans Werner Dellwardt KIA

Interestingly this is a portrait of him when he was in the Luftwaffe as a mechanic I believe however his death certificate shows he was an SS mann.
Oma mentioned that later in the war he was dragged into the SS when thins were getting dire for Germany.






[ATTACH]1465651[/ATTACH]

Letter of Sympathy to the mother of Karl-Heinz Delwardt


This Following is a close translation.

Certified Copy
30th July 1941
The very honourable Dellwardt
Highly regarded, gracious, Lady!
It is with my great personal grief and pity to have to inform you,
your son Karl Heinz on 16th of July at 7:00 am, at the field hospital
Skrahlowka, westl. Berditsschew (Ukraine), died from serious wounds he suffered on the 14th July.
The company and especially their corps leader stood trembling and shaken at the
grave of a person who was always a good man and soldier. May I express to you our deepest and profound sympathy on your grave loss. You may like to remember that his hero’s death in battle has earned him immortality in this world and the next. This may bring you some consolation.

The Company, on the 14th July combined with the Panzer armoured division led a
brave attack on the village Ivankowzy. It was then the 3rd platoon, while offering support came under intense artillery fire.
Your son turned to his squad and in called out “Move, spread out” as he himself was sustaining serious injuries. He was such an example to his people the enemy hit him hard.
He was quickly rendered unconscious and did not suffer anymore.
He was not aware that, for his exemplary bravery
he has been awarded the Iron Cross Second Class.
Sadly his is another young life that will breath no more.
For me personally his death is a heavy loss, he was in line for promotion as my assistant.
The {Uffz.-corps } loses an ever happy and enthusiastic comrade.
His grave is in Cudnow Street, Berditschew, not far from where he died.
His personal belongings and the E.K. (Iron Cross) shall be sent to you as soon as possible.

With heartfelt condolences
I press your hand


Gez. Signature
Oberleutnant u. Komp. Fuhrer
-------------------------------

Certified Copy
Grimmen 17th November 1941
The District Administrator
Authorised By

[rbminis]

Excellant information!
I wish that I had this much info for my family. Thank you for posting this.

Any response from WAST?

[TroyA]

It is very fortunate that Oma has held on to all of her documents and a lot of photographs and I am only too happy to post them up.

I have written two letters, one to WASt in regards to Karl-Heinz and Hans Werner and one to Bundes Arkiiv in regards to Franz Adolphs. My Mother is translating them to German as we speak in the hope that it will aid in a quicker response. So they will be sent very soon and I will post info as soon as I hear.