Track down family SS Totenkopf member

[shootyourshot]

Dear collectors,

I have this WP in my collection and it is belonging to a Austrian guy from the south of Austria. He was a Nachschub driver and he went from 1939 till 1945 into the war. Unfortunately his picture was taken out and I was so curious to get a bit more info on him, so I started to do some investigation on him.

It took me more then 1 year but finally I track downed one of his sons! And after communication by letter and email he finally agreed to meet me in Austria. of course he was curious how I got his address but hey, I am not going to tell that! I respect my sources

He told me that he (son) was born in 1941 and he met his father for the 1st time in 1947 when they picked him up from the railway station when he was released. That was for him quite a shock. After 6 years he sees his dad......

of course the war was never mentioned anymore in their home and the guy from the WP died back in 1979. His son told me that his father has been always a very good familyman and he is proud of him. He asked me if I could make a copy of the WP for him which I did as this is basically the only thing he has from his dad that he was in the war. Accoridnt to him and his brother nothing has been kept, so no pictures, clothing or anything else......which I doubt a bit but I will meet him again. Maybe it takes a few times to get across hurdles .

The son told me that he never knew his father was with the SS Totenkopf, but I also doubt this as he agreed to send me pics of his father time period. I have received the pciture of his parents when they got married back in 1939 and here you can clearly see that his father is having death head on the collar board , so he could have known!

By the way can someone tell me which number you see on the collar tab? Is it 13? What does this mean?

I just wanted to share this with you all and I will post updates when necessary!

Kind regards
shootyourshot

[Luis22]

Belonging to this particular division it would be better not to dig in the past..as they say..... somethings are better left unsaid...

[Mil-Archive]

I would not rule out any communication with the family so long as they are receptive to it. To us it is militaria but to them it is lost loved ones so with that in mind I would take a very respectful tone in all dealings with them out of common courtesy.

[shootyourshot]

Hello Helden / Luis

Thank you both for your comments. I understand what you say Luis, but I fully agree (of course) with Helden.

I have contacted them first very causious and I did not gave at first contact all information but just that I have info about his father. The son was curious and so we started to talk by email and telephone and even then I did not give the whole information but just that I have the WP of his father.

Eventually he agreed to meet and let me be direct: I don't judge the Germans / Austrians on what has happened. Neither will I defend the racial issues as well; I have no direct opinion as it is a very complicated case WWII (and WWI!).

I keep having respect for the man of the WP as well as for the family and I treat it that way. But I just want to have all the information as much as possible about the man from the WP from historical point of view

I will see the son within a couple weeks again as we agreed to stay in touch now and then and then he got maybe more used to the fact that his father served at the TK division. Maybe more information will come up !

Kind regards
shootyourshot