Hi Marcus,
After spending many a year as a policeman, you tend to remember faces pretty well. On seeing the Soldbuch for the first time, I knew straight away that I had seen the guy before and it didn't take too long to put two and two together.
Before I let you know, I had to be certain that they were the same person, even though I personally was 90% sure they were due to many facial similarities. I contacted the forums very own Max History, who we know is very knowledgeable regarding photographic and autograph ID. Max confirmed that in all probability it was the same person, taking into account the different angles etc.
I would have let you know sooner but as you know, I was banned for a month for supposed "infractions!" I also wanted to have this in hand before shooting from the hip.
This is an exceptionally rare Soldbuch and I was very fortunate to get it. This is only the second Gestapo issued SB I have ever seen. Paid a little more than I wanted to initially, but considering I already own a Kripo SB and WP, a SD SB & WP and a Gestapo WP, I only needed this to complete the set. It was also made worthwhile by the inclusion of the SB notice regarding his use of plain clothes, a form which I have never seen before.
It is possible that Otto served in a Gestapo capacity overseas but I do not think this was the specific reason for his SB issue. It was decreed by Himmler, June '44, that all Polizei members were authorised to carry a W-SS Soldbuch. Interestingly, the other Gestapo SB and my Kripo SB, were also issued October 1944. This leads me to think that there may be another decree stipulating that members of the SiPo use this style SS SB, whilst members of the Orpo use the later beige "thin" style.
With regards to his rank, if we believe that the SB pic was only taken in Oct '44 specifically for his SB, and that your pic was taken late '44 as well, then he appears to have lost weight and aged in the 2 month period, as well as being promoted. However, it is possible that the SB pic was taken upon promotion to Kr.O.ASS or SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer which could have been several months prior to the issue of the SB. As this was the rank held at the time of the SB issue, this photo was used.
Whatever the case, it certainly looks like whilst he was operating as a Gestapo officer in plain clothes, he was promoted to SS-Sturmscharfuhrer, which caused him to have a picture taken with this new rank by slipping a tunic over his civilian clothes. A tunic which may even have been borrowed from someone else of the same rank for that purpose which may explain the reason why there are two different styles of insignia. The note authorising civilian clothes still indicates his Gestapo rank as Kriminal Oberassistant in Feb '45, which is perfectly feasible. A Kr.O.ASS could be either a SS-Hscha or a SS-Stuscha.
Glad you like it Marcus, I thought you might.
After spending many a year as a policeman, you tend to remember faces pretty well. On seeing the Soldbuch for the first time, I knew straight away that I had seen the guy before and it didn't take too long to put two and two together.
Before I let you know, I had to be certain that they were the same person, even though I personally was 90% sure they were due to many facial similarities. I contacted the forums very own Max History, who we know is very knowledgeable regarding photographic and autograph ID. Max confirmed that in all probability it was the same person, taking into account the different angles etc.
I would have let you know sooner but as you know, I was banned for a month for supposed "infractions!" I also wanted to have this in hand before shooting from the hip.
This is an exceptionally rare Soldbuch and I was very fortunate to get it. This is only the second Gestapo issued SB I have ever seen. Paid a little more than I wanted to initially, but considering I already own a Kripo SB and WP, a SD SB & WP and a Gestapo WP, I only needed this to complete the set. It was also made worthwhile by the inclusion of the SB notice regarding his use of plain clothes, a form which I have never seen before.
It is possible that Otto served in a Gestapo capacity overseas but I do not think this was the specific reason for his SB issue. It was decreed by Himmler, June '44, that all Polizei members were authorised to carry a W-SS Soldbuch. Interestingly, the other Gestapo SB and my Kripo SB, were also issued October 1944. This leads me to think that there may be another decree stipulating that members of the SiPo use this style SS SB, whilst members of the Orpo use the later beige "thin" style.
With regards to his rank, if we believe that the SB pic was only taken in Oct '44 specifically for his SB, and that your pic was taken late '44 as well, then he appears to have lost weight and aged in the 2 month period, as well as being promoted. However, it is possible that the SB pic was taken upon promotion to Kr.O.ASS or SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer which could have been several months prior to the issue of the SB. As this was the rank held at the time of the SB issue, this photo was used.
Whatever the case, it certainly looks like whilst he was operating as a Gestapo officer in plain clothes, he was promoted to SS-Sturmscharfuhrer, which caused him to have a picture taken with this new rank by slipping a tunic over his civilian clothes. A tunic which may even have been borrowed from someone else of the same rank for that purpose which may explain the reason why there are two different styles of insignia. The note authorising civilian clothes still indicates his Gestapo rank as Kriminal Oberassistant in Feb '45, which is perfectly feasible. A Kr.O.ASS could be either a SS-Hscha or a SS-Stuscha.
Glad you like it Marcus, I thought you might.
!!!! Regardless, Welcome back my friend!!!
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