The Paulitsch photo is very interesting and could be interpreted differently I think. Given the inscription below, I believe it was a pre-war photo perhaps sent to Paulitsch by his son or daughter sometime during the war. I believe the SS-NCO in the photo is Paultisch, comparing the nose and the eyebrows to those of Paulitsch in his Ausweis. But notice that in the Ausweis photo he is sporting a mustache. The hair seem grey in the Ausweis photo, but whether it is grey or blonde in the SS-Photo is unknown.
Very nice items! Congratulation to you!
Here you have my translation:
****
"Dear Dad ! 21. march 1942
That's you my dear dad"
(Name?)
*****
"Vati" is short for "vater" (Like dad vs. father)
Regards, Magnus
Paulitsch's rank in the photo is either SS-Sturmmann of SS-Rottenführer, as I cannot tell from the photo whether the line on the collar tab on the right is a single or double. We know the photo was taken after the introduction of the new SS-Dolch design in 1935. Also note the photographer imprint on the lower left indicates the photo was taken in Görlitz, in Saxony near the borders of Czechoslovakia/Protectorate and Poland. Was this his home town?
Is that a wartime pic of Paulitsch? He appears to be wearing the EK2 ribbon in his button hole (and low)>
I would suggest, given the apparent age of Paulitsch and the fact that this would appear to be a pre-war photo (though dated in 1942 when apparently sent to him by his son or daughter), that the ribbon is in fact a EKII from WWI. Althought black Allgemeine SS uniforms can be seen in wartime photos, this is not the case.
He was also a member of the SD.
He has the diamond, bordered in litzen.
Excellent observation TP. Not only is he wearing the SD Raute (diamond), but it appears to be piped and he is wearing the cuff title indicating service with either the respective SD-District or Sub-DistritHauptamt. The piping on the SD Raute has been interpreted differently in print and on various forums. Andrew Mollo interpreted it as indicating former membership in the Gestapo. But my interpretation from the actual order governing its creation in 1937 is that the piping indicated membership in the Gestapo for those SS members joining the SD. So we know the photo was taken by mid 1937 or later. So it would appear that Paulitsch was perhaps in the Gestapo office in Görlitz and after successive promotions, finally reached the rank of Kriminalsekretär (senior NCO or 2nd Lt. SS equivalent) in Wien in 1944. And with a mustache.
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