NSDAP Membership book to SS-Obersturmbannführer Dr. Werner Zwingelberg.

[JamesT]

Been doing some research on this Party Membership book named to Dr. Werner Zwingelberg.

It has already been established that he was Oberschulrat (his job on the membership book) and "Oberstleutnant" der Schutzpolizei im Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei, and at the same time SS-Obersturmbannführer.

He was awarded; SS Ring, SS Sword, Iron Cross 2nd Class and KVK2 with swords.

SS no - 279515
NSDAP no - 176853

I've been able to find out some more.

In 1939/40 he was in charge of Abteilung A4 in the SS-Hauptamtes (Head Quarters). Abteilung A4 was responsible for organising the "ideological training" in the SS-Head Office and the Main Race and Settlement Office respectively. Without the work of Abteilung A4, the entire concentration camp system could not have functioned as it did. Clearly not a very nice man.

I've not been able to find any mention of him later in the war but a very helpful academic is having a look at the war crimes documents to see if his name appears there. Apparently there is some mention of him in this book - "Die weltanschauliche Schulung der Polizei im Nationalsozialismus" by Hans-Christian Harten. I have not been able to get sight of the book.

The search continues.

[Wim Vangossum]

Fine detective work!


Regards, Wim

[salzmann]

[JoeW]

So the transfer has lost two weeks of posts by members?

[TooDeep]

Pretty much, but still a great member book ????

[JamesT]

Full...ish Biography of Dr. Werner Zwingelberg. Some information has been gathered from his SS file which I have been able to obtain and also from very helpful forum members.

He was a Redner from 1930 to 1936, a professional party speaker. From October 1930 to January 1931 he was a Party Kreisleiter, an important position, controlling the NSDAP in a large area of the Gau.

He joined the SS on 20 April 1937. His rise in the SS was rapid as recorded in DAL (Dienstalterliste) - Obersturmführer in 1938 to Obersturmbahnführer in 1939.

In 1939 it is recorded in that Zwingelberg was in charge of Abteilung A4 at SS-Hauptamtes, the department responsible for the ideological training of police and SS officers "participation in the affairs of the WE" He had the position of a "Polizeioberschulrat" in the "Preußisches Innenministerium in Berlin" and was responsible for the vocational schools (Berufsschulwesen) in the Police. According to an order by the "Chef derOrdnungspolizei" (around 1940) only specially trained officers were supposed to teach at the Police Academies. Therefore, the school personnel
of the "Ordnungspolizei" were incorporated in the "Schutzpolizei" and were given the officer's rank that matched their rank as "civil servants" (Beamte).

After his return from the front in 1944, he resumed the position of an "Oberstleutnant der Schutzpolizei", which didn't change much in terms ofhis job description as "Oberschulrat" in the "Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei". He was now responsible for the "education" of the "Police-Troops" (e.g. provide magazines and books, movies, KdF and theatre performances) and also for the occupational redeployment of the disabled veterans of the police on top of what he was doing before his service in the Waffen-SS. This last role is referred to in an extract from the SHAEF intelligence briefing document. (note incorrect spelling of his name)

Werner Zwingelberg served in the Waffen-SS for one year only. He volunteered for military service but the police did not want to send him to the Wehrmacht and lose control over his service (as he was "UK"). He was trained for front line service in the "Flak-Ers.-Abt." in Arolsen and joined the Waffen-SS as "Sturmmann" (Gefreiter). At the "Führerschule Bad Tölz" he was promoted "Untersturmführer" as he came out best of his year. (This always happened to the person who came out best).

Between August 1943 and July 1944 he served in the "Flak-Abt.5 with 5 SS Panzer Div "Viking" in Russia before he was ordered back to the "Ordnungspolizei". During that year he was promoted "Obersturmführer" (Oberleutnant) and was awarded EKII 6 Mar 44 and KVKII m/S 30 Jan 43.

His service in the Waffen SS explains why he had two SS-ranks: Obersturmführer in the Waffen-SS and also the assigned "Obersturmbannführer" (Oberstleutnant) in accordance with his rank in the police.

The "Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei" moved from Berlin to Biesenthal near Berlin because the buildings in Berlin were largely damaged by allied bombs. OnApril 13, 1945 the "Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei" relocated from Biesenthal to the Police Academy in Fürstenfeldbruck (via Dresden, Pilsen and Furth). From there, the "Hauptamt" personell relocated to the Academy in Eben am Achensee (Austria) on April 26, 1945. The "Hauptamt" personnel including Zwingelberg were taken POW by the Americans on May 11, 1945.

The last reference I can find to him is in a Hanover telephone directory in 1950. His SS file shows that he was married and had a son and two daughters. I have not been able to find any trace of his children in any of the usual places including Ancestry etc.

His SS ring has turned up and I am in the process of trying to reunite this document and his ring.

Several members for this forum have contributed to this research and I would like to thank them for their time and generosity in sharing their knowledge and answering my questions.