Der Spiess note book

[Nick Komiya]

4

[Nick Komiya]

last

[Jean-Loup]

That last date is 2 may 1945, so at least your guy survived the war.

[Nick Komiya]

That last date is 2 may 1945, so at least your guy survived the war.

So what looks like 2. 15. 45 is actually 2./5. 45, you mean? That makes more sense than reading it as Feb 15, 45 and I have considered that, too, but I am not familiar with a slash used in that manner.

[Simon O.]

JL is right, it's a /


interesting stamp for the strafvollstreckenzug, what's the connection here i wonder?

it looks like i can the abbreviation Kan. for kanonier, which would suggest a flak unit.

[Jean-Loup]

"So what looks like 2. 15. 45 is actually 2./5. 45, you mean? That makes more sense than reading it as Feb 15, 45 and I have considered that, too, but I am not familiar with a slash used in that manner. "


Yes, in Europe we put day, month, year, not month, day, year. The slash is a bit weird, but 2 mai is the only date that makes sense considering how it is written, and considering it is associated to the inscription "the dream is over"

[Nick Komiya]

Thank you for clearing that up. I also wonder what the penal execution stamp was all about. Was someone from the company executed?

[naxos]

Thank you for clearing that up. I also wonder what the penal execution stamp was all about. Was someone from the company executed?

Strafvollstreckungszug der Luftwaffe 1/I

A Strafvollstreckungszug is a small penal unit within a Division - usually soldiers that commited minor misdemeanors.

[Nick Komiya]

Thanks, but are we able to identify the Division from this designation or does the 1/I relate only to the penal unit?

[Bernhard]

Most interresting document ,thanks for posting !

Regards

Bernhard

[pauke]

book

The last entry reads "Der Traum ist aus!" The dream is over, or, it's finished, a standard German expression. In a few photos towards the end of the war this expression can be seen painted on knocked-out armor. An old Spiess I knew still had his last book and the final entry from the Halbe Pocket was the names of two soldiers who had died. He intended to contact their families whenever possible.

[Hilton]

Outstanding item, WOW! Have you translated more of the contents of the book?

[bratwurstdimsum]

The last entry reads "Der Traum ist aus!" The dream is over, or, it's finished, a standard German expression.

That's so sad!

Can anybody tell me please what the purpose of a book with crossed out names is?
I can understand if he is recording names of, say soldiers who have died or have been charged with an offense but then why cross them out?
Also why not write down more information? Why just the names.

[Nick Komiya]

Whatever he writes in his book, he is doing that in his capacity as assistant to the company commander, who needed to know these things, too. I think he crossed out the entries once he reported them to the commander. It is just his memo pad and not a report for others to read, so all he needed was to list names and he would report to the commander that they were on leave or whatever. Anyway that is what I deduce from what I see.

[D_Dutch]

A very interesting item. I have a Spießbuch myself and never thought that I would see another one! In the book the Spieß used different reasons for crossing out names; being killed in action, wounded, missing in action and something else which I am not able to read.



Here is an example of one of the many entries;