German Military - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Franco Prussian war

jgstock1 — 2013-06-16 15:01:14Z

I suspect my ggggrandfather was conscripted into the Prussian army about 1870 and was sent to Alsace. Lorraine. He was Polish living in Garczyn, Berent, West Prussia and 21 years old and unmarried. I have no family documents. He was married Catholic in 1872 in Garczyn. Hence no civil records which start 1874. I understand Prussian military records were lost to bombing in 1945. Any idea if trying to determine if he was in the Prussian army is possible.

Re: German soldiers during WWII

pauline_wright13 — 2013-06-08 08:44:22Z

Many thanks for the info Ken, some of which I was aware of. The drafd site doesn't look "English-friendly", my German isn't up to scratch and I don't want to ask my Mother, in case it raises her hopes. Do you know of any way around this please? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Re: German soldiers during WWII

Ken_Sch — 2013-06-07 23:12:35Z

There are a number of books published about this unit, to the best of my knowledge all in German; most are from publishers in East Germany (DDR) prior to re-unification. Many of the men were those who had previously been deemed unworthy of military service, usually for political reasons. Not surprisingly the division did not perform as some would have hoped - many men deserted and engaged in "anti-fascist" activities.

You may want to contact this organization:
http://drafd.org/?ag999

http://drafd.org/?Kontakt

Hope this helps,
Ken

Re: German soldiers during WWII

pauline_wright13 — 2013-06-07 20:51:25Z

I'm trying to find information on my Mother's dear half-brother and would appreciate any help if possible.

His name is/was Gerhard(t) Marquardt and served in the 999 Division at the Russian front, where he was reported missing. He would be between 86 and 90 now.

When he was called up, he was living in Friedrichshagen, Berlin. His father was Herman Marquardt and his step-mother was Alice Marquardt.

I hope someone can help, as my Mother would dearly like to lay this mystery to rest.

Re: Identifying Gernan medals and army

bluemesa159 — 2013-06-05 20:56:57Z

In his officer uniform, it appears that he is wearing 5 ribbons...
1) Iron Cross 2nd Class
2) War Merit Cross with swords
3) Eastern Front Medal
4) Wehrmacht Long Service Award
5) West Wall Medal

You can read about them here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_G...

Re: Information on this Prussian Uniform

aimeeround — 2013-06-03 12:12:28Z

Thanks! Do you know where I could find more information about it like his rank?

Re: Information on this Prussian Uniform

markconrad156 — 2013-06-03 11:27:45Z

Looks like US Navy c. 1900 to me.

Information on this Prussian Uniform

aimeeround — 2013-06-01 17:31:09Z

Any information on rank/branch of the Prussian Military would be helpful.

Re: Germany, World War I Casualty Lists, 1914-1917 and Austro-Prussian and Franco Prussian wars

RLipprandt2286 — 2013-05-31 12:23:30Z

Wow... many thanks for the enclosed site address. I found one of the middle names of my uncle that died from mustard gas in Belgium.

It also appears that the very western part of what was Prussia/Germany has not yet been transcribed. I entered surnames from my ancestors from the Rhineland with no results returned.

Bob~~

Re: war uniform information

Ken_Sch — 2013-05-31 07:45:57Z

Here's a photo of recruits from his WWI unit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/8261115198/

Requesting WWII information can be done on-line:
http://www.dd-wast.de/frame_e.htm

Re: Germany, World War I Casualty Lists, 1914-1917 and Austro-Prussian and Franco Prussian wars

Ken_Sch — 2013-05-31 07:09:32Z

Your request is too general for anyone to be of assistance to you.

The German casualty lists for the First World War are being databased, but is not yet complete:
http://java.genealogy.net/eingabe-verlustlisten/search

Other lists can be found here:
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/covers_vl/verlustlisten.htm

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-10 09:24:11Z

So true Andy, why would my gr8 grandad go into hiding in France after the war?

Mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-10 08:31:08Z

Mel,

I think the fact that he was probably an officer is why he would have had a horse and been given a car to use, not that he had any specific job or set of responsibilities.

Given the fact he served in a telegrpah battalion during WWI, it is probably safe to assume that he served in a signal or some sort of communications unit later on. Why not make use of skills and experience he already had?

Andy

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-09 09:38:41Z

Andy

I was also wondering wat would my gR8 grand father would have done in the army/ or war to be given the car or horse?

Mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-09 09:35:13Z

Mel,

You are quite welcome!

Unfortunately, I do not know much at all about Poland, sorry.

Good luck with your search and let me know if I can help.

Andy

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-09 09:32:30Z

OMG tats a long time:-) but it will b worth it, as we have nothing. U have been a great help a di would not have found this without u. So thank you,

Do u know anything about Poland? As my husbands grand father comes from there and we don't know about his life.

Mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-09 09:27:03Z

Mel,

Nice to know I've been able to help. You can write to this address

Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt)
Eichborndamm 179
13403 Berlin

Tell them who your GGF is and provide any information you have, such as date and place of birth, and ask for any record of his service they may have.

Now, be prepared to wait a long time, about a year, for a response. They are short staffed and receive many requests for information. That said, it's probably worth the effort.

Andy

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-09 08:57:44Z

Wow Andy u have made my day finding this all out.

No I have nothing as our grandma and mother inlaw don't talk about it. Grandma has passed away now so I can't ask her.

Do u know how I can get his birth certificate or his military cert.? Do u think he would have been in the Nazi army and why would he gone into hiding in France?

Mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-09 08:33:47Z

Mel,

Regarding the WWII era photos. I believe he is an officer. Lieutenant of Captain. I base this on the cord on his hat that rests on the brim. Enlisted had what looks like a miniature belt with a buckle, and the fact he is shown on a horse, too.

The license plate of the car he is sitting in seems to indicate the "Kreishauptmannschaft and/or Polizeiprasädium Leipzig. " There were regional entities/authorities in Leipzig (I base this on a quick look at German Wikipedia- so, not certain at all.)

It could be that he became a reserve officer, a member of the uniformed police and was later transferred to the army. It's hard to say for sure.

Do you know anything about his wartime service?? Any other documents which could provide a clue?

Regards,

Andy

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-08 09:40:58Z

Cool thanks for your help, Im in Australia so we are 7.10pm here on Wednesday night.

Mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-08 09:38:35Z

Mel,

I am off to workin in a few minutes. I'll get back to you with information when I get home this evening (I am in Maryland).

Andy

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-08 09:20:31Z

Andy I was also wondering if he was part of Hitler's army? do you have any suggestions where I could find out information about him eg birth certificates etc..

Mel

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-08 09:14:39Z

Andy wow thanks for this i really appreciate it. we are a step closer in finding out about our great grandparents.

mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-08 09:06:33Z

Mel,

An NCO is a non-commissioned officer. It appears that he is at least a Sergeant (you can tell this by the large button on his collar and the sewn-on braiding on the collar.) Without seeing the rest of the uniform, especially the cuffs, it is not possible to tell you his exact rank.

If you can see a number on the buytton holding down his shoulder board, that will tell you which company he was assigned to.

His four medals are, from left to right
St. Heinrichs Medaille (Medal)
Friedrich August Medaille
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Ehrenkreuz with swords

1,2 and 4 are Saxon awards- the Iron Cross was Prussian.

I'll work on the other photos, but I am not that familiar with WWII era uniforms.

Andy

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-08 00:58:47Z

Another photo of Max Walter Uhlig

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-08 00:55:54Z

Another photo of Max Walter Uhlig

Re: war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-08 00:53:55Z

Hi Andy

Wat is an NCO? His name is Max Walter Uhlig, he lived in Dresden Germany, we have been told after the war he went into hinding in France. I have other photos of him, Ill post them.

Thanks Mel

Re: war uniform information

andrewbaus — 2013-05-07 20:15:55Z

Melissa,

He is an NCO in the Saxon Telegraph Battalion Nr. 7. If you care to provivde his name, I can check my sources to see if I can find any additional information about his wartime service.

Andy

My Great Grandfather Karl Ballwanz need help with uniform

aimeeround — 2013-05-07 12:53:51Z

I was told that my Great Grandfather Karl was with the Prussian Navy. Any help with his uniform or where to look for records would be greatly appreciated.

another one!

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-07 11:45:24Z

any details please, thankyou

More photos of my great grandfather

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-07 11:43:04Z

any details much appreciated

war uniform information

MelissaSantopietro — 2013-05-07 11:40:18Z

My great grandfather in the german army,
we have no details on his rank etc.
any info would be much appreciated.

Re: Help Identifying rank/medals/branch using photos of uniform

paulstevenkroll — 2013-05-03 17:30:40Z

In case you don’t yet know German Military records can be obtained from the W.A.S.t. at this site;

http://www.dd-wast.de/frame_e.htm

There are certain confidentiality restrictions about who can access these and it may take some time to receive a reply - as they say. There is also a charge but worth a try.

If you have any problems with the web site above let me know.

For personal replies, my contact address is:

paulsteven.kroll@hotmail.co.uk

Re: Identifying Gernan medals and army

seankelly3 — 2013-05-03 14:01:44Z

Thanks a lot. Ah right, yeah I thought so. I think when I looked up the Waffen SS they did not even have a "Leutnant" rank anyway.

Yes, I am guessing he just had an old dress tunic that he wore when on leave or something, which he must have been when these photos were taken.

If you or anyone else can tell more about the specific medals or how to identify the regiment from the shoulder straps I would very much appreciate it.

Re: Identifying Gernan medals and army

markconrad156 — 2013-05-03 12:23:06Z

In the picture with the stripes on the cuff, he is a senior NCO in a pre-war dress tunic, complete with regimental number on the shoulder straps. If it weren't for the combat badges, I would have guessed the picture was pre-1940. This kind of dress coat was usually only owned by career officers and senior NCOs. He must have then been promoted to lieutenant as shown in the second photograph.

It is of course the army (Heer), and not the SS or Luftwaffe.

Identifying Gernan medals and army

seankelly3 — 2013-05-03 00:04:07Z

Hello, I have a couple of rather clear pictures of a German connection, both taken at different times at around 1944. I am assuming he was Wehrmacht, rather than SS, as I understand SS uniform was generally black, especially for formal/ceremonial photographs like this, and it does not look like Luftwaffe or Navy either. All I know about his service is that he fought and died in the Eastern Front around Russia and Poland (I think he died in Poland). From finding what seems like records of his death (he is missing) in Eastern Europe, and by noting how decorated he was, I have gathered that he was a lieutenant, and there seems to be a wounded medal here as well, plus obviously an iron cross of some kind, but this is all that I can figure out, so if someone with a greater understanding of German WWII military, rank, insignia and medals could tell me more it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean

Re: Bremen Crew Lists

patmob — 2013-04-22 12:12:35Z

When the Bremen was docked in New York City, my grandfather had some shore leave and was met by an uncle who essentially held him hostage until the ship left without him.

Re: Bremen Crew Lists

aaronjhill — 2013-04-22 01:34:51Z

What is a “forced desertion”? What do you mean?

Bremen Crew Lists

patmob — 2013-04-22 00:28:51Z

Does anyone know if crew lists for the German ship "Bremen" exist on the Internet? My grandfather served on the ship before a forced desertion in New York prior to World War I and want to try and find a contemporary spelling of the surname.

Prussian or German Military Uniform Identification

GARYHAHRNDT — 2013-04-07 15:27:04Z

Attached is a photo of my Great-Great Grandfather Friederick
Ahrndt, born in 1817. Census records from the U.S. show he immigrated between 1852-54 from Mecklenburg-Schwerin. I am trying to identify the military uniform and rank if possible. I have been told by "Ask The Experts" that this is a Prussian Uniform. I'm venturing a guess he was in the military between 1835-45, which would have made him between 18 and 28 years old. His first born was in 1844-5 but the picture may have been taken up to 1850.Headgear on his lap is much like Tower of London Guards. Can anyone give me an I.D. of either Prussia or Mecklenburg-Schwerin uniform/rank? Thanks.

Re: Karl Wilhelm Buerkle

judismith942 — 2013-03-30 18:30:25Z

Hello Ken,

I would really like to know whom I am talking to ? Are you part of a group. Or ?

Germany, World War I Casualty Lists, 1914-1917 and Austro-Prussian and Franco Prussian wars

stephiewood — 2013-03-30 17:35:24Z

Please could someone look up and let me know any details regarding the Siebner and Tuch families in the 1st ww casualty list and Austro-Prussian and Franco Prussian wars? many thanks

Re: Karl Wilhelm Buerkle

Ken_Sch — 2013-03-14 10:28:57Z

Prussian military records were mostly destroyed in 1945. Would it be possible for you to upload the photo?

Re: Paul Loll in WWII: How did he die?

Ken_Sch — 2013-03-14 10:26:54Z

Yes.

Re: Paul Loll in WWII: How did he die?

nosalov — 2013-03-13 20:26:31Z

Thank you Ken_Sch

I have since been researching things since I read the information from KlausWa. I am trying to figure things out first before I ask too many questions of people or try obtaining information. For the tracing request, do I choose the "private matters" option?

Kathy

Re: Paul Loll in WWII: How did he die?

Ken_Sch — 2013-03-13 18:24:51Z

In addition to the information provided by KlausWa I would suggest contacting the "Heimatkreis" for Stolp to see if they have any additional information.

http://www.stolp.de/arbeitskreis.html

German Navy records I believe survived the war relatively intact, so there should be some information available. You need to contact the Deutsche Dienstelle and submit a tracing request. Ignore the part about payment for now - they will send a response in about a year which should contain info about his service, at which time you can opt to order copies of the actual records.

http://www.dd-wast.de/frame_e.htm

In regards to "border" it may have something to do with this:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine-Brigade_Ehrhardt

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenzschutz_Ost

Incidentally, on my father's side we lost three family members on the Gustloff.

Karl Wilhelm Buerkle

judismith942 — 2013-02-23 03:05:57Z

Looking for any military service that I can find on my GGrandfather. Karl
Wilhelm Buerkle from Fellbach Germany. I have a photo of him in a
uniform . D/B 11/16/1854. I believe he served in the Prussian military.
He then in 1881 traveled to America with family.

Re: Help Identifying rank/medals/branch using photos of uniform

mytreeresearch — 2013-02-21 21:37:05Z

Wow thank you all! This is all brand new information to me!

I unfortunatley dont have anymore photos showing the sholders.

Re: Help Identifying rank/medals/branch using photos of uniform

ycaso77 — 2013-02-21 20:30:04Z

Tim beat me to it. He is definitely NOT wearing an SS uniform. He has a Wehrmacht officers uniform. Would you be able to post a closer view of the left shoulder? The rank badge looks like that of a "Wehrmachtbeamten des Heeres". They were specialists who ranked accordingly from NCO up to Generals rank. They wore Army uniform but had slightly different shoulder boards. Here's a sample-
With a better view maybe we can pinpoint a rank and if indeed he was a Wehrmachtbeamten.

Re: Help Identifying rank/medals/branch using photos of uniform

timtracker — 2013-02-21 19:15:11Z

This uniform appears to me to be an army uniform, not an SS uniform.

The cap is the standard issue officers' cap, lacking the SS Death's Head emblem.

The collar double tramline effect is the army officers' designator. The SS used a variety of collar emblems used separately or inter-mixed. These were, :

Square stud effect, in a variety of layouts and numbers

SS lightning emblem

Variety of different laurel wreath layouts

All of this are absent in this picture. Unfortunately the exact rank is shown on the shoulder flashes and I can't make them out at all.

The only thing I can tell you about his medal ribbons is the one in the second picture that is wrapped from the button to behind the tunic. This appears to be the War Merit Cross Second Class. The Iron Cross Second Class ribbon is similar, but the colours were reversed. The ribbon pictured here has a dark (black) central stripe and lighter (red) outer stripes.

Presuming this is the same individual, the second picture is probably taken later as the first one lacks the ribbon.