AKem: Added text

2026-06-11T08:57:04Z

Added text

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:57, 11 June 2026
Line 21:		Line 21:
	\|}		\|}

	A surviving '''''[[~~Understanding the Wehrpass\|~~Wehrpass]]''''' or '''''[[~~Understanding the Soldbuch\|~~Soldbuch]]''''' can reveal a surprising amount about an individual serviceman. A booklet may contain his full name, date of birth, civilian occupation, rank, units, training courses, promotions, hospital admissions, awards, and changes in military status.		A surviving '''''[[Wehrpass]]''''' or '''''[[Soldbuch]]''''' can reveal a surprising amount about an individual serviceman. A booklet may contain his full name, date of birth, civilian occupation, rank, units, training courses, promotions, hospital admissions, awards, and changes in military status.

	Nevertheless, no single document tells the complete story.		Nevertheless, no single document tells the complete story.
Line 769:		Line 769:
	An identity-disc inscription often identifies the unit that originally issued the disc. It does not necessarily identify the serviceman’s final unit or the unit in which he spent most of the war.		An identity-disc inscription often identifies the unit that originally issued the disc. It does not necessarily identify the serviceman’s final unit or the unit in which he spent most of the war.

	The Bundesarchiv explains that identity-tag registers were used to document movements of personnel between units. It also warns that wartime administrative requirements were not always fully implemented, which means that gaps remain.~~<ref name="BundesarchivIdentityTags">~~Bundesarchiv, “Explanatory Notes on Identity Tag Registers”. Available online: [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/research-our-records/research-archive-material/research-on-persons-and-ancestors/personal-documents-of-military-provenance/explanatory-notes-on-identity-tag-registers/ Bundesarchiv].~~</ref>~~		The Bundesarchiv explains that identity-tag registers were used to document movements of personnel between units. It also warns that wartime administrative requirements were not always fully implemented, which means that gaps remain. Bundesarchiv, “Explanatory Notes on Identity Tag Registers”. Available online: [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/research-our-records/research-archive-material/research-on-persons-and-ancestors/personal-documents-of-military-provenance/explanatory-notes-on-identity-tag-registers/ Bundesarchiv].

	== Use Feldpost numbers carefully ==		== Use Feldpost numbers carefully ==
Line 938:		Line 938:
	The Bundesarchiv offers the online research tool '''invenio'''.		The Bundesarchiv offers the online research tool '''invenio'''.

	The archive recommends beginning broadly when searching for an individual. A search can fail if the entered name or date of birth differs from the original record. Spelling variants should therefore be considered, and the wildcard character <code>*</code> can be useful.~~<ref name="BundesarchivMilitary" />~~		The archive recommends beginning broadly when searching for an individual. A search can fail if the entered name or date of birth differs from the original record. Spelling variants should therefore be considered, and the wildcard character <code>*</code> can be useful.

	Try:		Try:
Line 953:		Line 953:
	* field-post-number searches.		* field-post-number searches.

	A negative invenio result does not prove that no records survive. The Bundesarchiv warns that many documents and card indexes are not indexed by name and that some records may not appear online because of retention periods or data-protection restrictions.~~<ref name="BundesarchivMilitary" />~~		A negative invenio result does not prove that no records survive. The Bundesarchiv warns that many documents and card indexes are not indexed by name and that some records may not appear online because of retention periods or data-protection restrictions.

	== Research the unit with Tessin ==		== Research the unit with Tessin ==
Line 963:		Line 963:
	<center>''Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939–1945''</center>		<center>''Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939–1945''</center>

	The archive describes the series as a comprehensive, although not exhaustive, reference work covering units, formations, command authorities, and hierarchical structures.~~<ref name="BundesarchivTessin">~~Bundesarchiv, “Military Formations and Units up to 1945”. Available online: [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/research-our-records/research-archive-material/research-on-persons-and-ancestors/personal-documents-of-military-provenance/military-formations-and-units-up-to-1945/ Bundesarchiv].~~</ref>~~		The archive describes the series as a comprehensive, although not exhaustive, reference work covering units, formations, command authorities, and hierarchical structures. Bundesarchiv, “Military Formations and Units up to 1945”. Available online: [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/research-our-records/research-archive-material/research-on-persons-and-ancestors/personal-documents-of-military-provenance/military-formations-and-units-up-to-1945/ Bundesarchiv].

	Use unit histories to investigate:		Use unit histories to investigate:
Line 995:		Line 995:
	* commemorative entry.		* commemorative entry.

	The Volksbund warns that its results can be incomplete because the place of birth is not known for every war dead individual and because data collection is still ongoing.~~<ref name="Volksbund">~~Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, “Gravesearch Online”. Available online: [https://www.volksbund.de/en/erinnern-gedenken/gravesearch-online Volksbund].~~</ref>~~		The Volksbund warns that its results can be incomplete because the place of birth is not known for every war dead individual and because data collection is still ongoing. Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, “Gravesearch Online”. Available online: [https://www.volksbund.de/en/erinnern-gedenken/gravesearch-online Volksbund].

	A missing result does not prove that the person survived the war.		A missing result does not prove that the person survived the war.
Line 1,050:		Line 1,050:
	* missing-person investigations.		* missing-person investigations.

	The Arolsen Archives provide an online search portal and describe their holdings as documentation relating to victims and survivors of Nazi persecution.~~<ref name="Arolsen">~~Arolsen Archives, “Search the Online Archive”. Available online: [https://arolsen-archives.org/en/archive/online-search/ Arolsen Archives].~~</ref>~~		The Arolsen Archives provide an online search portal and describe their holdings as documentation relating to victims and survivors of Nazi persecution. Arolsen Archives, “Search the Online Archive”. Available online: [https://arolsen-archives.org/en/archive/online-search/ Arolsen Archives].

	Historical research should remain attentive to the wider context in which military service occurred.		Historical research should remain attentive to the wider context in which military service occurred.
Line 1,058:		Line 1,058:
	Missing information is normal.		Missing information is normal.

	The Bundesarchiv explains that large quantities of records from the period up to 1945 were lost as a consequence of the war. It notes particularly heavy losses among central Wehrmacht and Army command records, Army formations below divisional level, Luftwaffe records, and Waffen-SS records. At the same time, many war diaries from Army command authorities and divisional staffs up to 1943 survived, as did much of the naval archival material.~~<ref name="BundesarchivSpecial">~~Bundesarchiv, “Special Areas of Military Documents”. Available online: [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/research-our-records/research-archive-material/research-on-persons-and-ancestors/personal-documents-of-military-provenance/special-areas-of-military-documents/ Bundesarchiv].~~</ref>~~		The Bundesarchiv explains that large quantities of records from the period up to 1945 were lost as a consequence of the war. It notes particularly heavy losses among central Wehrmacht and Army command records, Army formations below divisional level, Luftwaffe records, and Waffen-SS records. At the same time, many war diaries from Army command authorities and divisional staffs up to 1943 survived, as did much of the naval archival material. Bundesarchiv, “Special Areas of Military Documents”. Available online: [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/research-our-records/research-archive-material/research-on-persons-and-ancestors/personal-documents-of-military-provenance/special-areas-of-military-documents/ Bundesarchiv].

	The same principle applies to privately held documents:		The same principle applies to privately held documents:
Line 1,341:		Line 1,341:
	== See also ==		== See also ==

	* [[Understanding the Wehrpass]]		* [[Wehrpass\|Understanding the Wehrpass]]
	* [[Understanding the Soldbuch]]		* [[Soldbuch\|Understanding the Soldbuch]]
	* [[German military medical abbreviations]]		* [[German military medical abbreviations]]
	* [[German military medical ranks during the Second World War]]		* [[Ranks\|German military medical ranks during the Second World War]]
	* [[Medical units of the Wehrmacht]]		* [[Medical units of the Wehrmacht]]
	* [[Calls for a medic in the German Army]]		* [[Medic!\|Calls for a medic in the German Army]]
	* [[:Category:Wehrpass\|Wehrpass document archive]]		* [[:Category:Wehrpass\|Wehrpass document archive]]
	* [[:Category:Soldbuch\|Soldbuch document archive]]		* [[:Category:Soldbuch\|Soldbuch document archive]]

AKem at 08:18, 11 June 2026

2026-06-11T08:18:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:18, 11 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~```mediawiki~~
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Researching an individual serviceman}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Researching an individual serviceman}}

AKem: Added text

2026-06-11T08:18:05Z

Added text

Show changes

Researching an individual serviceman - Revision history

AKem: Added text

AKem at 08:18, 11 June 2026

AKem: Added text