Kriegsmarine Sailor Photo Need Translation

[sqnldr]

Hi,

Really interesting photo of a Kriegsmarine sailor. Inscription on the back I would love translated. Particularly touching that they have drawn a heart and an anchor. I wonder is there a name or details which could be researched? The photo seems to have been printed in Amsterdam?

[GregSingh]

Meiner lieben Gustel in
treuer Freundschaft
gewidmet
von Felix Mainka
Hörnum / Sylt
28.Mai 1945

[history1]

"Dedicated to
my dear Gustel in
abiding friendship
from Felix Mainka
Hörnum/Sylt
May 28th 1945"

The woman´s first name was most likely "Augustine", IMHO.
Further infos regarding Hörnum on Sylt:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6rnum
One can find strange things in the web:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/113655-EKM-Erke ... 2727930214

[sqnldr]

Thank you History1 I had found that this afternoon actually. How very strange. Sadly out of my budget to purchase But I have saved an image of it to keep with the photo.
I have also found his record on https://www.volksbund.de/ (I am learning! )
Now this sailor has a name again!

[Ken S.]

I don't see a record for him in the Volksbund database.

[history1]

I don't see a record for him in the Volksbund database.

Neither did/do I.

[sqnldr]

Hi,
I don’t know if this link will work but I found two by this name. One was a private and one was listed in the Kriegsmarine. Can you check again as I’m only learning.

https://www.volksbund.de/en/graebersuch ... 293db86357

[history1]

Your guy wrote his dedication on May 28th 1945, while both Felix Mainka from the Volksbund results where at this time already buried (DOB Oct. 21st 1924) respectively MIA/KIA (DOB 1921).
And both did hold the rank "Gefreiter".

[sqnldr]

Oh so this is not him? That is sad. Should he not be listed though?

[Ken S.]

Your Felix Mainka survived the war so isn't buried in a war cemetery, listed on a memorial, or missing in action, so there's no reason for him to be included in the database.

It would, however, be interesting to know the story of the other Felix Mainka who is in the database.

[sqnldr]

Is there anywhere to find out records of my Felix? I would like to keep some records with the photo.

[history1]

Your Felix Mainka survived the war so isn't buried in a war cemetery, listed on a memorial, or missing in action, so there's no reason for him to be included in the database.

Note: If a soldier was WIA eg. on April 30th and died due to the injuring eg. on June 1st 45 he sure will be listed on a memorial. The same is valid when he/she became a POW and died even years later in a POW-camp elsewhere.

It would, however, be interesting to know the story of the other Felix Mainka who is in the database.

I didn´t find them in the Bundesarchiv- database for fallen/killed soldiers of Germany (includes also other men who fought for Nazi Germany, eg. Austrians) on ancestry.com. While there are 160 men with this last name listed.

[Ken S.]

Thanks for clarifying that.