Death notifications in Nazi Germany
Death notifications in Nazi Germany
When killed soldiers were identified, how were families notified? Letters? Messengers?
Re: Death notifications in Nazi Germany
I'm pretty sure there is a thread here that answers that question but I can't find it at the moment. I seem to recall it is a medical related thread. I think the answer was that the first the family knew was when they received a letter from the Company Commander.
Re: Death notifications in Nazi Germany
Ok, found it - it was a Death Card question and not medical. No wonder I couldn't find it.
The thread - viewtopic.php?f=76&t=228898&p=2081663&h ... r#p2081288
The thread - viewtopic.php?f=76&t=228898&p=2081663&h ... r#p2081288
- Helmut0815
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- Joined: 19 Sep 2010, 14:13
- Location: Lower Saxony, Germany
Re: Death notifications in Nazi Germany
By order of Adolf Hitler from June 1942 the death notification of a soldier KIA had to be delivered face-to-face by an official NSDAP representative, normally the local party leader (Ortsgruppenleiter) or his deputy. Notifications about a soldier MIA generally came by postal letter.
See http://www.haller-zeitraeume.de/exponat ... achrichten (article in german language)
regards
Helmut
Re: Death notifications in Nazi Germany
My father lost his life on the 14/09/1943 in the fighting for Oposhnja, Ukraine.
The first inkling came when my mothers letters were returned with the remark: Returned, recipient died for Greater Germany.
Next we received two letters, one from my fathers Company Commander with a generalized description of the event and a copy of the same letter with a note of the correctness of said letter from the Mayor of our city.
The letter from the Company was dated 17/09/1943 and the one from the Mayor 19/10/1943. I think the letter from the Company arrived first but I am not certain.
Regards Steve.
The first inkling came when my mothers letters were returned with the remark: Returned, recipient died for Greater Germany.
Next we received two letters, one from my fathers Company Commander with a generalized description of the event and a copy of the same letter with a note of the correctness of said letter from the Mayor of our city.
The letter from the Company was dated 17/09/1943 and the one from the Mayor 19/10/1943. I think the letter from the Company arrived first but I am not certain.
Regards Steve.
Re: Death notifications in Nazi Germany
It is good to see the regulations and how things were meant to work but hearing how things actually worked in real life, such as this, are vital for our understanding.Steve E wrote: ↑18 Nov 2018, 13:05My father lost his life on the 14/09/1943 in the fighting for Oposhnja, Ukraine.
The first inkling came when my mothers letters were returned with the remark: Returned, recipient died for Greater Germany.
Next we received two letters, one from my fathers Company Commander with a generalized description of the event and a copy of the same letter with a note of the correctness of said letter from the Mayor of our city.
The letter from the Company was dated 17/09/1943 and the one from the Mayor 19/10/1943. I think the letter from the Company arrived first but I am not certain.
Regards Steve.
Re: Death notifications in Nazi Germany
Hi BeeWac, did you receive the PM I sent you ?
Regards Steve.
Regards Steve.