Major Doertenbach

[Charles Steiner]

Hello everybody,

I am trying to find some more info on the following OB West officer:

Major Doertenbach

It appears he was the O3-Offizier of the intelligence section of OB West in 1944 (Ic). From what I gathered he was already on staff in 1942.

I am especially looking for his first name and birth date. Any other information is also welcome. I already looked on the internet, but I haven't been able to identify the man.

Many thanks in advance,

Charles

[Rossano]

He was Landwehr-Offizier d. Pz.Tr. aus Stuttgart

[Charles Steiner]

Many thanks for the input, Rossano! So he was a Panzer officer...

I have been looking for a first name ever since, but I've come to a blank. But I'll keep looking

Many thanks,

Charles

[Melax]

he MIGHT be this one:

PERS 101/42893 Doertenbach, Ulrich, Dr.1938, 1953 - 1963

Name Doertenbach, Ulrich, Dr.
Geburtsdatum 10.11.1899
Geburtsort Stuttgart
Sterbedatum 6.6.1958
Sterbeort Würzburg
Amtsbezeichnung/Dienstgrad vortr. Legationsrat
Dienststelle Auswärtiges Amt


but not sure.. Stuttgart would match and intelligence section and later Auswärtiges Amt could also be game

just speculation.. but maybe it helps...

regards,
Alexander

[Dave Danner]

There were a lot of Doertenbachs in Stuttgart. There were 5 active and 4 reserve/Landwehr officers named Doertenbach in the Royal Württemberg Army. Most can be ruled out due to age or date of death, but these three are possibilities:

Doertenbach, Albrecht
*24.11.1898 in Stuttgart
Fahnenjunker, Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 19
05.07.1917 Fähnrich
26.02.1918 Leutnant
xx.xx.191x in der MG-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 53
Leutnant a.D.

Doertenbach, Ulrich
*10.11.1899 in Stuttgart, †06.06.1958 in Würzburg
Fahnenjunker, Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 119
19.04.1918 Fähnrich
10.06.1918 Leutnant
Leutnant a.D.

Doertenbach, Wolfgang
*10.11.1894 in Stuttgart
Fahnenjunker, Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 29
12.10.1914 Fähnrich
08.12.1914 Leutnant
xx.xx.191x im Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 116
18.10.1918 Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant a.D., Kaufmann in Stuttgart

It might be Ulrich, but he was a Gesandschaftsrat in the Auswärtiges Amt in 1943-1944, promoted to Legationsrat on 25.11.1944. His bio in the Biographisches Handbuch des deutschen Auswärtigen Dienstes does not list any military service in World War II, but says he was a Hauptmann der Reserve. Since he ended the first war as a Leutnant, he was indeed a Wehrmacht officer, but apparently not a Major. Also, he was in Berlin from 1936 to 1939, Stockholm from 1939 to 1940, and Rome from 1940 to 1943, so I don't think his Kontrollbezirk would have been Stuttgart.

Doertenbach, Ulrich.jpg (18.46 KiB) Viewed 382 times

I would add that Albrecht, being a former cavalry officer, might fit better with the Panzertruppen than Wolfgang as a former artillery officer or Ulrich as a former infantry officer, but lots of officers did change branches.

[Dave Danner]

By sheer happenstance, I just came across another reference to a Doertenbach who may be one of the three above, or yet another.

Doertenbach,
Hptm.d.R. mit RDA v. 01.09.1940 (303)
Kommandeur der Panzerjäger-Abteilung 49 (Stellenbesetzung v. 20.03.1942)

At the time, the Abteilung was in the 4. Panzer-Division in Heeresgruppe Mitte.

[Rossano]

Hello Dave (and all others....)
I give You the solution (from various KRListen)
The Kdr. PJA.49 is Albrecht(-Georg)
The O3 OB. West is Wolfgang
Rgds., Rossano

[Charles Steiner]

Many thanks, all, for clearing up this enigma!

Cheers,

Charles