Hello...I recently have gotten my grandfather WWII service records (or what they have left) from the Deutsche Dienststelle(WASt).
I know now he was 13. Kompanie SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4/SS-Division "Das Reich" prior to going into several military hospitals in 04/1942. But after his hospital stay in 11/1942 he appears to have been assigned to a unit called SS-Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung Berlin-Lichterfelde? Does anyone know what this unit was? If I am reading it right it would be some kind of Motor Vehicle Replacement Department/Detachment?
When he surrendered to the Americans his last unit appears to have been 7.Kompanie SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38 am I correct in assuming that this would have been 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Götz von Berlichingen?
WASt didn't seem to have much more than the above so i am trying to figure out what I can regarding his military career in WWII. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Help with Waffen-SS Records
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Re: Help with Waffen-SS Records
Hi The Bull:
"SS-Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung" = SS Motor Transport Replacement Section, a unit that provided replacements for Feldpost (mail) and Nachschub (supply) troops plus other drivers & motor transport specialists to all Waffen-SS units. Berlin is the city, Lichterfelde is the barracks where the unit was stationed.
It was fairly common for a wounded or otherwise incapacitated Waffen-SS soldier to be assigned to one of the rear-area training and replacement units, where they would either recuperate their strength or failing that, serve as a training instructor to the new recruits.
Yes you are correct he served with the 17th GvB at war's end.
Hope this helps!
"SS-Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung" = SS Motor Transport Replacement Section, a unit that provided replacements for Feldpost (mail) and Nachschub (supply) troops plus other drivers & motor transport specialists to all Waffen-SS units. Berlin is the city, Lichterfelde is the barracks where the unit was stationed.
It was fairly common for a wounded or otherwise incapacitated Waffen-SS soldier to be assigned to one of the rear-area training and replacement units, where they would either recuperate their strength or failing that, serve as a training instructor to the new recruits.
Yes you are correct he served with the 17th GvB at war's end.
Hope this helps!
Re: Help with Waffen-SS Records
Hi Rob,Rob - wssob2 wrote:Hi The Bull:
"SS-Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung" = SS Motor Transport Replacement Section, a unit that provided replacements for Feldpost (mail) and Nachschub (supply) troops plus other drivers & motor transport specialists to all Waffen-SS units. Berlin is the city, Lichterfelde is the barracks where the unit was stationed.
It was fairly common for a wounded or otherwise incapacitated Waffen-SS soldier to be assigned to one of the rear-area training and replacement units, where they would either recuperate their strength or failing that, serve as a training instructor to the new recruits.
Yes you are correct he served with the 17th GvB at war's end.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for the information it helps a lot actually...and points me in the right direction to do more research.
One question hopefully you or someone else may know:
They list his dogtags as #9675 - 2./Ers. Btl. SS 6 (2 Company SS-Ersatz-Battalion 6?). Is their anyway to tell if this was the unit he went to from the SS-Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung? I was thinking since it appears he joined the 17th GvB in Sept '44 (at least how I read it) that the replacement battalion 6 was part of the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 which merged into SS-Panzergrenadier Rgt 38 but I can't seem to find any information confirming this.
Thanks again for your help and time!