Help with Waffen-SS Records

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The-Bull
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Posts: 2
Joined: 30 Apr 2013, 09:45

Help with Waffen-SS Records

#1

Post by The-Bull » 30 Apr 2013, 09:58

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

Rob - wssob2
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Posts: 2387
Joined: 15 Apr 2002, 21:29
Location: MA, USA

Re: Help with Waffen-SS Records

#2

Post by Rob - wssob2 » 01 May 2013, 03:45

Hi The Bull: :welcome:

"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!


The-Bull
Member
Posts: 2
Joined: 30 Apr 2013, 09:45

Re: Help with Waffen-SS Records

#3

Post by The-Bull » 02 May 2013, 08:45

Rob - wssob2 wrote:Hi The Bull: :welcome:

"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!
Hi Rob,

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!

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