Dolmetscherkompanie WK XVIII, Graz

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K.Kocjancic
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Dolmetscherkompanie WK XVIII, Graz

#1

Post by K.Kocjancic » 17 May 2016, 09:00

This Kmp. was stationed in Graz's Schönau-Kaserne. It was used to test foreign language knowledge of members of the military units of WK XVIII and also civilians. Entry exam was in form of translation (of an article or book chapter) from German to their (working) language. Kmp.-Führer was Hptm. Pafls (or Pafla). Kmp. was around 250 men strong. Languages, used in the Kmp., were: German, English, French, Italian, Russian, Croatian and Slovene.

Beside regular military training they had daily language lessons, usually in form of translating texts. After 3-4 weeks they had to pass an exam, and based on their results were assigned to 3 groups. Group I (D1 - D3) was composed with members with highest knowledge of language and were then assigned to military courts and other such institutions to act as interpreters and translators. Group II (U1 - U3) were soldiers with very good knowledge were also assigned to offices, where they were translators of official documents. The Group III (S1 - S3) were soldiers, who were native speakers of non-German language but didn't speak/write very good German; they were assigned for field service, to be interpreters with AuE units, to military censorship,... After the exam and before their assignment they were sent to Wehrbezirkskommando to help out. Some soldiers were assigned to Abwehr/FAT. The best interpreters were sent to Schlossberg (Graz), where they became staff of Radio-intercept office.

In Oct. 1944 the whole Kmp. was sent to Ptuj (Pettau) and used as fighting unit, attached to Rgt. Treeck.

Above info was compiled by the post-war Udba, based on interrogation on several (Slovene) members of the Kmp. Any other info on this unit?

Regards,
Klemen

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K.Kocjancic
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Re: Dolmetscherkompanie WK XVIII, Graz

#2

Post by K.Kocjancic » 26 Aug 2019, 07:00

According to the LdW (http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Kas ... Graz-R.htm), in Graz was "Dolmetscher-Zug XVIII". Most likely the same unit.

Does anyone have any other info?


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