The following listing is of a number of important contacts for information
on WWII German soldiers, various units, matters of importance to familiy
members or relatives, and details on MIAs and KIAs. It consists of the
main organization, archives, groups, museums,
governmental offices, etc, that should be contacted if you are searching for
any of the above types of information. Included are archival contact
addresses as well addresses for individual unit organizations and
veterans groups.
Whomever you contact, the process will not likely be a quick one, and waits
of a number of months are often common. Certain contacts also require proof of
family relation when seeking information on a specific person, as
kinship or family relation is a requirement for some organizations.
It is best to attempt to write the contact first and gauge if they
are able to process your request for help before jumping head-long into
a detailed query. Written request can be made in English if
needed, although keep in mind, your sending mail to another country, and
people across the planet don't always speak your first language. Depending
on the contact, replies will often not be in English.
When you contact any of these various groups and organizations, please
take the time to mention this web site!
Bundesarchiv - Militärarchiv
Federal Records Office - Military Archive
Mission:
Address:
Postfach, 79024 Freiburg
Wiesentalstrasse 10
79115 Freiburg
Deutschland
Phone: ++ (0761) 47817-0
Fax: ++ (0761) 47817-900
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Bundesarchiv - Zentralnachweisstelle
Federal Central Record Office
Mission:
The offical Institution which houses documents and
information of historical importance to the German Federal Republic. A
great deal of information it holds relates to WWII, and is available for
use by researchers and authors. As per the Bundesarchiv: "Everybody shall
upon application have the right to use Federal archival documents more
than 30 years old unless legal stipulations provide otherwise..."
Address:
Bundesarchiv-Zentralnachweisstelle
Abteigarten 6
D-52076 Aachen
Deutschland
Phone: ++ 024 081470
Fax: ++ 024 0811437
On the web:
http://www.bundesarchiv.de
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Bundesarchiv-Personalarchiv
Federal Records Office - Personnel Archives
Mission:
As a branch of the German Federal Archive system, this office is a contact
point for information on specific personnel questions relating to
those who survived WWII. For information on German veterans MIA or KIA
during WWII, please see WASt below.
Address:
Bundesarchiv-Personalarchiv
Abteigarten 6
52076 Aachen
Deutschland
Phone: 011-49-2408-1470
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Bundesministerium der Verteidigung
Ministry of Defense
Mission:
Address:
Bundesministerium der Verteidigung
Postfach 13 28
53003 Bonn
Deutschland
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Deutsche Dienstelle (WASt)
Wehrmacht Information Office for War Losses and PoWs
Mission:
For the notification of next-of-kin of members of the former German
Wehrmacht who were killed in action. The WASt can help with the following:
Provide certificates confirming a person was killed in action.
Providing supporting documentation when applying for death certificates.
Help solve MIA cases.
Help decode Wehrmacht identity discs.
Help decode Wehrmacht Field Post Office Numbers.
Provide known locations of war graves.
Aid in the administration of personal effects.
Provide records of Military Service.
Provide certificates required by the Social Security Services, Ministry of
Pensions, etc.
Provide proof of time spent as a POW.
Provide proof of decorations and Honour Awards.
Provide proof of nationality.
Please note that in accordance with the German Data Protection Law the
Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) is only allowed to provide information to the
persons concerned, their relatives or their legal heirs, or to
Authorities in the carrying out of their legal duties.
History of the WASt:
Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, the National Information Office
was opened in Berlin W 30, in accordance with Article 77 of the Geneva
Convention of 27.07.29 dealing with the treatment of prisoners-of-war. It
took up its duties on 26.08.39 as Office of the Wehrmacht High Command
with the title "Wehrmacht Information Office for War Losses and P.o.W.s"
or WASt. In addition to providing information about foreign prisoners-of-war
its main tasks were the registration of German Wehrmacht casualties
(wounds, illness, deaths, MIAs), the processing of these cases including
personal status control and official grave service. In August 1943 the
Wehrmacht Information Office was moved to Thuringia, part of it being stored
in Saalfeld and part in Meiningen. After the occupation of Thuringia, from
the 12.04.45 onwards, the WASt worked under the supervision of the American
Military Commission. On the 01.07.1945, immediately before Soviet troops
took over in Thuringia, the Americans moved the WASt to Fürstenhagen
near Kassel. At the end of January 1946 the WASt returned to Berlin and
received its present name, which is a literal translation of the American
designation. On the 14.06.46 the Allied Control Commission decreed that the
WASt was to continue its work created by national and international
commitments. At the same time the French section of the Control Commission
took over the administration of the WASt. During the early post-war years
the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) received many comprehensive records
of other military and para-military organisations. In addition, in December
1990, it took over a large amount of records of the one-time Wehrmacht for
evaluation. These records had been stored in the Military Archives Potsdam
and the State Archives of the one-time GDR substation Dornburg near
Zerbst/Anhalt. Owing to post-war laws the original task of the WASt has
increased considerably. Because of its unique material the Information
Office is approached by private individuals as well as authorities dealing
with cases which concern Wehrmacht service and its effect in numerous areas.
After an Administration Agreement on the 09.01.51 between the Federal
Government and the Land Berlin the Information Office (WASt) became an
Authority of the Land Berlin. It is part of the Senate Adminstration of
Health and Social Security subordinate to the President of Department of
Health and Social Security Berlin.
Address:
Deutsche Dienstelle (WASt)
Postfach 51 06 57
D-13400 Berlin
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (030) 41904-100
Fax: +49 (030) 41904-100
On the web:
http://www.com-de.pair.com/wast
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Munin Verlag/Der Freiwillige/HIAG:
Munin Publishers/The Volunteer/Waffen-SS Mutal Aid Association
Mission:
Munin Verlag is the publisher of a number of very detailed and very
highly regarded books on the Waffen-SS and German Wehrmacht. Munin
also publishes the Waffen-SS veterans magazine Der Freiwillige. Munin
Verlag is also the contact point for information on the main Waffen-SS
veterans organization, HIAG, which serves as the Waffen-SS veterans relief
organization.
Address:
Munin Verlag GmbH
Postfach 30 23
49020 Osnabrueck
Deutschland
Update!
Munin-Verlag stopped it's production some years ago. Although it appears
Der Freiwillige is still being published, the other Munin Verlag titles
are now being regularly reprinted by the following publishing house:
DVG
Postfach 1180
D-32352 Preußisch Oldendorf
Deutschland
Phone: 05742/930444
Fax: 05742/930455
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Verband des Krieges
German War Veterans Organization
Mission:
Address:
Verband des Krieges
Wurzerstr. 2-4
D-53175 Bonn
Deutschland
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Deutsches Rotes Kreuz
German Red Cross
Mission:
The German branch of the international Red Cross, the world-wide
emergency relief organization. The DRK was active during WWII, and
also maintains a great deal of documents and information pertaining
to WWII.
Address:
Deutsches Rotes Kreuz
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee
D-5300 Bonn
Deutschland
or
Deutsches Rotes Kreuz
Suchdienst München
Chiemgaustrasse 109
D-81549 München (Munich)
Deutschland
On the web:
http://www.rotkreuz.de/
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Heimatort Kartei
Expellee Card-Index
Mission:
The Heimatort Kartei is a church supported organization (Caritas) which
collects former addresses and present whereabouts of Germans from
the areas of Germany that are now Polish or Russian territory.
Address:
Heimatort Kartei
Auf dem Kreuz 41
86150 Augsburg
Deutschland
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Internationaler Suchdienst Arolsen
International Tracing Service Arolsen
Mission:
Address:
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Volksbund Deutsche
Kriegsgräberfürsorge
German War Graves Commission
Mission:
This commission maintains German war graves all across the world. It has
an extensive database of fallen or missing German soldiers, with the location
of their graves (if known). They help to promote peace and
understanding while at the same time preserving the graves and last
resting places of hundreds of thousands lost during WWII, in Germany
and abroad. They also promote grave restoration projects, reburials,
memorial dedications, and youth education projects on the fallen of
WWII.
Address:
Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräbefürsorge
Werner-Hilpert Strasse 2
D-34112 Kassel
Deutschland
On the web:
http://www.volksbund.de/homepage.htm
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Arbeidsgemeinschaft für Kameradenwerke und
Traditionsverbaende e.V.
Kameraden Veterans Magazine
Mission:
This is the veterans publication known as Kameraden. Kameraden is the
official veterans newsletter for German WWII veterans. It
lists reunions, has WWII-related articles, personality profiles,
editorials, and also covers the combat activities of the modern Bundeswehr
in the Balkans. The annual international subcription rate is 85 Deutsche
Marks ($47). It comes out 10 times a year. Each issue is between 40-60
pages long.
Address:
Arbeidsgemeinschaft für Kameradenwerke und Traditionsverbaende e.V.
Tuebinger Strasse 12-16
D-70178 Stuttgart
Deutschland
Phone: 00-49-711-2260620
Fax: 00-49-711-2260794
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Norwegian War Veterans from Finland
Norwegian War Veterans from Finland
Mission:
Address:
Pb 2348 Solli
N-0201 Oslo
Norway
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Institute for Norwegian Occupation
Research
Institute for Norwegian Occupation Research
Mission:
Address:
Pb 3239
N-0208 Oslo
Norway
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Aid organization for Norwegian Volunteers
Aid organization for Norwegian Volunteers
Mission:
Address:
Pn 1407 Vika
N-0115 Oslo
Norway
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Sint Maartensfonds
Flemish WWII Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information on the Flemish Axis volunteers and their
units during WWII.
Address:
Sint Maartensfonds
Blancefloerlaan 165/33
2050 Antwerpen
Belgium
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Gemeinshaft der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger
Organization of Air Force Fighter Pilots
Mission:
This is the main contact for information on Luftwaffe fighter groups and
associations in Germany, as well for information on living and deceased
Luftwaffe fighter pilots. This organization also publishes a newsletter
called Jagerblatt which covers various topics related to the Luftwaffe and
its pilots and veterans.
Address:
Gemeinshaft der Jagdflieger
Vereinigung der Flieger
Deutscher Streitkrafte e.V.
Willi Gobel
Krahwinkeler Strasse 34A
D-53797 Lohmar
Deutschland
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I.SS-Panzerkorps (1.SS-Pz.Div. und 12.SS-Pz.Div.)
1st SS Panzer Corps (1st and 12 SS Panzer Divisions)
Mission:
Contact point for information on the I.SS-Panzerkorps
Address:
Patrick Agte
Zurmaiener Str. 57
D-54292 Trier
Deutschland
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2.SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich
2nd SS Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of the Waffen-SS
2.SS-Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
Heid Rühl
Im Rheinfeld 18
D-64521 Groß-Gerau
Deutschland
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9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen
9th SS Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of the Waffen-SS
9.SS-Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
Helmut Hennig
Am Wintersberg 3
D-63619 Bad Orb
Deutschland
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10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg
10th SS Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of the Waffen-SS
10.SS-Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
Karl Godau
Semmelweisring 16
D-38440 Wolfsburg
Deutschland
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17.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Götz
von Berlichingen
17th SS Armored Infantry Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of the Waffen-SS
17.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division during WWII. Be warned, it is said that
Günther is not willing to lend any assistance to Americans!
Address:
Helmut Günther
Lohweg 3
D-35282 Rauschenberg.
Deutschland
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Wehrmacht Heer 2.Panzer-Divsion
Army 2nd Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of
the Wehrmacht Heer 2.Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
2.Panzer-Div.
Franz Steinzer
PO Box 159
A-1061 Wien
Osterreich
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Wehrmacht Heer 9.Panzer-Division
Army 9th Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of
the Wehrmacht Heer 9.Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
9.Panzer-Div.
Rudolf Wallner
PO Box 63
A-1061 Wien
Osterreich
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Wehrmacht Heer 11.Panzer-Division
Army 11th Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of
the Wehrmacht Heer 11.Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
11.Panzer-Div.
Karl Heinz Loschke
Haferkamp 37
D-38112 Braunschweig
Deutschland
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Wehrmacht Heer 13.Panzer-Division
Army 13th Panzer Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of
the Wehrmacht Heer 13.Panzer-Division during WWII.
Address:
13.Panzer-Div.
Gen.Maj. a.D. Helmut Fischer
Am Stadion 6
D-32602 VLOTHO
Deutschland
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Wehrmacht Heer Panzer-Lehr-Division
Army Panzer-Lehr Division Veterans Organization
Mission:
Contact point for information about members and units of
the Wehrmacht Heer Panzer-Lehr-Division during WWII.
Address:
Panzer-Lehr-Div
Bernd Hillmann
Auf dem Kampe 23
D-29355 Beedenbostel
Deutschland
Other known addresses for this unit:
Kameradschaft Panzerlehrdivision und Panzerlehrbataillon 94. e.V.
Wenzigerstrasse 18
79291 Merdingen
Deutschland
Phone: 076 6878 94
Oberst a.D. Juergen Boss
Fuggerstrasse 3
49811 Lingen/Ems
Deutschland
Phone: 059 0696 0040
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