Wehrmachtsauskunftstelle fur Kriegeverluste und Kriegsgefangene (WASt)

[Richard T Eger]

Jaap Woortman and Andreas Brekken have directed my attention to the WASt website which gives a history and explanation as to what WASt is all about:

http://www.com-de.pair.com/WASt/

In English, WASt stands for Wehrmacht Information Office for War Losses and P.o.W.s. Today, it is known as Deutsche Dienstelle (WASt).

The organization had and has responsibility for records of casualties and death records of the German Wehrmacht. As such, for WW II one can find details about the specific aircraft and unit a wounded or killed pilot had been flying in and with at the time of the incident.

Regards,
Richard

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 18 July 2000).]

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Terrence Daniels
Where do you find loss records?
Sun Jul 16 00:52:05 2000


Those of you who have posted info about a/c loss records, I'm curious. I've found loss listings for Norway online, but that was special-interest. Is it possible to
purchase computerized records of such things? For example, a CD with a list of loss records for a certain time and place? I know that such things aren't published by
official government sources, but have private interests done the research and made specific kinds of records available for a price? Or rather, is it that your records have
been gathered personally at places like the Bundesarchiv, etc.?

Sorry if I am asking a question about confidential matters.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Nick Beale
Loss Records
Sun Jul 16 23:13:44 2000


The short answer: any damn' place you can!
The long answer: the Lw. Quarternmaster General's aircraft loss records are in the Bundesarchiv at Freiburg, microfilm copies (which can be purchased at great
expense) are in the Imperial War Museum, London (Dept. of Documents). 1944 and bits of 1945 are famously missing and much sought after. Personne loss records
are in the Deutsche Dienststelle in Berlin ... and you can't see 'em, thanks to a privacy law of 1991, unless you are a veteran or family member.
Other loss data can be pieced together from Allied PoW interrogation reports (Public Record Office, London or USAFHRA, Alabama), reports on crashed and captured
enemy aircraft (ditto), aircrew logbooks, veterans' memories, the Red Cross, gravestones etc., etc. None of these sources is neatly arranged to cover a given time or
place, you just have to put the work in yourself in the end.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:




Eric Mombeek
Namentliche Verlustmeldungen
Wed Aug 9 19:43:33 2000


Hi you all, I try to collect a maximum of copies of Namentliche Verlustmeldungen, principally of the JGs. I already have a lot but would like to complete my collection.
So, I would like to find researchers with who I could make some exchanges. If you have such material, please contact me.

regards

Eric at http://www.multimania.com/mombeek/

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:




Larry Hickey
Namentliche Verlustmendungen
Wed Aug 9 21:58:10 2000


What is a Namentliche Verlustmeldungen?

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:




Andreas Brekken
Personnel loss record
Thu Aug 10 08:24:20 2000


Hi, Larry.

The Namentliche Verlustemeldungen was personnel loss records, I believe most of them were collected at
Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt).

Usually detailing information on the person in question and the circumstances surrounding the incident leading to the loss, like aircraft he was flying etc

Andreas

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:


Larry Hickey
Thanks Andreas
Thu Aug 10 14:50:51 2000

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:


Henk Slikker
HE-111 crashed on 13-03-1941 near Glasgow
Fri Aug 18 13:38:13 2000


For a long time I am searching for any information about a Heinkel HE-111-H3 of 6./KG-27, marking 1G+AP, Wnr.3346, which crashed on the night of march 13th
1941 probable in the neighbourhood of Glasgow.

The reason for my information is because the father of a friend of me was a crewmember, his name was Robert Hribar.

On the discussionboard of "Remember The Battle of Britain"I got an answer from Doug Tidy and he advised me to write to Dr.Ransome on your discussionboard for
any further information.

One of the guestions from my friend are if the plane crashed above land or sea and if the crew is buryd somewhere.

In advance my thanks for any reply

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:


Dr D Ransome
He111 crash
Fri Aug 18 20:35:45 2000


Regrettably I can not tell you very much from information I have immediately to hand other than the aircraft failed to return from a night mission to Glasgow. As far as I
am aware there was no crash site reported which may indicate that the aircraft did come down in the sea. As well as heavy anti-aircraft fire that evening there was
also a great deal of night fighter activity reported. I still have thousands of copies of records that I am looking through for He111 information which may produce more
news in future!
In the meantime try the following:-
http://www.volksbund.de
http://www.com-de.pair.com/WASt/frame_e.htm

First would indicate any known grave, the second may help with service history of Robert Hribar.

Sorry that I can't be of more help at present.

Regards and good luck,

Dave

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Charles Bavaroise
KG (J) losses - where to find
Fri Oct 27 08:59:55 2000


Hello Chris!

Main source for losses of KG (J)s are the 1945 GQM-reports ("Generalquartiermeister 6. Abteilung - Flugzeugverluste und Unfälle bei den fliegenden Verbänden) available
on micro-fiche at the Bundesarchiv - Militärarchiv - at Freiburg. As you know, access to the "Namentliche Verlustmeldungen" i.e. personal-loss-reports at Berlin
("WASt-reports") is not possible at this time due to newer German law. I was lucky enough to complete my information with some help from a fellow researcher, who over
25 years ago was able to draw some handwritten lists from WASt-files and let me have a look on them.

Luftwaffe strenght returns for some days of April 1945 are also available at Freiburg. Unfortunatelly the files are on a very low quality paper and it is nearly impossible to get
them copied properly. You may try to get copies anyway, but I myself did it the hard way: going to Freiburg with a pencil and write them down.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

FrankS
Re: German Pilots Wristwatch
Thu Nov 30 22:49:32 2000


You could try to contact this official german office:
http://www.com-de.pair.com/wast/frame.htm

It's the Wehrmachtsauskunftstelle, an institution having details on every german soldier's military career or fate. You can contact them via email and give the name of the
shot down airman.
They should be able to find out which unit he belonged to and I know that they normally have also
the address of the soldier's parents of that time. I would like to know how this story evolves.
By Frank

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Nick Beale
Loss lists
Wed Jan 10 19:47:10 2001


The Imperial War Museum in London (www.iwm.org) has 12 reels of microfilm that are missing all of 1944, January 1945 (except a couple of days' reports), some of March
and all of April 1945. The 1943 reels include losses among Luftwaffe ground troops, paratroops, Flak units etc.

They can be bought but I don't know a current price. The Department of Documents reference is GER/MISC/18.

The reels I've looked at (mainly the 1945 material) don't seem to include flying school losses but do have Ergaenzungs and ferry units. THey do have Nachtschlachtgruppen
and Störkampfstaffeln but from what I've seen of 1943 they lost few aircraft at that time. Losses are far higher in 1945 i nthe west.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Jim P.
Re: Loss lists
Wed Jan 10 22:40:43 2001


There are microfiche available from the BA Koblenz that fill in late Dec 44 - Jan 45. Also a wonderful fragment of the Lfl. 6 KTB that details its losses for most of 45. (These
even include fighters that Prien, Fast and other authors have missed.) The 'other' set of losses, 'Flugzeugunfalle und Verluste bei Schulen und sonstigen Dienststellen' are
extensive and cover the period from 1940 thru Sept. 44. These include training, ferrying units, several different Erprob.Kdos and other oddball stuff -- including even some
losses from repair and production facilities.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Marko Jeras
HELP! I need all available data on Bf 109G-2 W.Nr.13619
Fri Jun 15 16:21:06 2001


Please help. I know many of you have at least a single information on Bf 109G-2 W.Nr.13619. I need all data available. In which factory was produced, when it was assembled, when it was delivered, to who it was delivered, who was their users (one was 15./JG 52), any damage reported, pilots, it's ending???
I would be gratefull for any help. Please contact me on my e-mail and I will explain why I need that data.
Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards,

Marko,
Zagreb, Croatia

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

John Beaman
WNr. 13 619
Fri Jun 15 16:43:19 2001


Bf 109G-2, 13619, Witt, Uffz. Karl, JGr.Ost, 15-Nov-43 , Killed in collision in flight with Bf 109G-2 WNr. 14573. France near Saintes,100% loss, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #12)-Vol.23

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Charles Bavaroise
Tactical code
Fri Jun 15 17:00:51 2001


A short addition:
Uffz. Witts' aircraft was coded "white 13" (WASt-report).

[Dirk Lehmann]

13619 was produced by WNF between May and Oct
1942 according Prien.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Dave
109 information .....
Thu Jul 5 23:34:59 2001


Hi All

Anyone got anything on wk.nr. 6446 ?

TIA

Dave

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Charles Bavaroise
WNr. 6446
Fri Jul 6 06:36:41 2001


WNr. 6446, Bf 109 E7, lost 22. Apr. 41 with
Uffz. Eugen Kaplan posted MIA at Molos after
emergency-landing due to AA-damage. Kaplan actually found his way back to his unit some days later.

Aircraft was built at Fieseler-Kassel and had its
acceptance-flight on 9. Jan. 1941 with FlK. Anton Riediger.

(from WASt-files and flight-log Anton Riediger)

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Wim de Meester
Unknown German Luftwaffe Officer
Fri Jul 13 12:27:25 2001


On the 4th. of May 1945 the body of an unknown German Officer of the Luftwaffe washed on the beaches at Flushing.The next day he was buried at the Noorder Begraafplaats (cemetery) at Flushing and the only details recorded were : Nr.520 2.Fl.Rgt T 41 Nr. 57305

Who may be able to assist in identifying this airman?

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Andreas Brekken
German Luftwaffe Officer washed ashore -> WASt
Mon Jul 16 13:06:16 2001


Hi,

I think that the best way to identify this airman wpuld be to contact the WASt. As the person in question is buried at a local cemetery, it can still be relatives that does not know of his final destiny.

Also, if You get an identification from the WASt, it would be correct (or nice...) to contact the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.) which keep a note on grave position of German personell killed in the war.

Although You might be less interested when informed that the time until You get an answer from WASt might be as long as 6 months, I would say it is a better chance than to hope someone have the ID-tag no from this airman's lost aircrew report at hand.

Regards and good luck,

Andreas