Bundesarchiv Aachen

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Ged Bizys
Hans J Marseille
Wed Jan 3 00:08:55 2001


Hi,

I've been researching Hans J Marseille (Star of Africa)for more than 25 years, but I'm still looking for more info on him - books, articles, photos, films, etc.

I'd like to hear from anyone who may be able to help me. I even have original items from him - ie initial Knights Cross award document, several hand written letters by him
dating between 1939 - 41, so you can see I'm very serious on the topic.
Look forward to any responses.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Jan Bobek
janbobek@email.cz
Try ...
Thu Jan 4 19:05:40 2001


Hi,

congratulations.
Have you tried to get his personal file from Bundesarchiv Aachen? Try to find telephone and address on www.bundesarchiv.de. (http://www.bundesarchiv.de.) Aachen branch is not running e-mail yet. If
you will have difficulties, contact me off-board.

regards and good luck

Jan

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 22 January 2001).]

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christopher Schmitt
Information re: grandfather, Joseph Schmitt
Thu Aug 16 21:00:06 2001


I am attempting to find information regarding my grandfather, Joseph Schmitt. The only information I have is that he served with the Luftwaffe until late in the war. He was eventually captured by the Russians on the Eastern Front and held in a Russian Prison camp for several years following the war. He was eventually released and emmigrated to the U.S., the Seven Hills suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.

Are their any internet sites available that can provide specific unit information regarding a particular soldier?

Please help. Thanks

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve Coates
Joseph Schmitt
Fri Aug 17 19:26:36 2001


The simple response is no. Your best option is to approach the Bundesarchiv-Zentralnachweisstelle (BA-ZNS) who hold the surviving Luftwaffe personnel files, although their holdings on NCOs can be minimal on occasions. You should write giving full information as to who you are and the purpose of your request. You will almost certainly find that you will have to complete a registration form which they will send you. You should provide them with as full details as you can on your grandfather as I suspect he is not the only individual in their files by that name. His date of birth is crucial.

The address is -

Bundesarchiv-Zentralnachweisstelle
Abteigarten 6
52076 Aachen
Germany

Ideally from what you receive you will be able to determine the unit(s) he served with. Research can then begin anew.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christopher Schmitt
Re: Joseph Schmitt
Sat Aug 18 13:08:13 2001


Thanks Steve. I appreciate your help.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Ota Jírovec
Oblt. Heinz Schmidt - s/d by Hungarian fighters?
Tue Aug 21 08:04:22 2001


I have found in several book that Oblt. Heinz Schmidt (173 kills), Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 52, MIA 5.9.1943 near Markor was possibly shot down by Hungarian fighter. However I could not trace any details about it. The only (?) Hungarian fighter unit on the Eastern front, 5/I. vadászosztály "Puma" led by örgy Aladar Heppes celebrated its 50th kill on the day of Schmidt´s death (scored by Hdgy. Lajos Toth, one of the Hungarian leading aces-to-be), but I could not find any mention of shooting down Luftwaffe Bf 109 by error. My questions are:
1) does anyone know more details about Heinz Schmidt´s death from Luftwaffe sources?
2) are there any Hungarian records about such a type of accident?
3) does anybody know Soviet claims for shooting down Bf 109 on 5.9.1943 in the southern sector of Eastern front?

I would appreciate any possible help. Many thanks in advance.

Ota

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Jan Bobek
janbobek@email.cz
KIA details
Wed Aug 22 16:29:41 2001


Hi,

there are several ways how to get detailed records related to death of German airman. So far I used one (Bundesarchiv Aachen - Personalakte), however WASt Deutsche Dienststelle is keeping these records as well (I am communicating with them, but not because of this reason).

If you will be lucky, you will get detailed report (couple of pages - standard document) of the unhappy event (like I did in case of death of H. Grollmuss).

However these records are not always preserved - in many cases are lost. But lets not be pesimistic.

If you want to spent money in this way, you are free to contact me off-board.

regards

Jan

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 23 September 2001).]

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ota Jírovec
Heinz Schmidt - many thanks to you all
Thu Aug 23 08:20:24 2001


I would like to thank you all for your interesting postings - perhaps we will find out more details in the new book by Bernd Barbas.

Jan, also thanks for your offer concerning the Bundes-archiv, however I am a student with somewhat limited funds so perhaps I´ll wait till the new book on II./JG 52 appears.

Ota

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Aurélien Guénec
German and British archives
Fri Dec 14 14:44:31 2001


Could somebody tell me where I have to go to consult the air victories claims of RAF and Luftwaffe pilots?
Thanks for any answer
Aurélien Guénec

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Sean Michael Leeman Master Blaster
Luftwaffe victory claims
Fri Dec 14 16:22:33 2001


For the Luftwaffe you may have some luck with WASt in Berlin, or Bundesarchiv in Aachen. Good luck! Screamin'

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Aurélien
Thanks a lot! (n/t)
Sat Dec 15 06:52:20 2001

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Olof Anjou
Access to German archives of killed Luftwaffe pilots
Sat Dec 15 17:20:52 2001


Hello,
I would like to know if and how one could get information from German archives abt. Luftwaffe losses. (In my case, 1945 and with incomplete name of pilot but probable day and unit)

Many thanks in advance!

Olof

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Peter Teunissen
peterteun@hotmail.com
sources
Thu Dec 20 20:56:41 2001


Try the following:

Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger
Suchdienstzentrale-Historisches Archiv
Krahwinkeler Strasse 34A
53797 LOHMAR

Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr
Kladower Damm 182-188
D-14089 BERLIN

Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt
Zeppelinstrasse 127/128
D-14471 POTSDAM

Wehrmacht Auskunftstelle
Eichborndamm 179
D-13403 BERLIN

Bundesarchiv
Abteigarten 6
52076 AACHEN


That should do it.

Best regards,

Peter

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Colin Fuller
Research of Luftwaffe personnel
Wed Feb 20 03:55:22 2002
203.27.91.25

I have recently obtained documents and awards to a 1./KG30 Luftwaffe pilot, and wish to get further information on this person. I am lucky enough to have his 120 page POW diary and would like to find his next of kin, who may like a copy of this diary. However I have come up deadends in trying to get service records or previous addresses from German Government Departments. Can anyone indicate where it might be possible to get service and other information, without of course intruding on ones privacy. For me the essence of collecting memorabilia is the research and insight into someones past this makes it so interesting.

Hope someone can help
Hope someone can help.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

FrankS
Re: Research of Luftwaffe personnel
Wed Feb 20 04:53:56 2002
217.0.191.119

Have You tried this one ?:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/standorte2.php?SID=5

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Colin Fuller
Re: Research of Luftwaffe personnel
Wed Feb 20 06:12:16 2002
203.27.91.25

Thanks Frank,
I have tried Bundesarchiv - Zentralnachweisstelle at www.bundesarchiv.de (http://www.bundesarchiv.de) But a letter from them indicated that they passed my request onto Deutsche Dienstelle (WASt)who will only provide information to relatives or their legal heirs. There is a Bundesarchiv - Personalarchiv but it appears to be the same address as Bundesarchiv - Zentralnachweisstelle, so I am a little confused...

Thanks anyway.

Colin

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Larry deZeng
Luftwaffen-Personalamt Kartei
Wed Feb 20 13:27:17 2002
152.163.207.177

Colin -

I think the folks at BA-ZNS Kornelimünster bei Aachen are sandbagging you. If you asked for the KG 30 vet's full personnel records - what the U.S. military calls a 201 file - then their response was correct. But BA-ZNS also has a comprehensive set of cards on each and every Luftwaffe officer and each and every enlisted air crew member that gives full name, DOB, POB, all service assignments and promotions, all schooling prior to and during service, all awards and decorations along with other particulars. This data is recorded on large 2- and 4-sided cards that were maintained from 1935-45 by the Luftwaffen-Personalamt in Berlin. They were all - about 1.6-million of them - captured intact at the end of the war and returned to the BRD in the 'sixties. I've personally read detailed reports on these card sets and have seen photocopies of them. I do not believe these are covered and protected under the German Privacy Act Law that was enacted around 1988. I suggest you give this another shot and, if necessary, engage a German attorney for a legal opinion on the matter.
HTH,
(Larry)

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Carsten Petersen
German files
Wed Feb 20 17:06:26 2002
195.41.138.45

Not quite. They have records of some Luftwaffe personel, but not nearly all. Some files are very detailed - others consist of name and rank and little else. I have been at the archive in Aachen a 'few' times and always found something new, but I have only received answers to about half of my questions. The staff is very helpfull - dont blame then!

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Larry deZeng
BA-ZNS
Wed Feb 20 19:05:47 2002
64.12.101.176

Carsten -

I agree with some of what you said, but not all of it. First, I have a complete list of all the different Kartei that were captured by the Allies, both the original cards and the microfilm reels of the cards (by the way, what in the world ever happened to these 280+ reels of microfilms of these cards?). The various card sets as captured by the Allies and in their possession in 1946-47 cover all but the non-aircrew enlisted personnel of the Luftwaffe, although some of these appear in the microfilm version. But it is true, as you noted, that many of the cards contain little more than name and rank. However, the level of content for the officer cards in the rank of Oberleutnant and above is usually pretty good. As for the archivists at BA-ZNS, I was not singling them out for abuse. The archivists and other staff at most archives do not have the time to research individual issues and often provide those who have made inquiries with generalized replies. This is not their fault. After all, we do live in an age and time where there is no longer any personal responsibility. The only alternative for Colin may be to go to Aachen himself. It's usually easier and far more effective to plead one's case in person.
(Larry)

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

tomcat
laws
Wed Feb 20 20:44:08 2002
62.104.206.83

hello,

think, there are some conditions needed to be filled. the person who one is researching for, must have died yet, and 10 years of time should be passed since that date. after this, the informations are free, not only for the family, but for everyone. maybe, you first check out, if this condition is filled in your case.
but, i wrote this from my memory, had read the "law" on this some months ago.

hope it helps, regards

tomcat

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ken Breaux
German Personnel information
Thu Feb 28 22:01:25 2002
199.228.142.8

Go to the net and do a search for the words "Dienstelle". This is the agency responsible for these records, and the web should tell you how to communicate with them. Good luck

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Richard T Eger
Request for clarification
Thu Feb 21 01:22:36 2002
162.33.234.32

Dear Larry,

Please forgive my novice questions in this regard, but I am not fully familiar with the organizational structure here regarding the BA.

First off, what does ZNS stand for? Second, is this and BA-Aachen one and the same? If not, please elaborate. Third, what is the relationship between the BA-ZNS, WASt, and the German Graves Commission, both in terms of any inter-relationship they may have with each other and the differences in information related to Luftwaffe personnel that each may hold and possibly offer?

The question of trying to learn about a particular person in the Wehrmacht comes up over and over, so it would be helpful to get this set straight once and for all.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Larry deZeng
Re: Request for clarification
Thu Feb 21 14:19:29 2002
205.188.199.31

Richard -

BA-ZNS is Bundesarchiv-Zentralnachweissstelle and it's one and the same as BA-Aachen, BA-Kornelimünster and BA-ZNS Kornelimünster bei Aachen.

BA-ZNS has a relationship with WASt, but one of the German users of this Board would be better able to outline this relationship than me. It's kind of complicated. Basically, the German authorities prefer that inquiries be first directed to WASt rather than BA-ZNS. It's sort of the first stop before contacting other agencies.

The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräber-Fürsorge (German War Graves Commission) is strictly concerned with military cemeteries and has little connection to the other two, if any.

The Krankenbuchlager (Medical Records Repository) in Berlin holds all World War II German medical records. If a Luftwaffe flier was shot down, injured and hospitalized, for example, the medical records are here. These records also give details on his unit, circumstances leading to the wounds and other information of interest.

HTH,
(Larry)

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Richard T Eger
BA-Aachen
Fri Feb 22 02:56:27 2002
162.33.235.140

Dear Larry,

Thank you for that clarification.

As far as I can see from what I've read so far, the retention of these particular personnel records seems to be the only function of the BA-Aachen. Is this correct?

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Larry deZeng
BA-ZNS
Fri Feb 22 13:55:00 2002
64.12.106.47

As far as World War II is concerned, yes. They hold all surviving personnel records, promotion lists, awards and decorations lists, the fragmented assignment orders issued by the Luftwaffen-Personalamt, etc., for all branches of the Wehrmacht. BA-ZNS does not hold operational or related documentation. This material is all at BA-MA Freiburg, of course.
(Larry)
BT

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Richard T Eger
Re. BA-ZNS
Sat Feb 23 00:36:01 2002
162.33.234.17

Dear Larry,

Again, I thank you for the further clarification.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

FrankS
Re: Research of Luftwaffe personnel
Wed Feb 20 21:48:19 2002
217.0.191.88

Hi Colin !

Maybe you would like to give the
name, rank and date of birth of your
inquiry at this board. Maybe somebody
knows something then with-a-little-luck.

bye

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Colin Fuller
Here is the information
Thu Feb 21 02:24:58 2002
203.27.91.25

Hi Frank

The inquiry relates to a Luftwaffe Pilot (Feldwebel)who flew a Junkers JU-88A-6 (3451) 4D+GL (his diary says 4D+OL). The Pilots Surname is Schönauer, and some documents have Peter and others Wilhelm as the Christian name. He was born 6 January 1918. He was with I Gruppe (I./KG30) His plane was shot down over England (Vale Acre Farm, Aldershot, Dorset 2.35am) on the night of 8/9 July 1941 by a Bristol Blenheim nightfighter. the crew baled out and he became a POW in Canada. I have a very interesting POW diary of his which I would like to give a copy to his next of kin (assuming he is no longer living), if I can track them down.

I found out the following information also:

The loss is reported in a document from the Generalquartiermeister.

Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (Ic) Nr 3780/41 g.Kdos, dated 11. July 1941

Lfd. Nr. 31 (That is loss numer 31 included in the list for this date, July 11.)

The loss itself is noted as occurring on July 9th, the unit is said to be I./K.G.30 (meaning the 1st Gruppe, not the 1st Staffel). It is noted as a loss during a Feindflug, location Birmingham, reason unknown (indicating that they never reported to the other aircraft in the unit that they were under attack from a nightfighter, or that they never knew what hit them).

Details of the aircraft as follows:

Ju 88A-6, Werkenummer 3451, Kennzeichen 4D+GL, listed as a 100% loss.

The crew consisted of:

Fw. Schönauer, Wilhelm (Pilot, MIA)
Uffz. Jahn, Otto (Observer, MIA)
Uffz. Dopper, Hermann (Wireless Operator, MIA)
Gefr. Safer, Rudolf (Gunner, MIA)

I do not have an idea where he was from, so his service records would be very useful to locate next of kin. So with a little bit of luck as you say, who knows...

Best wishes

Colin

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christian Möller
German Red Cross!
Thu Feb 21 13:28:05 2002
217.184.237.52

Hello Mr. Fuller!

As the pilot Schönauer was posted MIA you may try to ask the German Red Cross for the address of any relative:

DRK - Suchdienst
Chiemgaustr. 109
D-81549 München
Germany

Many greetings,
Christian Möller
Germany

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve Coates
BA-ZNS
Wed Feb 20 21:50:22 2002
213.1.157.248

The staff at the BA-ZNS are by and large pretty responsive and helpful. They certainly compare favourably with archival staff anywhere else in the world. They have undoubtedly been a great help to myself in my own somewhat left field research. Obtaining access to the BA-ZNS is subject to the completion of a standard application form outlining the nature and purpose of the research to be undertaken, exactly as is the case with the BA-MA Freiburg.

My understanding is that universal access is available to the Personalamt Cards. Of themselves these only convey limited information on an individual's career. Access to an individual's files is only possible where the individual has been dead for more than 25 years (Carsten could be right with 10 years, it always used to be 25) or with the individual's consent or that of their next of kin. This is where the interesting and often highly illuminating career history information is to be found.

In order to locate a file, it is necessary to provide as much detail as possible including a date of birth. Copies will be made of documents in the file and copy prints will also be made of any photos but this is far from inexpensive. Having said that, where else can you obtain this information ? A time charge will also be levied.

I should stress that the records held for NCOs are minimal. There is very little to be gained by trying to get something out of the BA-ZNS for anyone below the rank of Leutnant.

[Bobbie McIntyre]

As many of the pilots we are researching have passed away, especially those killed during the war, then their more detailed personal files should be available to anyone correct? How expensive is it to obtain these records from the Archives? I'm researching Heinrich Ehrler from JG5 & JG7, the pilot who was courtmartialed in regards to the sinking of the battleship Tirpitz. Has anyone ever received his personal file? How expensive was it and frankly how extensive was it? I'd appreciate any reply in regards to this aviator. Thanks!

[Bobbie McIntyre]

I was re-reading the entries and read Larry DeZeng's reply that the full personnel records for pilots you are researching are not available if you are not related to them or are not a legal heir. What if there is no one? Considering so many people died in the war there is that possibility that the pilot has no relatives or legal heirs left. So then are their full records sealed forever?

Thanks!
Bobbie