Ancestry - 2.4m WW2 German 'Gefallen' Cards

[hucks216]

I am sure some will of seen this announced on other forums but for those that don't know Ancestry in Germany have now added 2.4 million cards for those soldiers killed between 1939-1948 and although I am led to believe that those cards relating to late 1944 don't exist there may well be some for that period and 1945. So far the latest date I have been able to find a card file for is July 1944 but I have been told that there are some for later in 1944 and 1945.

The cards also cover the Luftwaffe (and other fighting forces) although I don't think they cover those reported as MIA but I could be wrong.
Some have just one side of a card while others might have 2 or 3 double sided cards of information.

If all you have is a memorial card or a grave photo then you might be able to gain a lot of previously unknown information such as his basic training unit, his last unit, dog tag details and so on. See below for a couple of examples. Considering how many millions died fighting obviously the card files are far from complete but they are still proving to be a good resource. With regards to Luftwaffe I have had an approx 40-50% success rate. It is useful when used in conjunction with Volksbund (to obtain any unknown date of births) to make the searches more focused.


As with all things Ancestry, after your trial period ends you will need to subscribe to the site to obtain access.

[Zippy1]

What is the web address, ancestry.de ?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Zippy1

What is the web address, ancestry.de ?

www.ancestry.de

[dp_burke]

This is the database description from Ancestry.com

About Germany, Military Killed in Action, 1939-1948
About this collection

This collection contains index cards recording German soldiers who were killed in World War II. On August 26, 1939, the High Command of the German Wehrmacht began operating an information center for war casualties and prisoners of war. It was called the Wehrmachtsauskunftstelle für Kriegsverluste und Kriegsgefangene (WASt). In 1943, part of the agency was moved from Berlin to Saalfeld/Saale and another part to Meiningen. Beginning in January 1946, the agency was renamed the "Deutsche Dienststelle für die Benachrichtigung der nächsten Angehörigen von Gefallenen der ehemaligen deutschen Wehrmacht" (German Office for the Notification of Next-of-Kin of Members of the Former German Armed Forces who were Killed in Action). The name is commonly shortened as Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt). On January 1, 2019, that service became part of the German Federal Archives as the newly established Department PA (Information on Personal Data related to World Wars I and II) and is based in Berlin-Reinickendorf.

During the war and post-war period, the Deutsche Dienststelle submitted a notification of death for deceased individuals to the pertinent local Civil Registry. Therefore, in many German death registers, the "Informant" listed on a death record is the wartime agency.

What you can find in the records

Deaths are for the most part recorded by hand on pre-printed index cards. Depending on the available information and on the form used, you may generally find the following details in these records:

Last Name, Given Names, Birthdate and Birthplace
Unit, Reserve Unit, Identification Number, Rank
Date of Death, Time of Death, Place of Death and Type of Casualty
If known: Burial Date, Location and Number of Grave
Cross-reference to Casualty List
More about using this collection

This collection is searchable using the search form, which among other things allows you to search by Last Name, First Name, Birth Date, Birthplace, Date of Death and Place of Death. Under "Browse this collection,” you can select the Box Number Range and Box Number of the cards desired.

A link to the search page is likely this, I have a full access account, so one can join .com or .co.uk

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61641/

[Zippy1]

How long is the free trial ? I've no wish to pay for it so just want to copy anything I need before the trial runs out, cynical I know but short of funds atm.

[robert]

Hi,

I`m looking for somebody who can check 3 names for me.

Regards

Robert

[Brian Bines]

Hucks,

Thanks for putting the site up,

Regards
Brian Bines

[hucks216]

Originally Posted by Zippy1

How long is the free trial ? I've no wish to pay for it so just want to copy anything I need before the trial runs out, cynical I know but short of funds atm.

The UK trial is 14 days. They take your payment options first in the hope that you forget to cancel before the trial ends.

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Tried to log in without success.

Is there any information on any of these men who I have been unable to find information on:

Johann Bapt. Gschwendtner - killed 03.09.1942
Uffz. Sebastian Penzhofer - killed 28.07.44
Uffz. Josef Bosch - killed 27.01.1945
Uffz. Heiz Heribert Hierl - killed 19.12.42
Josef Bauml - killed 21.06.1942
Obergef. Josef Ruhrmeier - killed 04.03.1942

Any help greatly appreciated.

Rick

[hucks216]

Originally Posted by rickback4444

Hi,

Tried to log in without success.

Is there any information on any of these men who I have been unable to find information on:

Johann Bapt. Gschwendtner - killed 03.09.1942
Uffz. Sebastian Penzhofer - killed 28.07.44
Uffz. Josef Bosch - killed 27.01.1945
Uffz. Heiz Heribert Hierl - killed 19.12.42
Josef Bauml - killed 21.06.1942
Obergef. Josef Ruhrmeier - killed 04.03.1942

Any help greatly appreciated.

Rick

Only two although a date of birth might reveal others although so far I have not found a single record that goes past July 1944.