Hello to All,
I am hoping someone can answer or point me in the right direction to find my question.
Some years ago my father after returning home from visiting his mother in Hamburg told me he had his father's war medal but at the time didn't say any more or show it to me. When going through his things after he passed away I found a Iron Cross 2nd Class from WW2, was this Opa's Medal?.
In all the things I remember of my father talking about the war for him and his family I had never heard of Opa having any medals.
I had a look at all the photos I have of Opa in uniform, not one has him in a position to see if there is a ribbon in the button hole, so no help there.
I inquired with the "WASt" hoping to get his military record which may have the answer. I have finally had a reply, from Das Bundesarchiv which give a little information but not about a medal but it does confirm some of the things my father told me about Opa. (have attached copy)
Things my father told me about Opa's war.
He did not join the Army at the start of the war but was a "Community Policeman" I think maybe like a warden, also he was a firefighter during the bombing raids and ended up having a permanent tan to his face and you could see where his helmet had shaded his head.
Also he never was a "combat" soldier therefore my doubt about an Iron Cross 2ndc. Supposedly in Italy when "retreating" and driving an Ambulance he was stopped by other soldiers who wanted a lift, he told them all to disarm before riding in his ambulance. Father also said he was a POW in Italy and did not return home at least a year after the war. (confirmed by BA letter)
Also the Medal I found is slightly damaged, very dirty and has no ribbon. I know my father's family house was bombed out in Harburg and they went back after the war and went through the rubble and found items so is it possible the medal was there. Did soldiers leave their medals in a safe place like home or would they have it with them in the field?
Another odd item when going through my fathers things was a hand written note (my fathers hand writing) inside a book titled "Badges & Insignia of the Third Reich" was "north of Kholm 41-42 Demyansk). My father never mentioned where Opa was except Italy. I have a photo of Opa in uniform and on the back is written "Denmark, Christmas 42".
Thank you to all who have managed to read up to here, Stay safe and well
Regards, Jan Tromp
I am hoping someone can answer or point me in the right direction to find my question.
Some years ago my father after returning home from visiting his mother in Hamburg told me he had his father's war medal but at the time didn't say any more or show it to me. When going through his things after he passed away I found a Iron Cross 2nd Class from WW2, was this Opa's Medal?.
In all the things I remember of my father talking about the war for him and his family I had never heard of Opa having any medals.
I had a look at all the photos I have of Opa in uniform, not one has him in a position to see if there is a ribbon in the button hole, so no help there.
I inquired with the "WASt" hoping to get his military record which may have the answer. I have finally had a reply, from Das Bundesarchiv which give a little information but not about a medal but it does confirm some of the things my father told me about Opa. (have attached copy)
Things my father told me about Opa's war.
He did not join the Army at the start of the war but was a "Community Policeman" I think maybe like a warden, also he was a firefighter during the bombing raids and ended up having a permanent tan to his face and you could see where his helmet had shaded his head.
Also he never was a "combat" soldier therefore my doubt about an Iron Cross 2ndc. Supposedly in Italy when "retreating" and driving an Ambulance he was stopped by other soldiers who wanted a lift, he told them all to disarm before riding in his ambulance. Father also said he was a POW in Italy and did not return home at least a year after the war. (confirmed by BA letter)
Also the Medal I found is slightly damaged, very dirty and has no ribbon. I know my father's family house was bombed out in Harburg and they went back after the war and went through the rubble and found items so is it possible the medal was there. Did soldiers leave their medals in a safe place like home or would they have it with them in the field?
Another odd item when going through my fathers things was a hand written note (my fathers hand writing) inside a book titled "Badges & Insignia of the Third Reich" was "north of Kholm 41-42 Demyansk). My father never mentioned where Opa was except Italy. I have a photo of Opa in uniform and on the back is written "Denmark, Christmas 42".
Thank you to all who have managed to read up to here, Stay safe and well
Regards, Jan Tromp
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