SS-Ausweis thread

[Rob Johnson]

Hello all-

I thought it would be nice if we could start a thread for SS-Ausweis of all types; be it paper card stock Allgemeine-SS Ausweis, SS-Lagerausweis, SS-Sonderausweis, SS-Vorläufiger-Ausweis, oilcloth Truppenausweis and Dienstausweis… you name it!

I'll start by posting some examples of the paper card stock Allgemeine SS-Ausweis, basically the standard ID card issued to every member of (initially) the Allgemeine-SS and eventually the Waffen-SS, as well as various other departments and offices of the Schutzstaffel.

There were three grades of this particular Ausweis; the first being the standard “SS-Ausweis” for enlisted ranks of SS-mann through SS-Rottenführer; the second, the “SS-Unterführer-Ausweis” for NCO ranks from SS-Unterscharführer through SS-Sturmscharführer; and the third for SS Officers, appropriately titled "SS-Führer-Ausweis."

These Ausweis were originally issued to members of the Allgemeine-SS, but as the SS grew and expanded, they were subsequently used for other branches within the organization. For example, the SD had their own version of this Ausweis, and with the formation of the SS-VT these Ausweis were also used for personnel serving in the armed branch of the SS. As we know, there were specific oilcloth Truppenausweis created for the SS-VT, but there are known examples of these card stock Ausweis being used for SS men serving in the SS-VT, so there is some overlapping of usage.

There were multiple designs and variations of this card issued over the years (as with any area of the hobby, there are always exceptions and anomalies to the norm) but for the most part the dimensions and purpose stayed the same from the very beginning. The Ausweis listed the member’s name, rank, unit, date of issue, and – depending on the version – may contain the member’s date and location of birth. The obverse features a photograph of the individual (in civilian dress, SS or very rarely - Wehrmacht uniform) which - for the most part - was validated with a ink stamp, usually of the members Allgemeine-SS Standarte, and the reverse of the cards features the signature of an SS Officer (usually the Führer of the SS-Standarde) authorizing the issue of the Ausweis, a colored validation stamp covering a 3 month time frame, as well as a facsimile Himmler signature (although, the initial versions of these Ausweis do feature original Himmler signatures). There’s a lot more behind the variations, usages, etc, but for now lets take a look at some of these card stock Ausweis...

[Rob Johnson]

First, an example of the standard, enlisted ranks SS-Ausweis.

This Ausweis was issued on 13 October, 1934 to SS-Sturmmann Hans Weber, 8.Sturm, 35.SS-Standarte. As you can see, the obverse of this SS-Ausweis lists Weber’s SS number, NSDAP membership number, his date of birth and – what I look for in my SS-Ausweis – a beautiful SS uniform photo. If you look closely, you will see the ‘35’ collar tab and NSDAP pin on his necktie. One of the details that makes this Ausweis so special to me is the signature on the reverse, that of SS Standartenführer Hermann Florstedt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Florstedt) SS number 8860, Commandant of Buchenwald in 1939, Sachsenhausen from 1940 – 1942 and KL-Majdanek (Lublin) from 1942 – 1943. He was executed by the SS in Buchenwald on 15 April 1945.

[Rob Johnson]

Next is an example of a SS-Unterführer-Ausweis.

This Ausweis was issued on 20 April, 1938 to SS-Unterscharführer Michael Endres, 8.Sturm, 3.SS-Standarte. As you can see from the obverse of the card, Endres was an early member of the SS with SS number #20,910. His NSDAP membership number was 790,174 and the photo shows Endres in civilian dress. If you look closely, you can see that Endres is actually wearing his SS-Zivilabzeichen! The reverse of this card was signed by SS-Brigadeführer Ludwig Eschhold when he was a SS-Obersturmbannfuuhrer.

This Ausweis is part of a small grouping which consists of his SS-Untersturmführer-Ausweis, SS-Beitrags-Quittungskarte, SA sports badge book and Wehrpass. Endres joined the Army in 1935 and took part in the invasions of Poland in 1939, France and the western countries in 1940 and Russia in 1941 and was killed fighting on the Kuban bridgehead in 1943.

[Rob Johnson]

Here's a closeup of Endres' SS-ZA :biggrin:

[Rob Johnson]

And now an example of a SS-Führer-Ausweis.


This SS-Führer-Ausweis was issued on 12 February, 1937 to SS-Untersturmführer Gustav Ehlers who – according to his SS personnel file (provided to my by my good friend John P. Moore) was, as of 15.Feb.1937, Führer of the 3.Sturm, 88.SS-Standarte. As you can see, Ehler’s photo fetures him in his black Allgemeine-SS uniform with a portion of his ‘88’ collar tab visible. The photo was (obviously) taken when Ehler’s was a SS-Oberscharführer. Stamped across the top of the front of the card are the words "Berechtigt zum Tragen einer Faustfeuerwaffe" which translates to "Entitled to carry a handgun."

This Ausweis is part of a small grouping which also consists of Ehler’s NSDAP membership book (membership number 305,656), Wehrpass and Eastern Front medal document. Ehlers joined the SS in 1931, was a SS-Honor ring recipient and was awarded the SA sports badge in silver and the horse rider’s badge in bronze. Ehlers joined the Wehrmacht in 1934 and served with Art.Rgt.225 of the 225.Infanterie-Division. It was with this unit that he killed in action on 26.March, 1942 just outside Lenningrad.

This is one of my most favorite SS-Ausweis groupings, and I must thank my good friend Jay Gillespie for helping me add such a wonderful SS-Führer-Ausweis to my collection.

[Rob Johnson]

The Ehlers grouping:

[Rob Johnson]

That’s it for now. I really hope you enjoyed the writeups and pictures, and hopefully we’ll see a lot more SS-Ausweis in the days, weeks and months to come :thumbup:

Rob

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, Rob has seen all these before, but I will post them here for your viewing pleasure:

I have three in my collection. All came out of Gdansk, (Danzig) Poland after the fall of communism.

The first card I will show is an earlier issue card. It gives, like the other two I will show, the man's name, SS number, NSDAP number, photograph, date of birth and unit (in all these cases they are Allgemeine SS Standartes). The card should have been signed by the man, but as you will see, this was not always done.

The card has a facsimile of Himmler's signature on the reverse along with an actual ink signature of the authorising Officer, usually a fairly high ranking officer. More on this later. There is also a paper stamp to show his dues are paid up.

The card are well made with a background design of interlocked swastikas. They are also embossed with the unit stamp, plus an ink stamp too. They display well the German love of record keeping!

This one was countersigned by SS-Standartenführer Walter Gerlach.

SS Nr# 14,567
Partei Nr# 307,120
DOB: 25.8.96

Awards & Decorations (as of Nov. '44)
EKII (WWI)
Hindenburg Cross
War Merit Cross
Totenkopfring
SS Degen

1934 - z.b.V RFSS
1935 - KL Dachau
1936 - F. 64 Sta.
1937 - F. 64 Sta.
1938 - F. Ab. VII
1942 (April) - F. Ab. VII
1942 (Oct) - Not listed
1943 (Oct) - Not listed
1944 (Jan) - Hauptamt R.K.F

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

This is the second version of the card. Note the "SS" is now done in runic form.

Max and Rob have both had a go at trying to Identify the Officer who signed this card. But we are struggling with the possible signature.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here we have the Unterfuhrer's (NCO's) version of the Ausweis.

I love research and I have done a little on the man who signed the above card with the help of friend's. He had an interesting career in the SS. He commited sucide in May 1945. His name was:

ROCH, Heinz
SS-Oberführer und Oberst der Polizei / SS-Obersturmführer d.R. (W-SS) / M.d.R.

Born: 17. Jan. 1905 in Essen.
Suicide: 10. May 1945 in Trondheim, Norway.

NSDAP-Nr.: 34 475 (Joined, 1922; left after München Putsch of 9. Nov. 1923; Rejoined, 19. Jun. 1926)
SS-Nr.: 2 883 (Joined 1. Aug. 1930)

Promotions:
Oberst der Polizei: 20. Apr. 1942
SS-Obersturmfuhrer d. R. der Waffen-SS): 1. Sep. 1941
SS-Untersturmfuhrer d. R. der Waffen-SS: 21. Jun. 1940
SS-Oberfuhrer: 5. May 1934
SS-Standartenfuhrer: 6. Nov. 1932
SS-Sturmbannfuhrer: 14. Sep. 1931
SS-Sturmführer: 20. Aug. 1931
SS-Truppführer: 18 Nov. 1930

Career:
SS und Polizeiführer "Nord-Norwegen": 21. Nov. 1944 - 8. May 1945.
Responsible for POW's in Wehrkreis I: Oct./Nov. 1944.
SS und Polizeiführer "Bialystok": 18. Jun. 1944 - 22. Oct. 1944.
b. HöSSPF "Ukraine": May/Jun. 1944.
SS-Standortkommandeur "Simferopol": May 1944.
Kdr.d.Sipo u. SD Simferopol: May 1943 - May 1944.
Office head under Kdr.d.Sipo u.SD Simferopol: ____ - May 1943.
SS und Polizeiführer "Taurien-Krim-Simferopol": 3. Mar. 1943 - 25. Dec. 1943.
SS und Polizeigebietsführer "Aleschki" (briefly): Dec. 1942 -
Assigned to HSSPF "Rußland-Mitte": Jan. 1942 -
[Chief of security for construction of a main supply road from Poland to southern Russia: Jan. 1942 - Nov. 1942, then Inspector of staff for the roads construction: Nov. 1942 - Mar. 1943]
Assigned to "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler": (1. Sep. 1941)
Assigned to SS-Totenkopf-Division: (21. Jun. 1940)
Führer SS-Abschnitt XXII (Allenstein): 1. Mar. 1937 - 8. May 1945.
Führer 18.SS-Standarte "Ostpreußen" (Königsberg): 1. Apr. 1936 - 1. Mar. 1937.
Führer SS-Abschnitt XXXII (Augsburg): 15. Mar. 1936 - 1. Apr. 1936.
Führer SS-Abschnitt I (München): 17. Apr. 194 - 15. Mar. 1936.
Führer 7.SS-Standarte (Zwickau): 5. Apr. 1934 - 5. May 1934.
Führer 46.SS-Standarte (Dresden): 16. Dec. 1933 - 5. Apr. 1934.
Member of the Reichstag (Electoral District Düsseldorf-West): 12. Nov. 1933 -
Member of the Preußischen Landtages (NSDAP Faction):
Führer 25.SS-Standarte "Ruhr" (Essen): 13. Jul. 1932 - 16. Dec. 1933.
Führer I.Sturmbann / 25.SS-Standarte (Essen): Oct. 1931 - Nov. 1931.
Führer 1.Sturm/I.Sturmbann / 25.SS-Standarte (Essen): Aug. 1931 - Oct. 1931.
Assigned to SS-Sturm 47 (Essen): 1. Aug. 1930 - Oct. 1931.

Joined SS: 1. Aug. 1930.
Rejoind NSDAP: 19. Jun. 1926.
Joined SA: May 1926.
Frontbann service: Sep. 1925 - Jun. 1926.
Joined NSDAP: 1922; left in wake of München Putsch, 9. Nov. 1923.
Ater completing trade school, worked in agriculture, forestry, a factory, and as a miner. Imprisoned by French occupation forces in the Ruhr for Nazi political activities, Mar. 1923. Later amnestied. Worked for an auto dealership, 1928 - 1931.

[Rob Johnson]

Great Ausweis, Ade! And I am still working on the signature on that Tiemeyer Ausweis. I'm still leaning towards 'Lange' but I know that all available information points to someone other than Otto Wilhelm Lange...

Well, hopefully this thread will get a few more members posting their Ausweis!!!


Rob

[RaymondG]

Excellent thread Rob and thanks for taking the time out to make the posts as I know it is not a quick job to make such a detailed thread. :thumbup:

Great stuff and so I wonder if any other member would like to share any of theirs?

Raymond

[jim arrasmith]

Great collection,wonderfull assembly of almost impossible to get paper work.I wish Jay gillespie would HONOR us with some of his collection.He is a long time ss paper man,who knows his ss paper work.:thumbup1::thumbup1:

[Rob Johnson]

Excellent thread Rob and thanks for taking the time out to make the posts as I know it is not a quick job to make such a detailed thread. :thumbup:

Great stuff and so I wonder if any other member would like to share any of theirs?

Raymond

Thanks, Raymond! I am more than happy to post these here and share them with the rest of the community. Glad you enjoyed the thread :thumbup1:


Rob

[Hundestaffel]

Robert:

It is always a great pleasure to view your collection of high-end SS ID's. You unquestionably have one of the best collections of SS Ausweis / Soldbuchs etc., in existence today.....really puts this "Old Dogs" collection to shame !!!

"Hundestaffel"

[Rob Johnson]

Thanks, Trevor!


Here's a recent addition that just arrived today, an SS-Ausweis issued on 01.March 1934 to SS-Mann Erwin Andersen serving in the 66.SS-Standarte "Friedland." The Ausweis is signed by SS-Obersturmbannführer Walter Gunst, SS number 26,782, NSDAP number 21,867, the first commander of the Lipowa Street Camp, a forced labor camp in Lublin.

Andersen was born on 07.September 1915 in Jägershof (Bavaria) and died on 10.March 1943 in Narwa as an Oberfeldwebel serving with the Wehrmacht.

Enjoy the scans,
Rob

[Rob Johnson]

Wellllll... Here's another attempt to inject a little life into this thread :001_tongue:


I'd like to share with you a new addition that arrived last week...

This SS-Ausweis was issued on 15.June 1934 to SS-Mann Erich Schulze, SS# 212,898, 54.SS-Standarte. Schulze was born on 22.June 1909 in Güstebiese. The photo depicts Schulze in civilian clothes and you can see he is wearing a Miniatur für das Leistungsabzeichen der Hitlerjugend! The obverse is hand signed by SS-Obersturmbannführer Wilhelm Weissflog, SS #19,777 and NSDAP membership number 149,333

If you notice, the photo has been replaced, and rather crudely I might add; you can clearly see the glue marks and paper tear on the right hand edge of the photo and Ausweis. This initially gave me a bit of a scare, as I thought that someone might had replaced the photo post-war. However, upon closer inspection, you can make out an embossed stamp over the photo which also left an imprint on the reverse of the Ausweis. Even close inspection reveals that the July/Sept. 1934 validation stamp was added 'over' the embossed stamp, which means that the photo was replaced and stamped before the last validation stamp was added. That was quite a relief to see :thumbup:


Thanks to my good friend Henner for helping me score this one :thumbup1:

Rob

[Jay V]

Hi Rob
per your request her are my 2 truppenausweis.Jay

6309 6310

[Jay V]

6312

[Jungco]

Rob,
Here's one I had for many years and was not used in my book.
Jeff

[Rob Johnson]

Jeff-

Very nice! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I really appreciate it, and I know others do too :thumbup1:

Rob

[Marcus]

This is a very interesting thread. Great examples shown gentlemen.

I know I've shared this one with Rob, but for those that have not seen---

RICHARD SCHADE
Career camp guard at Sachsenhausen KZ.

SS-Ausweis

[clevischi]

A really nice set, Marcus.

[Rob Johnson]

This is a very interesting thread. Great examples shown gentlemen.

I know I've shared this one with Rob, but for those that have not seen---

RICHARD SCHADE
Career camp guard at Sachsenhausen KZ.

SS-Ausweis



An absolutely beautiful set, Marcus. One I never tire of looking at :001_tt1: Thanks for sharing it with everyone here, I know others will enjoy seeing it, too :thumbup1:

Rob

[RaymondG]

Hi Marcus

Thanks for posting up your example.

I am hoping that we will get a few more as this is a fascinating thread.

Raymond

[Marcus]

Thanks gents, I am glad you like the set, I just wish I had more examples in my colletion to share.

This thread is a great idea and I hope others will add to it as well.

In case anyone is interested----
The signature on the reverse side of the SS-Ausweis is that of Hermann Behme. (the sutterlin script capital B is odd looking indeed) Standartenfuehrer Behme was CO of 22. SS-Standarte, based in Schwerin, and had the honor title "von der Schulenburg" The unofficial earlier title was "Mecklenburg."

Behme was an Alter kampfer from the 1920's and served with the command office in Munich from Feb. 1931 to Sept. 1932. He was dismissed from the SS by Himmler in Jan. '38 and the NSDAP in April '38 for reasons unknown. SOURCE: "Allgemeine SS" by M. Yerger

Marcus

[RaymondG]

Very interesting, Marcus and thanks for the extra detail.

I wonder how many collectors who have an Ausweis in their collection try to identify the signature on the reverse as I imagine that sometimes that can be as interesting as the Ausweis itself?

Raymond

[Rob Johnson]

I wonder how many collectors who have an Ausweis in their collection try to identify the signature on the reverse as I imagine that sometimes that can be as interesting as the Ausweis itself?

Raymond

Raymond-

How true... Here's an 'interesting' signature on that back of one of my SS-Ausweis I purchased a few years ago. I was unable to ID it positively until after the Ausweis arrived and was in my hands. I was quite surprised (and satisfied!) with what I found :001_rolleyes:

It's signed by the then-commander of the 85.SS-Standarte, SS-Sturmbannführer Johann Burkhart. Burkhart was a true Alte Kampfer, with SS number 1,704 (!) NSDAP membership number 89,511 (and also a GPB holder), participated in the 8/9.November Putsch with Bund Oberland (6.kompanie/II.Btl.) and was a recipient of the (1st pattern) Blutorden.


A little more info, from Axis History Forum:

Johann Burkhart: SS-Standartenführer
18.08.1901: Geboren
09.11.1923: Teilnehmer am November-Putsch
1928: Mitglied der NSDAP (nr. 89.511)
Mitglied der SS (nr. 1.704)
23.09.1930: SS-Untersturmführer
14.07.1932: SS-Hauptsturmführer
(1934): Sturmbann I der SS-Standarte 1 der SS-VT
15.05.1935: SS-Sturmbannführer
1935- 01.01.1939: Führer der 85. SS-Standarte
30.01.1936: SS-Obersturmbannführer
09.11.1936: SS-Standartenführer
01.1939- 01.08.1944: Führer der 96. SS-Standarte
01.08.1944-12.1944: Führer der SS-Abschnitts XXXVII
Reserveführer der Waffen-SS
(1942): SS-Hauptsturmführer d.R.(Waffen-SS)
20.04.1944: SS-Sturmbannführer d.R.(Waffen-SS)
1944: 14. Galizische SS-Freiwilligen-Infanterie-Division
Vermisst

The first attached image is a photo that was taken at a RuSHA course in Berlin in 1938. The man on the right of the centre Gruppenführer is Oberführer Wilhelm Ihle, and the one circled in red is the one and only Johann Burkhart (you can make out his Blutorden ribbon and GPB)

The Ausweis itself is an interesting piece... You gotta' love that "dreamy" photo :laugh: It has obviously been invalidated but I can't say why. It's more than likely due to the fact that the original owner was promoted to SS-Unterscharführer (a NCO rank) and issued a new, SS-Unterführer-Ausweis, but it's hard to say for sure! Also, I believe that the "09 Mai 1935" date on the reverse is a type-o, and should read 1938; Burkhart wasn't promoted to Standartenführer until 9 November 1936, besides the fact that the Ausweis (a version which was not in use in 1935!) was issued and signed 3 years before the appointment date :001_cool:



Anyway... :001_rolleyes:

Rob

[RaymondG]

Excellent research, Rob.

That is one hell of a photograph to have on your ausweis!

Raymond

[RussellM]

This is not my area of collecting, but this is a fascinating thread! Wonderful examples and great research really brings these to life - a most interesting topic and area of collecting. Look forward to seeing and reading more about these.

Has anyone been fortunate enough to obtain a numbered SS dagger with matching Ausweis?

Regards
Russ

[Rob Johnson]

Russ,

Glad you have found the thread so interesting and fascinating :biggrin: :thumbup1:

I personally have not been able to land a "numbered" SS Dagger with the original owner's SS-Ausweis, nor do I know of any personally (I'm sure there are a few out there!) but I do know the current wherabouts of SS-Sturmbannführer and Knight's Cross recipient Georg Karck's "Himmler" dagger (I have Karck's SS-Führer Ausweis (http://www.worldwarmilitaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634)) However, I don't think the two will be reunited any time soon :laugh: :001_tongue:


By all means, if anyone else has some SS-Ausweis they'd like to share, please feel free to post them here!

Rob

[Rob Johnson]

Just to keep this thread going...


Here's one of my earlier SS-Ausweis, issued on 16.December 1933 to SS-mann Fritz Bergemann, SS number 122,130. As you can see from the front of the Ausweis, Bergemann was a rather early member of the NSDAP, with membership number 280,225. In the photo - although a 'bit' out of focus - you can make out Bergemann's numbered '27' collar tab and his NSDAP party badge on his necktie. Originally issued when he was a member of the 27.SS-Standarte, the annotation on the front of the card states that Bergemann was transferred to the 1.sturm of the 54.SS-Standarte "Seidel-Dittmarsh."

The reverse is hand signed by SS-Standartenführer Walter Gerlach.

These uniform-photo SS-Ausweis (as opposed to civilian dress photos) are my primary focus when it comes to collecting SS ID's. They don't turn up very often, and so I hope you enjoy viewing this little gem :001_tt1::thumbup:

Rob

[Marcus]

Hi Rob,

That is a very nice example you have. Not only does he wear a uniform, but it is
the early SS brown shirt with black tie and nice "27" on the collar tab
This is quite a desireable SS-Ausweis. :thumbup:

Walter Gerlach, who's signature is on the Ausweis, first served under Erich von dem
Bach, CO of 27. SS-Standarte, from Feb. 1931-July. 1932, when Gerlach became CO
of 27. Standarte from Aug. 1932- Aug. 1934. He then went on to Command the
infamous Columbia-Haus, a brutal Gestapo interrogation center in Berlin, from Aug.-Dec. 1934.
He served as Special Duties Officer for Himmler from Aug.'34-Apr.'35.

Adjutant to the CO of Dachau Apr. '35-Jan. '36. (would that be Theodor Eicke?)
Stabsfuehrer to the CO of Dachau from Jan. '36- Sept. '36.
CO of 64. SS-Standarte from Sept. '36-Nov. '38.
CO of Abschnitt VII from Nov. '38- Jul. '42.
Headed the RKDFV office in Koenigsberg and then in Denmark Jul. '42- May "45
and also headed the HSSPF personnel office in Denmark Dec.-'44= May '45.

KVK, First and Second Class.
Witness at Nuremberg he died in Bavaria, Aug. 31, 1963.

Regards,

Marcus

[Rob Johnson]

Marcus-

Yes, it is a lovely photo, and glad to hear you like it. Thanks for posting the info on Gerlach - I've already got it but I'm sure others will find it most useful :thumbup1:

Hopefully we'll see some more Ausweis posted here soon :001_cool:


Rob

[Rob Johnson]

I'd like to keep this thread focused on original SS-Ausweis, so I've moved the fake Ausweis posted by G_Hanson to the Fake SS paperwork thread.

Thanks!
Rob

[Rob Johnson]

OK...

Time to inject a little life into this thread.

Here's a great SS-Ausweis I was happy to add to my collection... Issued to Manfred Ruß on 01.Nov.1940 through the SS Art.Ersatz-Abteilung. The photo on this Ausweis was what made me really need to have it - check out that studio portrait! A beautiful uniform shot with a RZM embroidered runic tab in wear. Also included in the lot is a document from Ruß's HJ unit, dated 20.June 1940 stating that Ruß, a HJ-Führer, was being transferred to the Waffen-SS. Unfortunately, I do not know which SS Division(s) he wound up serving in. I have been unable to find any info on Ruß and he is not listed on the German war graves registry so it is quite possible that he may have survived the war.

A great little set I hope you all enjoy.
Rob

[G Hanson]

Nice! :thumbup1:

[Rob Johnson]

Nice! :thumbup1:


Thanks, G :thumbup:


Hopefully we'll see some more SS Ausweis posted here...

Rob

[sroub]

Hello gents, here is my SS Ausweis. Great thread.

Best, sroub.

[Jo_Rivett]

Super Thread, magic pictures:thumbup:
Even though i am far from an SS fan, i can appreciate these... 3 thumbs up.
Sroub, i hope you get some good feedback here on yours above, seeing as the last 3 Paper SS items you just posted were all fakes:blushing:

[Rob Johnson]

Hello gents, here is my SS Ausweis. Great thread.

Best, sroub.



sroub-

Have no worries... That is a wonderful and 100% original SS-Ausweis. A very nice piece! Thanks for sharing it with us :thumbup1:

Rob

[sroub]

Hello Rob, thank you for answer. Nice to hear that.

Best, sroub.

[Rob Johnson]

SS-Ausweis - Politische Bereitschaft Nürnberg, 25.June 1934 (Röhm purge)

Guys,

Here’s a very special piece from my SS-Ausweis collection that I’d like to share with you.

This SS-Ausweis was issued on 16.December 1933 to SS-Mann Herbert Schmerbitz through the 48.SS-Standarte, stationed in Leipzig. The rear of the Ausweis has the standard facsimile Himmler signature, 48.SS-Standarte unit stamp and the signature of the Standarte’s commander, SS-Standartenführer Maz Friedrich – also a facsimile.

On the obverse is a very nice portrait photo of a young Schmerbitz in civilian dress, his SS number (122,514), signature and unit info. Notice that there is no entry for his NSDAP Mitglieds nummer, indicating that – as of the date this Ausweis was issued- Schmerbitz had not joined the NSDAP.

Now, this is where this particular Ausweis gets interesting! If you notice, the entry in red ink notates that Schmerbitz was transferred from the 48.SS-Standarte to the 3.Sturm, 3.SS-Standarte in Nürmberg, but more specifically to the “Politische Bereitschaf Nürnberg” or Political alarm squad Nürnberg. These Politische Bereitschaften were the forerunner units of the SS-Verfügungstruppe and carried out special duties within the SS. This transfer (notated by the green stamp running up the left hand side of the Ausweis “Formation geändert”) took place on 25.June 1934 – just five days before the "Nacht der langen Messer"- the Röhm purge!

For more on the role of the SS Politische Bereitschaften in the Knight of the Long Knives, see here:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=150672#p1309851

What role – if any – Schmerbitz played in the Röhm purge has yet to be determined, but I am working on tracking down more info on Schmerbitz and his career in the SS.

Some weeks ago my good friend Henner was kind enough to offer me this Ausweis, and when I went to add it to my SS-Ausweis archive database I found that I already had a folder for this SS number. Inside that folder I found two low-rez images of another of Schmerbitz’s SS-Ausweis, this one issued on 04.May 1935 when Schmerbitz was a SS-Sturmmann serving at KL-Sachsenburg. Preliminary research shows that in October 1934, Schmerbitz was transferred to Sachsenburg, which explains the 10.Oktober 1934 dated stamp and the three-box purple stamps on the front of my Ausweis. The same three-box purple stamps show up on Schmerbitz’s Sachsenburg Ausweis with the exact same number (4152), letter and initials. Again, notice that there is no information entered for Schmerbitz's NSDAP Mitgliedsnummer indicating that Schmerbitz still had not joined the party.

I was very excited to see that there was another Schmerbitz Ausweis in circulation, and so I posted in the “order of battle and individual research” forum at WAF that I was looking for more info on Schmerbitz. To my surprise, and by a sheer stroke of luck, another one of my very close friends “Hundestaffel” sent me an email informing me that he had in his collection two photos of Schmerbitz!

“Hundestaffel” promptly mailed me the photos and when they arrived there was absolutely NO question what-so-ever that they were the very same person.

The first of the two photos features a beautiful full-body shot of Schmerbitz in his black SS-TV uniform - but what makes this photo so special is that you can clearly make out the “K” tab he is wearing on his right collar! Schmerbitz is also wearing a EM/NCO ranks black visor cap and cuff title, but because of the angle the photo was taken at it is impossible to know for sure what cuff title he is wearing.

The second is a postcard format photo of Schmerbitz with two women, and you can see that he is wearing his feldgrau SS uniform with the rank of SS-Hauptscharführer and Totenkopf collar tab. The reverse of the photo is captioned “SS-Hauptscharführer Schmerbitz – Kdtr-Stab Groß-Rosen” so we know that Schmerbitz also served on the camp commandants staff at Groß-Rosen. The writing was clearly done post-war, which leads me to believe that the person who wrote this info on the back of the photo must have had something with both Schmerbitz’s photo and name on it – more than likely one of his SS-Ausweis. The fact that we have two SS-Ausweis and two loose photographs of Schmerbitz floating around tell me that a grouping of Schmerbitz’s effects was broken up and sold off.

Because of his transfer to the Politische Bereitschaf Nürnberg and his subsequent posting to Sachsenburg and eventually serving on the commandant’s staff at Groß-Rosen, Schmerbitz must have had some friends in the right places. Further research is a must on this one, and I hope to turn up more info on him. If I do, I will of course post it here.

If anyone happens to know where I can find Schmerbitz’s Sachsenburg SS-Auswies, or has any items originally belonging to Schmerbitz, please do not hesitate to contact me.

A huge “Thanks” goes out to my goo friends Henner and “Hundestaffel” for helping me acquire – and in turn reunite - these items.

Enjoy the scans!
Rob.

[Rob Johnson]

...and here are the scans of Schmerbitz's Sachsenburg Ausweis. If anyone knows who currently owns this Ausweis, please feel free to contact me :001_cool:

[Rob Johnson]

That's it for now...

Enjoy!
Rob

[Hundestaffel]

OUTSSTANDING.

This is truly a superb KL related "set".....hopefully you are successful in regards to obtaining (all) the other "Schmerbitz" related material that (we know) is out there.....

"Hundestaffel"

[Derek C]

Rob,
Thank you posting these most interesting images. I am always extremely interested to see Politische Bereitschaft material. The transfer on your document is to PB "3" which was situated in Dresden, not Nuremburg. It came under the SS disitrict 'Mitte'.
This PB was known as Sonderkommando Sachsen and never developed into an SS-VT unit, (the '3' being given to Hamburg later that year).
Sonderkommando Sachsen was instead co-opted into the KL system and guarded Hohnstein concentration camp followed by Sachsenburg. They eventually became the SS-TV regiment 'Thueringen'.
Derek

[jim arrasmith]

I have had this a few years,I don't believe I showed it here.Here is a question.Where the date stamps at the lower right replaced every 3 months? Major Karl is mentioned in a few reference places.He receved the German Cross in Gold.I have his entire SS file.140 pages.

[Rob Johnson]

Rob,
Thank you posting these most interesting images. I am always extremely interested to see Politische Bereitschaft material. The transfer on your document is to PB "3" which was situated in Dresden, not Nuremburg. It came under the SS disitrict 'Mitte'.
This PB was known as Sonderkommando Sachsen and never developed into an SS-VT unit, (the '3' being given to Hamburg later that year).
Sonderkommando Sachsen was instead co-opted into the KL system and guarded Hohnstein concentration camp followed by Sachsenburg. They eventually became the SS-TV regiment 'Thueringen'.
Derek


Derek-

Thanks so much for this information. The collector who I purchased this from told me that the 3. designated Nürnberg which we both believed was part of Politische Bereitschaft Bayern... However, PB3 or "Sonderkommando Sachsen" played a rather significant role in the Röhm purge, and Schmerbitz's transfer to "Sonderkommando Sachsen" just before the purge makes this Ausweis all the more interesting.

Thanks again,
Rob

[jim arrasmith]

Rob,Can you tell me any information on the date stamps on SS ID'S?Were they updated every so often?:confused:

[Rob Johnson]

Rob,Can you tell me any information on the date stamps on SS ID'S?Were they updated every so often?:confused:

Jim-

These were updated quarterly (every three months) with a different color stamp for each quarter. So far I have found two versions, early and late. In some cases the old stamp was removed and a new one applied in its place, in other instances they were placed on top of the old stamps (I have one Ausweis where the stack is nearly 1/8" thick!) and I've even seen examples where they are spread out horizontally, across the back side of the Ausweis!

Rob

[jim arrasmith]

Many Thanks for that info.:thumbup:

[Rob Johnson]

Many Thanks for that info.:thumbup:



No problemo :thumbup1:

Rob

[Rob Johnson]

Come on, guys... I know there are some more SS-Ausweis out there :thumbup1:


Rob

[G Hanson]

Whilst we await the posting of more lovely Ausweis, thought I'd post this rare little piece which is almost always missing from Ausweis collections.

The last pic with Parteibuch is for size comparrison.

[G Hanson]

Seeing as nobody has yet posted an example of an SS-Vorläufiger-Ausweis, thought I would do it.

Here it is in the exceptionally rare SS Ausweis holder pictured previously.

[Rob Johnson]

Seeing as nobody has yet posted an example of an SS-Vorläufiger-Ausweis, thought I would do it.

Here it is in the exceptionally rare SS Ausweis holder pictured previously.

Nice SS-Vorläufiger-Ausweis, G. These are rather hard to find and do not come up for sale all that often. Coincidentally, there was one listed on a major German dealer's site last week, along with a killer SS-Totenkopfverbände Dienstausweis to a Brandenburg member. Not sure if either of them have been sold yet.....

Thanks for sharing this one with us.
Rob