I have two clues: The first appears to be a Field Post No. 29896 and the second is a vehicle ID No. #13825 Can you help with identifying which German unit these belonged too? Regards Andy
Postcard: Lieber Karl! Verzeihe das wir nicht gleich auf Deinen lieben Brief geantwortet, wir haben jetzt dreimal soviel Arbeit, und daher entschuldige uns ..., es ist bei uns gewiss Leistungssteigerung. ... Schönen Dank für liebes Bild die Musik ist ein guter Freund und auch wir werde es immer sein auf Wiedersehn! Grüssen Dich alle recht herzlich. "Heil Hitler" Hans u. Mina Siegl Bäck (?) Dear Karl! Please excuse that we didn't immediately answer your letter, we now have three times as much work, so please excuse us ... it surely increases our performance [as in making work easier]. Thank you for the dear picture, music is a good friend and we too will always be [good friends], see you! Greetings from everybody "Heil Hitler" Hans and Mina [and] Siegl Bäck (?).
The vehicle you're looking for is a BMW S-Krad (Kraftwagen) mit Beiwagen Heavy motorcycle with side car. Originally 3. Panzer-Abwehrabteilung *edit* The vehicle doc states that the Krad got from the Aufklärungsabteilung (reconnaissance) to the 3./ Panzer-Abwehrabt. It seems it was later taken over by the 3./ Panzer-Jägerabt. (on 8 April 1940) Judging by the ranks (mostly Sturmmann) it's an SS unit. *2nd edit* The unit could have been based somewhere around Worms, if I correctly read entry no. 8 (6.5.40).
Hi Kate, Many thanks for your efforts. The only Worms on Google Maps is in Germany south of Frankfurt. The documents posted above were found near site of the British soldiers murdered in Nieppe Forest. It is suggested on the file from Kew that these are the main link to identifying the unit responsible for the killings. They (British Investigators) seem to be sure that the division is the SS-Verfügungs Division but they can't seem to figure out if it is the Germania or Der Führer regiment that was responsible. Cheers Andy
It is Der Fuhrer. Feldpost Number - 29896 (Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) Panzerabwehr-Sturm SS-Standarte Der Führer, (25.9.1940-15.2.1941) Panzerjäger-Sturm SS-Standarte Der Führer, (16.2.1941-18.7.1941) gestrichen, (15.2.1942-30.7.1942) 4. Batterie Heeres-Küsten-Artillerie-Abteilung 448, (31.7.1942-9.2.1943) Heeres-Küsten-Batterie 675, (10.2.1943-23.8.1943) 1. Batterie Heeres-Küsten-Artillerie-Regiment 971