Dear all, Good afternoon. I am writing in order to ask your kindest collaboration and possible suggestions, on a future research - since, I must admit, I do not know the current German historic research world and community. As a researcher, author and local historian, I would be interested in deepening the stories of the German soldiers and militiamen deployed in a small valley of the Italian Western Alps, in the Aosta Valley, during WWII. The valley is called Ayas (Val d'Ayas, Ayas Valley) and includes as main villages Verrès, Challand, Brusson, Antagnod, Champoluc, Saint Jacques. This, because I already described in my previous book the stories and peripeties of Allied POWs, escaped up there when trying to reach the neutral Switzerland. My project would therefore concern the description of the same time, in this local context, from the point of view of other actors - the German occupants. During this research I became quite proficient in contacting and visiting the British, Australian and Allied archives. Unfortunately, I still have no info or knowledge on the similar German archives. Would it be possible, for you, to suggest the most suitable approach, or contacts? I speak and read a little German, but - sadly - no Gothic written language, yet. Thanks indeed for your time, and precious suggestions, Marco
Hi Marco. The German archives are the Bundesarchiv and are spread around Germany, each centre appearing to do something slightly different. (One holds photos, another war diaries, and so on.) Visits are by appointment only and you need to give a fair amount of notice - a couple weeks at least to be certain of getting in when you want. I believe Freiburg (near the Swiss/French German border) holds war diaries and Koblenz holds photos - probably I'm wrong. ;^) A quick google search leads to this page: http://www.bundesarchiv.de/benutzung/zeitbezug/nationalsozialismus/index.html.en. You'll have to find your own way from there. Buona fortuna
Thanks indeed, Ropey, very kind. I already contacted them, and various other museums (with some language problem). Unfortunately they have no direct records, so I should pay a local researcher, German-speaking, or plan a trip there and hope for better. Quite difficult. Marco
Hi Marco can#t help with research in the Bundesarchiv (I´m located at the contrary side of Germany) I know of Gebirgsjaeger Regiment 100, 5. Gebirgsdivision, who was at the "Aostatal" in 1944/45 after the Cassino Battles so have a glance at: http://www.regionalkultur.at/Erinnerungen/Tiefenbacher_Pdf/TiefenbacherSepp.pdf http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/index.php/Thread/21866-Geb-J%C3%A4g-Rgt-100/ Hope this helps a little Olli BTW: German units records are extremely scarce at best, especially after 1943/44. War diaries were more than often burned before capitulation or simply lost in the chotic last weeks of the war. Also a whole lot of once archived material burned at Potsdam in 1944 after an air raid...so, most possibly you#ll find just fragments, if ever
Varasc There may be some references to German units here - https://books.google.fr/books?id=VWJzCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=German+units+in+the+Aosta+Valley+WWII.&source=bl&ots=7uhg95GTsc&sig=1SimvOOxe4kgdTKjZF54KWUNME4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBGoVChMInqbyuYCYyQIVCboaCh1N0AsO#v=onepage&q=German%20units%20in%20the%20Aosta%20Valley%20WWII.&f=false also - https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-Cassino/USA-MTO-Cassino-29.html and - https://books.google.fr/books?id=Uz8eiwzEMHQC&pg=PA191&lpg=PA191&dq=German+units+in+the+Aosta+Valley+WWII.&source=bl&ots=0nCCV_XLhh&sig=xm1-fbuqxO-rM06Wbk79E8B2R9A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEoQ6AEwCGoVChMInqbyuYCYyQIVCboaCh1N0AsO#v=onepage&q=German%20units%20in%20the%20Aosta%20Valley%20WWII.&f=false There may be info from the Italian units (if there were any) that were in that region at the time equivalent to War Diaries Just some lateral thinking as it appears the answers are going to come from many sources in bits and pieces TD
Thank you indeed, Itdan and Tricky Dicky, for your precious suggestions. Will absolutely follow. Marco
I would also recommend the unofficial Division History "Hurra, die Gams - Geschichte der 5. Gebirgsdivision" It´s the "Bible" for Gebirgsjaeger-Enthusiasts and researchers who deal with this Unit: http://www.zvab.com/buch-suchen/titel/hurra-die-gams/autor/ringel/ regards Olli
