Original May 9 1945 U.S. Military Government Germany Temporary Registration Card – Düsseldorf – Fingerprint & Officer Signed

Offered here is an original early post-WWII Allied occupation document, a “Military Government of Germany – Temporary Registration / Zeitweilige Registrierungskarte” issued in Düsseldorf on May 9, 1945, only one day after Germany’s unconditional surrender took effect in Europe.

These temporary registration cards were used by Allied military authorities to register German civilians in occupied communities and restrict unauthorized movement. Contemporary examples survive in museum collections, and the instructions specifically required the registrant to keep the paper on their person.

This example was issued to:

Name: Frau Elise Weiler
Age: 57
Sex: Female (weibl.)
Occupation: Hausfrau – Housewife
Permanent Address: Wissmannstrasse 26
Present Address: Same (dito)
Registered City: Düsseldorf
Date of Issue: 9 May 1945

Occupation Regulations

The document is printed bilingually in German and English. The English portion states:

“The holder of this card is duly registered as a resident of the town of Düsseldorf and is prohibited from leaving the place designated. Violation of this restriction will lead to immediate arrest. Registrant will at all times have this paper on his person.”

This was therefore more than a simple identification form—it documents the immediate Allied military administration of defeated Germany and the restrictions imposed upon the civilian population during the chaotic opening days of the occupation. Contemporary U.S. accounts describe civilians being required to register with local authorities and carry registration documentation.

Original Fingerprint & Signatures

A particularly interesting feature is Frau Weiler’s original purple right-index-finger fingerprint, clearly preserved in the designated box.

Her handwritten signature, “Frau Elise Weiler,” appears at lower left.

At lower right is a large handwritten signature of the issuing Military Government officer, with the printed designation:

“Mil Gov Officer, U.S. Army.”

The exact officer’s name is difficult to decipher from the signature, so we have not attempted to identify him definitively.

Map Printed on Reverse

Another excellent feature is the reverse, which consists of a detailed military-style topographical map. The visible map includes Radevormwald and the surrounding region, along with roads, terrain contours, settlements and grid references.

This is particularly interesting because surviving May 1945 registration cards are known that were produced using U.S. Army map material, apparently reflecting the severe paper and supply shortages of the immediate postwar period. A militaria dealer has documented sold examples specifically described as May 1945 Temporary Registration forms made from U.S. Army maps.

The reverse also retains portions of the English-language military map legend, including numbered grid references and translations of German geographical abbreviations.

Historical Significance

Düsseldorf had only been under American occupation for a matter of weeks when this document was issued. The May 9, 1945 date places it at an extraordinary transitional moment: the Third Reich had collapsed, the European war had formally ended, and Allied military authorities were beginning the enormous task of registering and administering Germany’s civilian population.

The combination of the very early May 1945 date, Düsseldorf attribution, bilingual Allied occupation printing, civilian fingerprint, holder’s signature, U.S. Military Government officer’s signature and recycled military map reverse makes this a particularly interesting piece of immediate postwar occupation history.

Condition

Good original used condition with expected age and handling wear. There are original folds, creases, edge and corner wear, scattered staining/toning and small edge separations, but the card remains complete and highly displayable. The fingerprint, signatures, typed information and printed text remain clearly visible.

From the ruler photograph, it measures approximately 10 × 6 inches when unfolded.

An excellent original artifact documenting Düsseldorf and the U.S. Military Government during the first days following the end of WWII in Europe.

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