KIA WWII German Fallen Soldier Military War Heroes Memorial Book Document 1944

Original November 29, 1944 German wartime document issued by the Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Dortmund – Stadtarchiv concerning fallen Dortmund serviceman Günther Wenzel.

The subject line reads:

“Ehrenbuch der im Dienste des Vaterlandes gefallenen Dortmunder Günther Wenzel”

The Dortmund City Archive states that it had learned of Wenzel’s death and intended to enter his name into an Ehrenbuch, or Book of Honor, recording Dortmund men who had fallen during the war.

The archive asks Wenzel’s family to provide a short biography and, if possible, a photograph for inclusion in the memorial record. Particularly interesting is the request for copies of any surviving wartime letters written by the fallen soldier.

The family was also asked to supply detailed military and biographical information, including his:

Place of birth, regiment, possible Feldpostnummer, last military unit, place where he fell, and place of burial.

The document states that the Ehrenbuch was intended to be preserved in the Dortmund City Archive “for the coming centuries.”

The closing section asks the family to respond quickly because the ongoing “totalen Kriegseinsatzes” (total war effort) and difficulty obtaining new addresses made repeated requests increasingly difficult. It concludes with “Archivdirektorin – gez. Unterschrift.”

This is an interesting late-war casualty and municipal archive document dated only months before the end of the war in Europe. It provides a direct look at how the city of Dortmund attempted to document its fallen servicemen while the war was still underway.

Partial English Translation

“With great sorrow I have learned of the heroic death of your relative and will enter his name in the Book of Honor of Dortmunders fallen in the service of the Fatherland.

I ask you to provide me with a short biography of the fallen man (if possible with a photograph) for this Book of Honor, which is to be preserved in the archives of the City of Dortmund for the coming centuries. I would also be grateful for copies of any letters from the fallen man from the war that may still exist…”

It continues by requesting his birthplace, regiment or Feldpost number, and the locations where he was killed and buried.

Condition: Original period document with age toning, old fold lines, four filing holes along the margin, staple/rust marks at the top, creasing and general handling wear. Typewritten text remains quite clear. Please see photographs for exact condition.

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