Original WWII German Kriegsmarine Sailor Ferdinand Matthiesen 10 Document Grouping – Allied Discharge 1945

Excellent original WWII German document grouping consisting of 10 documents belonging to the same man and his immediate family, centered on Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen. This is a particularly interesting grouping because the documents span the Third Reich period through the immediate aftermath of the war and include Ferdinand’s Allied-issued Certificate of Discharge recording his discharge from the German Navy / Kriegsmarine in August 1945.

Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen was born 12 November 1903 in Bistoftholz/Bistoftholz area, Schleswig-Holstein. Several of the documents concern Ferdinand directly, while others document his wife, children, and family background. Together they preserve a substantial amount of biographical information that can be researched further.

The highlight is the large bilingual British/Allied Control Form D.2 “Certificate of Discharge / Entlassungsschein.” Ferdinand is identified by name, gives his civilian occupation as Maurer (mason), and is shown as married with three minor children. His medical category is recorded as “Fit.” Most importantly, the reverse records that he was:

“DISCHARGED ON 30 AUG. 1945 FROM THE MARINE”

In this context, “Marine” identifies his German naval service—the Kriegsmarine. The document carries Ferdinand’s signature, his actual right thumbprint, Allied certification, the signature/stamp of Capt. R. A. Kirk, a 54 D.U. / Disbandment Unit marking, and additional German postwar administrative stamps including Arbeitsamt Schleswig.

The 10-document grouping includes:

1. Allied Certificate of Discharge / Entlassungsschein – 1945
   Large bilingual British/German Control Form D.2 issued to Ferdinand Matthiesen. Records his personal details, civilian occupation, family information and medical examination. The reverse records his 30 August 1945 discharge from the “Marine.” Includes his thumbprint, signature, Allied officer certification and numerous official stamps. This is easily the centerpiece of the grouping.
2. 1938 Geburtschein – Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen
   A Third Reich-era abbreviated birth certificate issued at Satrup on 12 June 1938, recording Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen’s birth on 12 November 1903. Bears an official Third Reich Standesamt eagle-and-swastika seal.
3. 1945 Geburtsurkunde – Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen
   Wartime civil birth certificate issued in Großsolt on 3 January 1945, again documenting Ferdinand’s 1903 birth and his parents. Official Standesamt seal with Third Reich eagle and swastika.
4. 1944 Geburtsurkunde – Ferdinand Matthiesen
   Earlier E2-format birth certificate issued 17 April 1944, documenting Ferdinand’s birth and parentage. Contains an additional handwritten administrative notation and official Third Reich Standesamt seal.
5. 1938 Heiratsurkunde – Marriage Certificate
   Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen’s official marriage certificate. It records Ferdinand and his wife Grethe/Gretchen Gertrud Wilke and their marriage in March 1927 at Satrup. Issued in 1938 with prominent official Third Reich Standesamt seal.
6. 1945 Birth Certificate – Ferdinand & Grethe Matthiesen family
   An E1 Geburtsurkunde issued during the closing months of WWII, containing family information and an official eagle-and-swastika Standesamt seal.
7. 1945 Satrup Birth Certificate – Family Document
   Another E1 civil birth record from Satrup, Kreis Schleswig, issued 31 March 1945. Again connected directly with the Matthiesen family and carrying the official Third Reich civil registry seal.
8. 1945 Großsolt Birth Certificate – Family Document
   Birth certificate for another member of the Matthiesen family, issued 3 January 1945, providing additional genealogical information concerning Ferdinand’s immediate family. Official Third Reich Standesamt seal.
9. 1945 Birth Certificate – Matthiesen Family
   Additional wartime E1 Geburtsurkunde issued shortly before Germany’s surrender. Contains handwritten family details, signatures and official Standesamt certification.
10. Additional Matthiesen Family Civil Record
    Another original wartime civil-registration document belonging with the grouping and documenting the Matthiesen family lineage. Like the other wartime certificates, it carries handwritten entries and official period certification.

What makes this grouping especially desirable is its provenance and continuity. These are not ten unrelated German documents assembled into a lot—they form an original personal/family archive connected to Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen, culminating in the Allied document recording his release from German naval service following the end of WWII.

The repeated birth and family certificates also make historical sense. Germans were frequently required to produce certified civil records for marriage, employment, military, pension, ancestry and other administrative purposes, resulting in multiple certificates concerning the same individual being issued at different dates.

The documents contain numerous excellent period features including Third Reich eagle-and-swastika Standesamt seals, wartime dates, handwritten entries, registrar signatures, Allied occupation markings, Ferdinand’s personal signature and his actual thumbprint.

The Allied discharge document is heavily used and shows substantial age and service wear, including folds, staining, edge losses, tears and missing portions. The German civil documents generally show age toning, folds, punched filing holes, edge wear and other expected period handling. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.

A very interesting and unusually complete WWII German Kriegsmarine sailor personal document grouping, particularly appealing for research because the owner can be followed through German civil records and into the Allied demobilization process at the end of the war.

All 10 original documents shown are included and will remain together as one grouping. Items are sold as shown/as is. We combine shipping and ship every day, including Saturdays.

SEO Keywords: Original WWII German documents, Kriegsmarine sailor documents, German Navy discharge papers, Ferdinand Wilhelm Matthiesen, Allied occupation Germany, 1945 discharge certificate, Entlassungsschein, Control Form D2, German military document grouping, Kriegsmarine paperwork, German naval history, Third Reich civil documents, Standesamt documents, German genealogy, WWII German paper militaria, Schleswig Holstein, Satrup, Allied Disbandment Unit, German sailor archive.

Yb13 series