WWII German Third Reich 1942 Child Death Certificate Diphtheria Civil Document

An original WWII-era German death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) issued by the Standesamt (Civil Registry Office) of Gießen on 12 October 1942. This poignant official document records the death of a young German child during the Second World War and remains an exceptional piece of civilian and genealogical history.

The certificate is complete with its original purple Standesamt Gießen seal featuring the national eagle, an official signature, and the original 60 Reichspfennig revenue stamp (Wertmarke) affixed to the document.

Document Details

• Original German Sterbeurkunde (Death Certificate)
• Issued by Standesamt Gießen
• Certificate No. 1046
• Issued 12 October 1942
• Deceased: Helga Zimmerschied
• Born: 27 September 1939, Gießen
• Died: 8 October 1942 at 8:45 PM
• Residence: Bahnhofstraße 29, Gießen
• Place of death: Friedrichstraße 16, Gießen
• Religion: Evangelical (Protestant)
• Parents:
  • Heinrich August Zimmerschied
  • Dominika Zimmerschied, née Schuldheis
• Original 60 Reichspfennig Wertmarke revenue stamp attached
• Official purple Standesamt Gießen seal and signature

Notable Annotation

Handwritten in red ink near the bottom:

“Todesursache: Diphtherie”

Translation: Cause of death: Diphtheria.

This provides an important historical insight into civilian public health during wartime Germany, when infectious diseases still claimed many young lives.

Historical Significance

Original wartime German civil documents with intact official seals, revenue stamps, and clearly documented causes of death are increasingly sought after by collectors of WWII-era paperwork, genealogy researchers, and historians studying civilian life in Germany during the war.

Condition is as shown in the photographs with expected age-related folds, light toning, and handling wear. The document remains complete, highly legible, and displays beautifully.

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