Assistance with Search

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Foxbrook

Member
Hello all, I am not sure if this is the right spot to request help to search out a WWII German soldiers name. I came into possession of a couple of German pistols that were GI bring back. Inside one of the holster's is a name of the German soldier. These guns had been put away since the end of the war and the name must be original. Is there any way to research the name through any records. Thanks for any help.



 
A name on its own, specially if it is a very common name like "Schneider" isn't enough to start a search.

This is what I found with the aid of on online search and I think that is it.
Opladen is a town next to Leverkusen.
There is no "Heinz Schneider" listed on the wargraves website; there are two other Schneiders from Opladen listed but both were KIA on the eastern front.

You can try to contact the city archive in Opladen but I doubt that they will give you any information, Germany has some of the most strict privacy laws in the world.


Cheers,
Peter
 
Peter U said:
A name on its own, specially if it is a very common name like "Schneider" isn't enough to start a search.

This is what I found with the aid of on online search and I think that is it.
Opladen is a town next to Leverkusen.
There is no "Heinz Schneider" listed on the wargraves website; there are two other Schneiders from Opladen listed but both were KIA on the eastern front.

You can try to contact the city archive in Opladen but I doubt that they will give you any information, Germany has some of the most strict privacy laws in the world.


Cheers,
Peter
Click to expand...

Thanks Peter for your assistance. I kind of thought it was a long shot. I am not sure where in Europe during the war that these might have been picked up. I am not sure if both items came from the same person as the CZ, belt and holster with the buckle is SS issued.
 
When I researched a name of a German vet on a holster, I found the town where he lived and then was referred to the district archive. I contacted them and they confirmed the information ( Volkssturm member ) but they will not release any information unless you physically go their, then they are more than helpful on printing off records and information. So in short you have to go their or know someone who can. Plenty of archivists who will do it for you, for a fee. It is their time and transportation to do it. Good luck. GR
 
I have been to Opladen and it's a small town so If I were you I would contact them first. They may give you all the Schneider's address that live there now and maybe it not to many contact each one. Just a thought. If you have a relative that was in one of their services then you can get their military record for a fee which isn't much but takes a few months. They want their payment in Euros so you have to get your bank to give you a check that they will except, my cerdit union did it for free for me.
 
Is the pistol WaA marked? The gun and holster are in such good condition that that, and the color of the holster, indicate that Herr Schneider might have been a member of the SS or held some official position in the civilian administration rather than being in the armed forces. (Allied forces confiscated ALL guns from EVERYONE in Germany, not just issue weapons from the military and police.)

Jim
 
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