From the scans for the Denazification File for Paul Ernst Kaess (1921-2002), Probably, the most valuable document at first glance was ‘Foreign Travel.’ This confirmed that he had traveled (during wartime) to France (Frankreich), Rumania (Rumanien), Bulgaria/Greece, and Russia (Russland). For Rumania, her served there from Jan 20 1941 to Mar 1 1941. For Bulgaria and Greece, he served from Mar 5? 1941 until Jun 14 1941. For France and Rumania, he was just training. He served in France from Dec 1 1940 to Jan 1 1941. This evidence about service in France helps lend credence to the family yarn that he had a French girlfriend. For Russia, he stated he had been there from June 22, 1941 until July 3 1944. June 22 1941 was the start of the Barbarossa campaign. We know from other sources that Paul was in the German Army from 1940 until 1944 (at least). Also, Paul stated in 1990 that he had been wounded in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 1944 when a Russian soldier had thrown a grenade into his armored vehicle. July 3 1944 is right before the opening of the Russian Vilnius Offensive, during Operation Bagration, the Soviet’s Great Summer Offensive of 1944. This July 3 1944 date could easily have been the date Paul was wounded and evacuated from Russia. This would not have been the first time Paul was wounded. Medical Records also place him in Warsaw, Poland in early 1944. He was also in hospital in Crimea in 1942.
There was also a list of Medals/Awards at the bottom of the Military Service section.
There was also an ‘Arbeitsblatt’ form, dated 27 Aug 1946. This form showed he had been in the HJ or Hitler Youth from 1934-1939. It also demonstrated that he had been a member of the NSDAP or Nazi Party from 1940 until 1945. His ID card (or Ausweiskarte) number appears to be A32784. One of the most revealing documents was his personal info, confirming much that had been gathered over the years from other sources. His name is mentioned as Paul Kaess, born Feb 6 1921 in Benningen. His occupation is ‘Sitzmobiltischler’ or seating furniture maker. His religión was Evangelisch or Lutheran. His citizenship is mentioned as ‘Deutsch’ or German. His address is Wilhelmstr. 17 in Heutingsheim, Germany. His hair color is Brown with his eyes Grey-Green. Even his weight is mentioned- 120 pf., whatever that is supposed to mean. His name is mentioned as Paul Ernst Kaess elsewhere in the file.
He attended the Volkschule in Benningen from 1927 to 1934, earning a Zeugnis or 'testimony.' The unit location history is a chronological record of employment and military service/before/during the war. He had been first an Apprentice (from 1934-1939) and then a Journeyman Sitzmobiltischler (from 1939-40). He took the Journeyman's exam in 1938 in Marbach am Neckar (near Benningen) with a 'Gut' result. He had been a member of the RAD or Reich Labour Force from March 17 1940 until June 10 1940. A Weinberg or 'Vinyard' acquired in 1935 from Gottlieb Kaes in Benningen appears as one of his assets. One document mentions he had lived in Benningen from his birth until he entered the German Army on June 17 1940. His Ober Leutnant from 1940 to 1944 was named Naether or something similar. This could easily have been his friend ‘Chef’ who he had talked about. Chef was a generic name for commander, but that is how Paul referred to his friend. His unit is mentioned as ‘Sturm Gesch. Lehr Brg 190’ . This is also what Deutsche Dienststelle has on Paul for a unit. This was an Artillery unit that wore the uniforms of the Panzer troops. It also mentions he was in the Hospital or Lazarett' from Jan 3 1944 to March 1 1944. His last date in the German Army is probably June 14 1945. The file also revealed he had been captured from May 8 1945 until June 14 1945.
From July 10, 1945, he worked as a Journeyman Sitzmobiltischler as a civilian. The war was over for him.
