German - English translation Please

[Doughty]

I have been given a box of photos that my dad had in his garage from when he cleared out my nan's house.  He'd never looked in there and i've discovered alsorts of exciting things including original birth, marriage and death certs plus a family tree started by someone i don't know that i'm going to try and contact.

The best find though was my grandad's wallet containing lots of paperwork from the war years.  I know he was a prisoner of war during WW2 but i've found some paperwork with title 'Ausweis'  I've photographed it and i would be extremely grateful if anyone could translate it for me.

Thank you

[Doughty]

The hand written bit in the top right corner reads 'Marienwerder Wagner'
Is that a person's name?

[XPhile2868]

Using Google's translator, which is ok but not 100% perfect -

Ausweis = document of identification
anerkennung - acknowledgement
vorname = first name


Stephen

[Doughty]

thank you, that was quick, will see if i can get any of the other words.

[Berlin-Bob]

Sanitätsdienstgrad = medical orderly

document of identification

for acknowledgement/identification  as medical orderly

The british prisoner of war:

Name: Doughty
first name: Sydney
ID: ....

After inspection of his identity documents, is hereby acknowleded (= officially recognised),
as MEDICAL ORDERLY

Marienburg, Camp-Doctor, Stalag 20 B

Signatur

Senior Medical Officer

I don't know the usual british terms, but it's probably the usual boiler plate to say that we've checked his credentials, and he is indeed a medical orderly

Bob

[Doughty]

Oh wow, thats amazing.  Thank you so much. I do know he was badly injured when captured so that would explain the medical bit, in fact he never recovered from his injuries, my main memories of him from when i was a child is having to have my dad translate everything he said because i was unable to understand his slurred speech.  I was only about 8 when he died.

He was actually repatriated before the end of the war as there was no likelyhood he would be able to return to the battlefields.  I also have a letter from the war office to my nan, telling her he was coming home.  Have to admit to filling up as i read that one.

[Berlin-Bob]

The hand written bit in the top right corner reads 'Marienwerder Wagner'
Is that a person's name?

Wagner is probably a name.

Marienwerder is the the next "Kreis" along from Marienburg, in East Prussia (Ost Preussen).  The camp itself was in Marienburg, so maybe somebody in Marienwerder had to see the documents, too.

A Kreis (literally: a circle) translates best as "district", i.e rural or urban district, or for large enough districts, maybe even "county"

For more info on STALAG XXB try an internet search for STALAG XXb or STALAG XX b or STALAG 20 b

for instance:

Marienburg Stalag XXB or Stalag 20B Marienburg Danzig was a Nazi POW camp. Located near Marienburg, it was originally a hutted and tented camp with double boundary fence and had watchtowers. British, Poles and Serbs were held here in 1940. An administration block including a hospital was erected in the latter part of 1940, mainly by prisoner labour. By 1941 a theatre had been built. POWs were sent out to labour in nearby farms, sawmills, factories and goodsyards.

http://www.answers.com/topic/stalag-xx-b

or: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag

Bob

[Doughty]

Thanks again, will search for more info on the camps.  I've just been talking to my dad and he confirms Grandad was a medic in the army, i've no idea why he's never thought to mention it before as i've been pumping him for info for months lol.

[liverpool annie]

Hi Doughty !

Wendi gave some sites to try on the Army Resorces board .... maybe you can make some enquiries !!

I have to tell you though from experience ( with regards to the Red Cross ! ) .... you may have a long wait .... but with a bit of luck it will be worth it !! 

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,188285.0.html

Annie