Joachim Wilhelm Poloczek

[roycymru]

Hello

Hoping someone with expertise in researching German records can help. Trying to find any information on Joachim Wilhelm Poloczek born 15 Aug 1917, Gross Kottulin, Prussia who lived in Germany after WW2. His parents were Johannes Aegedius Poloczek and Agnes Grochla. The family were originally from Tworog, Prussia, then lived in Gross Kottulin, moved to Zawadaskie and then lived in Lubliniec in Prussia/Poland in the years leading up to WW2 and afterwards.

He was the eldest brother of my recently deceased mother in law. Given his birth year Joachim must also have died by now. It’s a sad story in that Joachim was conscripted into the German army in WW2 and the last time my mother in law saw him was at a train station in 1942 when he was heading off to the front.

They had limited communication during the war, with the occasional postcard. He fought in Italy at Monte Casino. He became a prisoner of war (not sure when) and was repatriated to Germany after the war. The only other communication was one christmas card years later which she greatly treasured.

She always hoped for more information/communication from him but for some reason this never happened and always wondered what his life/family (if he married) was like.

Any information/leads would be greatly appreciated.

[Peonie]

Hi roycymru,
Without knowing the area where he lived it’s about impossible to search. Is there an address on the Christmas card? The other possibility would be to write to the Red Cross (drk-suchdienst.de.) Germany and ask if Joachim is on their files.

Hope this helps, regards Peonie

[roycymru]

Hello

Thank you for getting back to me. My sister in law will investigate if she can find the Christmas card. She did say that we have a possible name for his wife of Hildegard. Searching ancestry gives various references to a Hildegard Poloczek in German telephone records living in Berlin. No mention of Joachim though, but he could have died young. I have attached one from 1961. Could be a red herring but thought worth mentioning

[davecapps]

Here are two links that might help. You need a Family Search registration to view


https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-HZHB-C?i=1&owc=MHXS-T29%3A361904901%3Fcc%3D2114433&cc=2114433

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/364300?availability=Family%20History%20Library

Dave

[roycymru]

Thanks for the links. Thankfully I have his early life and ancestry already well documented, it is his whereabouts and family history in Germany (possibly Berlin) after WW2 I am now trying to find

[roycymru]

Hi

No luck with the postcard yet but my sister in law has managed to find a picture of him with writing on the back. Perhaps those with expertise in military uniforms can deduct which division he served in and what his rank was?

We think the picture may have been taken in 1942 but the 2 dates on the back seem to contradict this, however, not sure if these dates refer to something else. Any feedback on the writing would be very useful.

[Karen McDonald]

Hi,

I'm no expert on uniforms - let's see what the others say. 

Postcard:
In the corner it says
Krakau, 15.6.4?
and under that
Zum Erinerung (sic)    (Should be Zur Erinnerung)
which could mean as a memento, as a reminder, in remembrance, etc.

I'm not sure the date is 41 - the 1 in 15 starts with the normal upwards stroke, whilst this can't be seen in the number after the 4. Can't see a horizontal stroke, either, so it's unlikely to be a 7. The space before the full stop is a bit big - maybe there is/was something we can't see? Hmmm...

Best regards,
Karen

[davecapps]

Krakau, den 15.6.41
zum Erinnerung
Nr. 46493
15.5.40
groß 1,75

An Soldat Joachim
Oberschütze
1 Vergr(ößern) 30 x 40
schwarz
-------------------------------
Krakau, the 15.6.41
in rememberance
Nr. 46493 (could be the army postal number (Feldpost)
15.5.40
height 1,75 ?

for the soldier Joachim
Oberschütze

the text upside down reads:
1 enlargement 30 x 40
black

compare the gorget patches here
Oberschütze.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obersch%C3%BCtze

[Karen McDonald]

An Soldat Joachim
Oberschütze
1 Vergr(ößern) 30 x 40
schwarz
-------------------------------

Oops. I'm using a different computer and didn't notice that the writing continued further... 

Time for bed, methinks.