German military records document the service of personnel who served in one of the branches of the armed forces of Germany. More than almost in any other country the German military have gone through enormous changes since 1871 when Germany became a unified state. By the early 20th century, Germany had emerged as a major military power. It was the leader of the Central Powers during World War I, which included Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Turkey and Bulgaria[1]. After the war, Germany was disarmed under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. However, the rise of the Nazi Party in the 1930s led to a rearmament program, and Germany was again a major military power by the time it precipitated World War II.
After Germany's defeat in 1945, the country was divided into East Germany and West Germany. The East German military was a member of the communist Warsaw Pact, while the West German military was in NATO, the Western military alliance. Both countries maintained large standing armies, but they were never used in combat.
In 1990, Germany was reunited, and its military was consolidated. Today the Bundeswehr, as the German military is now known, is a volunteer force of about 180,000 personnel, placing it among the 30 largest military forces in the world, and making it the second largest in the European Union behind France[2]. Its stated mission is the defence of Germany and its allies. Bundeswehr personnel have also participated in many peacekeeping and humanitarian missions around the world.
Historical German military records can be a valuable source of information for researchers, genealogists, and historians. They can provide insights into the lives of German soldiers and those they impacted, the history of the German military, and how these were intertwined with key events of the First and Second World Wars.
The Wiki article How to Research Military Records is a good starting point for family historians interested in exploring ancestors who served in Germany's military forces, or Germans who were otherwise impacted by major wars. The article provides general guidance on issues such as preparatory steps you can take to make your search for military records more productive as well as pointing to other potential sources of German military records beyond those made available by various national authorities.
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Accessing German military records
Before you begin your search you should confirm you are eligible to access the records you're interested in. Restrictions vary across different archives and organisations but may include:
- Some archives and organisations require minimum researcher qualifications (e.g. education or experience) in order to access records.
- As some records may contain sensitive information, such as information about war crimes or intelligence operations, access may be restricted to researchers who can demonstrate a legitimate need.
- Restrictions due to privacy concerns if records are deemed to contain sensitive information about living individuals. For this reason typically records must be at least 18-21 years old.
Where German military records are stored
Where to search and what information is available will depend on a number of factors including what dates or time period, which war/conflict, which branch of service, which state they may have registered, were they an officer or enlisted soldier. The key sources for historical German military records include:
- The Bundesarchiv is the largest archive in Germany. It holds a vast collection of military records, including service records, unit histories, and photographs. Note, however, that physical records up to 1945 were badly damaged during the Second World War and therefore what remains is incomplete. To access military records held by the Bundesarchiv, you will need to submit a research application form. Once you have submitted the research application form, the Bundesarchiv will review it and determine whether you have a legitimate need to access the records. If your application is approved, you or someone on your behalf will be able to schedule a time to visit the Bundesarchiv facility where the records are stored to view them.
- German State Archives in each of the 16 German states also hold military records before 1867 for their respective states. A monograph written in 1990 by a noted German genealogist, Horst A. Reschke[3], lists the German archives where existing military records from this period are found for each state[4].
- Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek offers access to a collection of German military records, including service records, unit histories, and photographs. An English version of the website is available. Especially helpful for family historians is a step-by-step guide on how best to research the Bibliothek's records, including how to use links to where relevant information might be stored in other German national, regional or municipal archives.
- The United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) holds various collections of German military records:
German soldier memorial Yamnytsia, Ukraine - A history of more than 250 German army divisions which participated in the First World War, compiled from various U.S. intelligence sources.
- Over 70,000 rolls of microfilm reproducing captured German and related records from the Second World War including German Foreign Office correspondence; German naval records; non-biographic records of several offices of the Nazi Party; private papers of some Nazi leaders; and records of various German central, regional and local government agencies, military headquarters, commands and units.
- German Prisoners of War (PoWs) captured during the Second World War. Several series of records related to PoWs are held. One series holds records that include affidavits, lists of prisoners and prisoner of war camps, transcripts of testimony in prisoner of war related cases, prisoner of war diaries, investigative and other reports, and related correspondence. Another series contains information about German POWs held by the United States and its Allies during World War II, both in the United States and abroad. Note, however, these series are not available online.
- The German War Graves Commission provides an online grave search that records the data of almost 5 million German war dead covering both the First and Second World Wars.
The information included in German military records
The information contained in historic German military records varies considerably depending on the type of record, the time period and the physical condition of the records, especially those that have been damaged. However, some common pieces of information that may be found include:
- Personal information: This may include the soldier's name, date of birth, place of birth, religion, marital status, and family members.
- Military service: This may include the soldier's unit, rank, dates of service, and awards and decorations.
- Deployments: This may include the soldier's deployments, battles fought, and injuries sustained.
- Prisoner of war records: This may include the soldier's capture, imprisonment, and release.
- Medical records: This may include the soldier's health history, injuries, and illnesses.
- Death records: This may include the soldier's date of death, cause of death, and burial location.
In addition to these common pieces of information, historic German military records may also contain other information, such as:
- Personal letters and diaries: These can provide personal insights into the soldier's life and experiences.
- Photographs: These can provide a visual record of the soldier's military service.
- Maps and documents: These can provide information about the soldier's unit, battles fought, and military operations.
Cost and processing time for German military records
The Bundesarchiv may charge a fee for access to military records. The fee will vary depending on the type of records you are requesting. You can find more information about the costs on the Bundesarchiv website. Other German archives may also charge a fee to access and make a copy of records. NARA can advise on access arrangements and any cost for the German military records it holds. The online grave search facility of the German War Grave Commission is available at no cost.
The processing time for military records requests can vary. For those records not available online it can take weeks to months to receive your records.
Explore more about German military records
MyHeritage includes 3 collections totalling almost 2 million military records relevant to Germany. MyHeritage also includes a further 66 collections with a further 20 million records on Germany. Those useful in relation to researching military records and history include:
The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem has a collection of German military records that document the persecution and murder of Jews during the Holocaust.
The Arolsen Archives, formerly the International Tracing Service archive (ITS), located in Bad Arolsen, Germany, is a non-governmental organisation that collects and preserves records of victims of Nazi persecution. The Arolsen Archives has a collection of German military records that can be used to trace the whereabouts of missing persons and to identify victims of Nazi crimes.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of German Military Records is a webinar by Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG on Legacy Family Tree Webinars that takes a deep dive into searching for German military records.
Because many German military records are not available online you may need to consider contacting a professional genealogist or experienced military researcher for help in locating specific records or visiting specific archives on your behalf where the information is stored.
References
- ↑ Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, May 15). German entry into World War I. Wikipedia
- ↑ Wikimedia Foundation. (2023b, July 14). Bundeswehr. Wikipedia
- ↑ Horst Reschke. Free family tree, genealogy, family history, and DNA testing. (n.d.).
- ↑ Reschke, H. A. (1990). German military records as genealogical sources. Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. FHL book 943 M2r; fiche 6,001,596; computer number 592812