Official Vokssturm Form from Ortsgruppe (local group) “Geisberg”, Wiesbaden Germany

Authors

Object ID

2019.2.233

Object Name

Document

Date

6-3-1945

Files

Content Warning

The Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection consists of images, documents, and artifacts related to the Holocaust. The collection contains materials that depict a number of topics that may be difficult for viewers to engage with, including: antisemitic descriptions, caricatures, and representation of Jewish people; Nazi imagery and ideology; descriptions and images of German ghettos; graphic images of the violence of the Holocaust; and the creation of the State of Israel. For more information, see our policy page.

Description

Note marked “NSDAP” in black print in top left corner, date “6/3/45” written in purple in top right corner, signed “Heil Hitler! Rossmann, Gemeinschaftsleiter der NSDAP.”

Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash and Peter Vandersmissen:

Typed form addressed to a member of the Volkssturm , whose name is written illegibly in purple pencil, and signed -with “Heil Hitler!” closing salutation-by “Rossmann”, a local community leader of the NSDAP in Wiesbaden, Germany. The recipient is informed that his medical examination results place him in category-or levy- 4 in the conscription hierarchy used by the Volkssturm, and that he would be informed of his duty “by the responsible company”. As such he would be unable to fight but could nevertheless perform guard duty.

The Ortsgruppe leader would categorize the men registered into a four-tiered system of conscription (Aufgebot). Levy I and II held men- born between 1884 and 1924- capable of combat duty. Levy I men were drafted early and without reserve. Levy II men were often in war production or food supply, communications, and transport, but could be called upon to engage the enemy should the need arise. Levy III would include young boys from the Hitler Youth. Levy IV were those men unable to fight but still capable of guard duty.

The Volkssturm was established in October 1944 as a militia utilizing males between the ages of 16 and 60 who were not otherwise serving in the Wehrmacht or other military units. They were under the control of the Nazi party and its officials (Gauleiters) with Heinrich Himmler as commander. The Volkssturm was used extensively during the defense of Berlin against an overwhelming Russian army.

Dimensions

3 x 7 1/4"

Keywords

Volkssturm, Nazi Party, NSDAP, Ortsgruppe, Aufgebot

Subcollection

Volkssturm

Recommended Citation

"Official Vokssturm Form from Ortsgruppe (local group) “Geisberg”, Wiesbaden Germany" (1945). Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection. 2019.2.233.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/bulmash/1560