Germany, Waffen-Ss. A Document Collection To Medical Orderly Ss-Unterscharführer Heinz Pawelski, “Hohenstaufen” Division

The collection consists of: a War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords award document (140x198mm, better than very fine); a Demyansk Shield award document (208x269mm, near very fine); a preliminary ID card (211x148mm, fine) with photo (50x73mm, better than fine); two medical orderly ID cards (138x116mm and 148x105mm, both very fine); an ID card (102x148mm, better than fair); a DAF replacement ID card (147x106mm, near extremely fine); a job centre ID card (103x149mm, very fine); a post war SS discharge paper (199x327mm, fair); seven post war postcards/letters, some POW camp cards (ca.150x100mm, very fine); a post war work certificate as medical orderly in POW camp (209x147mm, near very fine); a post war certificate of service in the Waffen-SS (209x297mm, very fine) with accompanying letter (210x147mm, near very fine).

The War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords award document is named to SS-Rottenführer Heinz Pawelski on the Staff of SS Medical Battalion of 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen”. It is dated to November 15, 1944 and signed in blue ink by the Division’s Adjutant, SS-Hauptsturmführer Theodor Freiherr von Locquenghien.

The Demyansk Shield award document is named to SS-Rottenführer Pawelski of the 1st Medical Company of the SS Division “Totenkopf”. It is dated to March 1, 1944 and carries the facsimile of the Commander of the General Commando of 2nd Artillery Corps. It is signed in blue ink by a Major, the name is illegible.

The preliminary ID card is named to SS-Unterscharführer Pawelski on the Staff of Medical Battalion 9, SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen”. Pawelski’s Soldbuch had been destroyed due to enemy action. The ID card is meant to bridge the time until a new Soldbuch has been issued. The document is dated to February 2, 1945 and signed in black ink by the company leader, an SS-Hauptsturmführer, the name is illegible. The photo is a studio portrait of Pawelski in uniform. It was taken on October 21, 1941 in Munich.

The two medical orderly ID cards are named to SS-Mann and SS-Rottenführer Pawelski, respectively. They are dated to April 15, 1941 and March 26, 1944, respectively. The earlier one states that he serves as a litter bearer, whereas the later one states his position as driver.

The ID card was issued on September 20, 1945 in Berlin, valid for five years.

The DAF replacement ID card states that Pawelski works at Telefunken company in Berlin-Oberschöneweide, a company for wireless telegraphy. It is undated and serves as DAF ID while the employer has Pawelski’s DAF ID booklet.

The job centre ID card is undated. It states that Pawelski is a common labourer.

The post war SS discharge paper is in German, English, and French. It states that Pawelski was discharged from the SS on June 8, 1946 and is capable of working. It is signed by 2nd Lieutenant John Y. Bohn.

The seven post war postcards/letters are dated to between February 11, 1946 and September 29, 1949. Pawelski was interned in POW camp D.A.4 in Gmunden, Austria. The cards were sent to him from his mother.

The certificate of work is dated to POW camp D.A.4 in Gmunden on May 15, 1946. It states that Pawelski worked as a medical orderly in camps I Ebensee and D.A.4 Gmunden between July 1, 1945 and May 15, 1946. It is signed in black ink by the camp commander, a 2nd Lieutenant named John, the last name is illegible.

The certificate of service in the Waffen-SS and the accompanying letter are dated to August 7, 1957.

Footnote: Heinz Franz Georg Pawelski was born on June 26, 1922 in Berlin. He joined the Waffen-SS on December 15, 1940 and was placed in the 2nd SS Medical Replacement Company, presumably of the “Hohenstaufen” Division. On September 28, 1942 he was placed in the 1st Medical Company of SS Totenkopf Pi., before being redeployed to the SS Replacement Battalion Stettin. On March 11, 1943 Pawelski joined the SS Medical Battalion 9 of the 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” were he would stay until the end of the war. He was promoted to SS-Rottenführer on July 1, 1943 and to SS-Unterscharführer at an unknown date.