Documents

Original Schutzstaffel der NSDAP – SS-Ausweis (Nr. 45 078) authorized to SS-Mann Kurt Schulze, born on May 19, 1913 in Ponnsdorf. Issued on December 12, 1932 in München – very early example! Serving with the 11/85, 27. SS-Standarte. On the reverse, the ID bears a handsignature of Walter Gerlach. The Heinrich Himmler signature is a (rubber) stamp and not handsigned. Complete with photo, stamp(s) and blind-embossed seal (Blindprägestempel).

Walter Gerlach (1896–1964)

Walter Gerlach (born 25 August 1896 in Gusow; died 19 April 1964 in Haiger) was a German SS officer and concentration camp functionary during the Nazi period.

After serving as a soldier in the First World War, Gerlach worked in his family’s wood products business, which went bankrupt in 1930. That same year he joined the NSDAP (membership no. 307,120) and in 1931 entered the SS (no. 14,567). He rose quickly, becoming an SS leader in the 27th SS-Standarte in 1932.

From August to November 1934, Gerlach directed the Columbiahaus prison in Berlin, which later became one of the first concentration camps. He then served briefly as camp commandant of KZ Sachsenburg (December 1934 – April 1935) before moving to an adjutant role in Dachau under commandant Heinrich Deubel.

Despite being convicted in 1935 for involvement in a brawl, Gerlach remained in the SS, later leading SS-Abschnitt VII in Königsberg and working from 1942 in positions tied to the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germandom. In 1944 he became chief of staff to the Higher SS and Police Leader Günther Pancke in occupied Denmark.

After Germany’s defeat, Gerlach was arrested in May 1945 and interned until 1948. In November 1947 he was called as a witness in the Nuremberg Trials. He lived in West Germany after the war and died in 1964.

YouTube video on Walter Gerlach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR7AGhG-Nus

Original Wehrpass of a Schütze Paul Treuse (born 1926), who during the war served with the Panzer-Kompanie 319 (Funklenk) and was only there 2 weeks before he was Killed in Action on September 8, 1944 in Lüttich (Liege/Luik), Belgium. He’s buried inAachen, Waldfriedhof: Block 21d Grab 60.

The Panzer-Kompanie 319 (Funklenk) is rare and scarce unit to find!

• The unit named Panzer-Kompanie (Funklenk) 319 was a Funklenk (radio-control / remote-control) tank company — i.e., a specialist unit whose role was to operate radio-steered control tanks and remote demolition vehicles. Funklenk companies typically controlled vehicles such as the heavy Borgward IV demolition carrier and the smaller tracked “Goliath” charge, using armored control tanks alongside them.

What “Funklenk” companies were and what they were equipped with

• Role: Funklenk (Funklenkpanzer / Panzer-Kompanie (Fkl)) units were experimental/specialist formations created to operate radio-steered demolition vehicles and remote demolition charges at the front line. Control tanks (often armoured assault tanks or heavy tanks if available) carried the radio equipment and a crew that remotely drove demolition carriers into close targets, then withdrew them or detonated them.

• Typical remote demolition vehicles:

  • Borgward IV (B IV) — a large, tracked, remote-controlled demolition carrier capable of carrying a heavy explosive load; commonly paired with control tanks from Funklenk companies.

  • Goliath (Sd.Kfz. 302 / 303) — a much smaller tracked remote-control mine used earlier and in many demolition detachments (often used alongside Borgward vehicles or where smaller charges sufficed).

• Typical control vehicles: depending on availability Funklenk control vehicles could be:

  • StuG III / StuG variants (commonly used as control vehicles in several Funklenk companies),

  • Panzer IV or even Tiger tanks in some Funklenk companies where heavy radio equipment and range were required — historical examples exist of Funklenk companies equipped or at least provided with Tigers in 1944 (this varied by company and time).