The collection consists of:
Michael: A final letter from Michael to his family (208x330mm, near very fine); a letter from Michael’s squad leader upon his death (206x326mm, near very fine); a framed picture of Michael with a friend (194x253mm, very fine).
Willy: Front cover of Willy’s Soldbuch (104x143mm, fair); an SA Sports Badge in Bronze ownership certificate (92x88mm, very fine); an NSDAP casualty insurance fee card for non-members (100x129mm, better than very fine); a post war army discharge certificate in English (203x328mm, near very fine) with transcript; a military government of Germany temporary registration card (210x130mm, fair); a post war legal notice and fine (207x293mm, fine).
Michael’s final letter to his family serves as a last will. Instead of money or other possessions that need to be distributed, he writes about his feelings towards his loved ones. He thanks his parents for bringing him up to be an upright person, and supporting him in his dream of becoming a pilot. Michael’s final wish is that he’ll be buried in the town where he grew up and where his parents still live.
The letter sent by Michael’s squad leader informs his family of Michael’s death. It is dated to May 9, 1918. The sender is the squad leader of the Bavarian Schlachtstaffel (Battle Squad) 25, an Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant), the name could be Miller. He too mentions how flying was Michael’s dream and passion, reminiscing about his first combat mission from which he came back “excited and delighted”.
The framed picture shows Michael with a friend, according to a note on the reverse. Presumably Michael is the one on the left, wearing the military uniform.
The front cover of Willy’s Soldbuch shows a picture of Willy in uniform on the reverse. He is of NCO rank and wears the Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class ribbon.
The SA Sports Badge certificate is dated to February 3, 1938. Willy is a member of SA Sturm 14 Standarte M55.
The NSDAP casualty insurance fee card for non-members was used by members of the SA, SS, NSKK, or similar organisations to pay their fees for the Hilfskasse der NSDAP, even if they weren’t party members. The fees were used to financially support wounded veterans or widows and orphans of fallen soldiers. Willy’s copy was issued on September 1, 1937. On the reverse stamps mark the paying of fees for 11 months.
The army discharge certificate in English states that Willy was discharged from the army in the rank of NCO on August 20, 1945.
The military government of Germany temporary registration card is in English and German. It is dated to Gunzenhausen on August 22, 1945 and states that the owner is registered in the city and has to remain in it, otherwise he’ll be arrested.
The post war legal notice and fine states that Willy has been fined 50 Reichsmark due to his Nazi activities during the war. He is classified as a Mitläufer (follower), the lowest category among the delinquents. The document is dated to August 13, 1946.
Footnote: Michael Ringler was born on March 19, 1898 in Nuremberg. His dream was to fly. Consequently, he became a pilot and served for a short while towards the end of the First War. Michael flew for the Bavarian Schlachtstaffel (Battle Squad) 25. On May 6, 1918 he lost control of his plane during an emergency landing manoeuvre near Ronchin (near Lille, northern France) and crashed. His gunner, NCO Stoll, was severely wounded, but survived. Michael died of his wounds several hours after the crash. He was buried on the soldier cemetery of Lambersart (near Lille).
Michael’s younger brother Willy (Wilhelm) was born on May 25, 1910 in Gunzenhausen (Bavaria). He was a member of the SA and later joined the Heer. He was a recipient of the Iron Cross 2nd Class. At the end of the war he held the rank of NCO. His right arm had to be amputated during the war, the reason is unknown.