Date:1938–1947
A rare and interesting collection of a Wehrpaß (army ID book) and several documents concerning SS volunteer and medical orderly Ernst Brietz. It paints the picture of a young and enthusiastic German teenager who joins the SS, is wounded several times, and eventually ends up as a P.O.W., being discharged in 1947 to start his post war life.
Ernst Brietz was born on February 25, 1922 in Groß Salze, district of Calbe a. d. Saale. Due to his young age, he was not married and had no children at the time he joined the war. He lived in Schönebeck where he worked as a rubber worker (punch).
The earliest document is an ID card of the Reich Union of German Youth Hostels (86x124mm), dated August 3, 1938. Presumably, Brietz, who was 16 at the time, used it when he went on travels as part of the Hitler Youth. He put a newspaper cutout inside, showing a picture of Hitler shaking hands with a Knight’s Cross recipient (74x120mm). There are also two photos (65x52mm) of Benito Mussolini, the “Duce”, one with his son. Apparently, young Brietz idolised both the German and the Italien Führer. An ID card for the German Labour Front and their program “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through Joy) (121x91mm). It states that Brietz works at the Gummiwerke (rubber company) Schönebeck. An ID card (137x117mm), dated to September 30, 1942. It states that SS-Rottenführer Brietz serves as a medical orderly and is allowed to wear the Geneva armband (white with red cross), and is protected by the Geneva Convention. A photo (87x137mm) of Brietz in uniform. The collar tabs identify him as an SS-Unterscharführer, the lowest NCO rank, and the highest rank he would reach.
A Wehrpaß (army ID book) (105x146mm). It is dated to Bernburg on April 26, 1940. Brietz is 18 year old and has just volunteered for service in the SS. He was accepted and admitted on May 24, 1940 in Breslau, and assigned to the 3./SS-T. Inf. Ers. Batl. III (3rd Company of the SS Death’s Head Infantry Reserve Battalion III). His first promotion came on December 10, 1940, when he received the rank of SS-Oberschütze. He served in the SS military hospital in Berlin from May 1941 to February 1942. During this time he was promoted to SS-Sturmmann on November 9, 1941. He served on the Stab (Staff) VII/Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler until October 1942, where he was promoted to SS-Rottenführer on September 1, 1942. Afterwards, Brietz was assigned to the 3/VII LSSAH until November 1942. From then on until the end of the war, he was part of the SS-Fla-Kompanie (anti-aircraft company) 101.
In early 1943, Brietz was assigned to serve in Russia. From August to December 1943 he was stationed in upper Italy. This is where he received his final promotion to SS-Unterscharführer on November 1, 1943. Between December 1943 and June 1944 Brietz served in the “occupied Western area”. This is where he was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on January 30. Until October 1944, he took part in “invasion fights”. Here he received another award, the Iron Cross 2nd Class, on July 18. He was also awarded the Wound Badge in Black on July 30, 1944, for being wounded in Normandy on July 13. Brietz took a grenade splinter to the left cheek. Shortly afterwards, on September 5, he fought in Luxemburg and was wounded again, this time his right heel was penetrated by a bullet.
Between end of October and mid December 1944, he served on the “home front” and at the Western front. From December 16, 1944 to January 10, 1945, Brietz fought in the Ardennes Offensive. Until early February, he was assigned to the Western front again. During the rest of the war, he fought in Hungary and in the “Ostmark” (Austria), where he was eventually captured. Shortly before this, he received the Wound Badge in Silver on May 1 for being wounded in Hungary on March 25, 1945, where he took a grenade splinter to the back.
A P.O.W. form (216x305mm). It states that Brietz served in the 1st SS Panzer Corps, SS Fla Company 101 when captured. He was captured and held in Austria. The document is dated to May 31, 1945. A letter (203x266mm), dated to December 20 (the year is missing), stating that P.O.W. Brietz is authorized to possess a certain amount of tobacco and several pieces of soap. It is signed by John Y. Bohn, 2nd Lt FA Adj. PWE #12 (Political Warfare Executive). A similar letter (202x177mm) from September 14, 1946. It is signed by Richard Schmidt, Lagerkommandant (camp commander), and carries a stamp of the US Army P.W.T.E. No. A 20. A certificate of discharge (203x330mm), dated to May 19, 1947. It is signed by John Y. Bohn, 1st Lt. FA, P.W.E. (Political Warfare Executive) 10 Heilbronn. There are several stamps on the back of the certificate concerning money paid and food stamps.