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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
researchservicesnationalarchivesJul 7, 2017 12:35 PM (in response to trinkelson)
4 people found this helpfulDisplaced Persons records have been found, sometimes, among the Civilian Personnel Records at the National Archives in St. Louis. This would occur if they were employed at the Displaced Persons camp by the Department of the Army/Air Force or Labor Service. We also have the Official Personnel Folders of the Displaced Persons Commission (DPC), however this does not imply that it includes those forced laborers. The goal of the DPC was to eventually repatriate if possible, and therefore records on individuals and their “employment” were rarely kept.
There are also records of the Displaced Persons Commission kept in Washington. A description of them can be found at; https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/278.html and https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/refugees.html#iro .
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
maryanneb Jul 18, 2017 6:02 AM (in response to trinkelson)3 people found this helpfulMy Polish father was a POW in Germany and he too worked for the US army for a couple of years after the war ended. It was my understanding that this happened frequently. I have in my possession a certificate which gives him clearance as an employee of US Army but I have yet to find any files or records of his in any official capacity. He was in Bensheim Germany. Good luck with your research, I hope my information helps a little.
MaryAnne Melbourne, VIC Australia
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
trinkelson Aug 24, 2017 7:21 AM (in response to maryanneb)MaryAnne Bennie:
Regarding your note about the document for your father, would you be willing to share a digital copy? I am interested because I've not been able to locate any record for my uncles in the US military archives, and your document might provide a clue for further inquiry.
Best Regards,
Lavinka
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Jan 30, 2018 7:14 AM (in response to trinkelson)Hello. My father was also taken from his home in Poland during WWII and became a forced laborer in Germany during WWII. After being liberated at the conclusion of the War, he became a civilian in the US Army. He received many certifications and picked up many skills.
I do have many of my father's original paperwork, including his DP Card and also his discharge papers from the US Army (he requested discharge in order to emigrate to the US; his request was granted due to his service.
According to what I remember my father saying and also according to his "story" that he hand wrote and I found following his death, he asked to be accepted in the US Military, and he was thrilled at being given the opportunity.
I do have photos not only of the documents I refer to above, but also pictures of him and others in uniform. I also have his original documents from when he was in forced labor under Hitler.
I am happy to provide copies if you are still seeking the same. Just let me know.
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
trinkelson Feb 15, 2018 2:22 PM (in response to rdash)2 people found this helpfulThanks so much for your offer. I'd be interested in obtaining a copy of the discharge document you mentioned, as well as a copy of the photo showing the uniform. I've attached two photos of uncles in what appear to be US military uniforms for comparison. They were just teenagers and were literally dragged out of bed in the middle of the night and taken to forced labor in Germany, never to see Poland again. As information, if you have not already done so, you can contact the International Tracing Service to see if they have any record of your relatives for the period of their persecution by the 3rd Reich. https://www.its-arolsen.org/en/information/request-for-information-on-victims-of-nazi-persecution/
Also the Polish national archives have a lot of information available online http://szukajwarchiwach.pl/search?q=anders%20army&order=
Best Regards
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 16, 2018 9:02 PM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpfulHi, Lavinka.
I am not sure what the circumstances were surrounding my father's "capture" (for lack of a better word) and his being sent into forced labor. His sister was taken at the same time.
I am attaching the following document here (front and then back though side two shows here first): Franciszek Krawczyk Certificate of Discharge side two and then side one. More docs will follow in next post(s).
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 16, 2018 9:08 PM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpfulAs per my last post, I am attaching more documents pertaining to the time period that my father was in forced labor. Additional pages can be added if you are interested.
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 16, 2018 9:17 PM (in response to trinkelson)I posted some pics and documents and will add more in a bit.....
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 16, 2018 9:10 PM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpful -
Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 16, 2018 9:16 PM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpfulHere is a picture of my dad in uniform. Alone and with some others on a bench. Not sure exactly what that uniform is but may be military police?
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 18, 2018 12:27 AM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpfulI am attaching some other documents that showed various training courses that my father was provided with an opportunity to complete.
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
rdash Feb 18, 2018 12:31 AM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpfulHere is my father's "Temporary Registration with the Military Government of Germany" (after he was freed from forced labor):
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
vika1958 Nov 23, 2018 5:48 PM (in response to rdash)So interesting! Thank you for sharing!
My father had a similar experience, though I too, do not know the exact details of his capture....only that he was taken from Poland and ended up in Germany most likely in forced labor, He also worked for a U.S. Labor division of the army, 81st division. I have his US labor discharge papers like what you posted (he was discharged in Feb 1949 to emigrate to U.S.) as well as a photo of him in uniform similar to the last picture you posted.
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
trinkelson Jan 10, 2019 8:04 PM (in response to trinkelson)As a follow-up to the original question, I came across the following Web site which concerns civilian labor units assigned to the US Army at the end of WW2. It includes a number of pictures of uniforms.
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
tpowersjr Feb 1, 2019 4:40 PM (in response to trinkelson)Lots of info in the thread
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
Raymond Zawalski Oct 30, 2019 8:23 AM (in response to trinkelson)1 person found this helpfulHello,
I am Raymond Zawalski, a former member of the Labor Service organization. Actually I was borne into the organization, since my Father was also a member since Dec 1945. I am also the informal Labor Service historian and I am currently helping three Groups in Poland, France and Germany to understand what Labor Service was all about.
Just let me know what you are Looking for and I may be able to help
Raymond
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
Roman Ciecwierz Apr 4, 2020 4:07 PM (in response to Raymond Zawalski)Hi Raymond. Would love to enlist your help. I have a photo of my dad, Czeslaw Ciecwierz (dated 1945 in the back) that looks like an official portrait type photo. He is wearing a US Army uniform indicated by collar dogs - US in a round silver button right collar and crossed rifles on left collar. Appears to have two Polish ribbons above his breast pocket. He would have been 20 years old. This chain of messages regarding the Civilian labour guard is the only thing I can find that makes sense if the uniform. Is there any way to find service records?
many thanks
Roman Ciecwierz
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Re: Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2
ALICIA JENKINS May 30, 2020 12:20 PM (in response to Raymond Zawalski)Hi Raymond!! I have been searching for anything I can find on my grandfather. He was polish, LS at Grafenwoehr and in Busac. His name is Wojciech Albert Biadala. He was at Grafenwoehr from like, 1945 until about 1976 when he passed away. I have a photo from his ITS refugee assistance application. Maybe you could help?
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