[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Siegfried Oelke

[Helen Gillespie]

Beth,

There is an organisation that lists German soldiers who were killed during
previous wars but this link is for the Second World War only:
http://www.volksbund.de/index.php?id=1551
<http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche.html>


It's still only in German, but they are working on the English version
apparently.  Type in what you know in the boxes . And they require your
relationship to the deceased!  So no browsing.....
Be aware that burial locations for all the fallen are not available as so
many who died in Russia were never located although they may have been
reported as missing. Other records were lost in POW camps, in transport, or
goodness knows where.  Records are still being sought.
The more info you have, the easier the search.

Good luck

Helen


From: Beth Burke <mackzie at earthlink.net>
To: "'SGGEE'" <ger-poland-volhynia at sggee.org>
Cc:
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2016 23:25:03 -0500
Subject: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Siegfried Oelke
Siegfried Oelke born 5 Oct 1916, was conscripted into the German Army and
died shortly thereafter on 28 May 1940 in Wormhoudt, France.  The date of
his death coincides with the Wormhoudt Massacre, when the Germans massacred
80 British and French POW's.

I have recently learned that Siegfried's mother, Florentine Lieske Oelke,
and my grandmother, Berta Lieske Friedrich were sisters.  (Yes, I have
found 5 living 2nd cousins, plus their family members.)

The only photograph that my 2nd cousins (who never met Siegfried) have was
taken when he was 10 years old.

Is anyone aware as to whether there are records for German WWII soldiers?
I would presume that at the time he was conscripted, pertinent information
would have been obtained, along with a photograph of him.

I realize this is a stretch, and I have not spoken to my cousins about
this.  I have just recently received confirmation of where he is now
buried....something they did not know.  If there were additional records
stored (maybe?) in Germany that are accessible, I could try to see what is
available.

The problem is that I don't know if such records exist, and if so, where
they would be stored.  If anyone has any suggestions, I would be grateful
for any information you could provide.  (Of course, if you actually HAD the
records and they contained a photo of Siegfried, I would be way more than
grateful!)

Beth Burke
Verona, WI