Biography info Oberst Wilhelm Klein needed

Ernst-H · Post by **Ernst-H** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 3:39 am

I have a polizei album containing 68 portrets of Polizei Officers ranking from Leutnant up to Oberst.
The album is a commemorative album to an Oberst Wilhelm Klein when he transferred from the "Kommando der Schutzpolizei" (possibly in Hamburg) to the Wehrmacht at the 1. Dezember 1935.

Every officer(except 3) handsigned their name under the photo.

Any info about Oberst Wilhelm Klein is appreciated.

Thanks!

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 3:20 pm

There is a Wilhelm Klein (1887-1970) listed in "Die Generale des Heeres 1921-1945". Last rank was Charakterisierter Generalmajor (01.07.1938). Perhaps someone has access to the respective volume? If not, I will probably be in the library next week and will check if this is the same Klein. That is, if I don't forget.

Ernst-H · Post by **Ernst-H** » Sun Jul 27, 2003 1:13 am

Hello Stefan,

I sent you a PM.

This could very well be the same person. I have listed as birthdate for "my" Wilhelm Klein 09-09-1887

I would appreciate a scan from the respective pages or the main info sent in a mail or posted on this Forum.

thanks for the help

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 3:35 pm

Ernst, I checked the respective volume of "Die Generale des Heeres", but I am afraid I have to tell you that the entry on Klein is very incomplete. There is no photo of him (but perhaps there is one in your album?), and all assignments are also missing. The info contained in the entry is:

Wilhelm Klein
* 09.09.1887 Kassel
+ 29.06.1970 Bad Reichenhall

Eintritt: 10.03.1908
Übertritt zur Polizei: ?
Übertritt zum Heer: 01.12.1935
a.D.: 31.05.1938
z.V.: 01.07.1938
a.D.: 31.05.1944

1909 Leutnant mit Patent vom 17.08.1907
27.01.1915 Oberleutnant
28.12.1916 Hauptmann
01.02.1930 Major
01.12.1935 Oberstleutnant (4) mit RDA vom 01.03.1934 (4)
01.12.1935 Oberst ohne RDA
01.01.1936 RDA (3) erhalten
31.05.1938 Charakter als Generalmajor

Sorry, but that's all from that source.

Ernst-H · Post by **Ernst-H** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 2:03 am

Hi Stefan,

Thanks very much.

Some of the dates indeed are a perfect match.........but some I cannot make sence of.

What does RDA mean.........and z.V. ?

The promotion dates seem to be far of........but maybe the writers didn't understand Polizei ranking system.

here is what I have of Wilhelm klein:
WILHELM KLEIN
(geb 09.09.87)
1908 Entered Heer as Fahnenjunker
1909 Leutnant (after attending kriegsschule)
1915 Oberleutnant
1916 Hauptmann

After war with Sicherheitspolizei Düsseldorf
1920 Entered Hamburg Schutzpolizei as Hauptmann
01.09.21 Major; Kommandeur des Nachrichtenmitteldienstes und Kommandeur verschiedene Bezirke
1933 Oberstleutnant; Chef des Stabes beim kommando der Schupo
01.10.34(1.9.34??) Oberst; Kommandeur der Schutzpolizei Hamburg
01.12.35 Transfer to WH
31.03.36 a. D.; Official discharge date from the Polizei

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 2:57 am

Hi Ernst,

regarding the differences between the promotion dates, I guess the Wehrmacht either erred in some way when Klein transferred to the Heer or tried to lower his rank status a little bit.

RDA = Rangdienstalter (date of rank)
01.12.1935 Oberstleutnant (4) mit RDA vom 01.03.1934 (4) means: promoted (or in this case taken over as) Oberstleutnant on 01.12.1935 to rank from 01.03.1934 and he was the fourth-ranking officer of all with the same date of rank

z.V. = zur Verfügung (this was some kind of reserve or at disposal status for former officers, most of the z.V. officers were used in secondary functions during the war and some were even reactivated, but some were never used again and retired a second time without seeing service during the war)

Ernst-H · Post by **Ernst-H** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 3:36 am

Thanks for explaining.

Well.......I guess we can call it a match.

This is the same Wilhelm Klein.

The promotiondates might be in error due to the author of the book you got this info out.

My list of promotion through the Polizei ranks comes from a period newspaper article.

Ernst-H · Post by **Ernst-H** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 1:42 pm

Some new information has surfaced to see the light of day.

I recieved, from the Hamburg Staatsarchiv, a newspaperclipping regarding the transfer of Oberst Wilhelm Klein.

in the article is mentioned that his successor (Oberstleutnant Dr. Carl Retzlaff, Stellvertretende Kommandeur d. Schutzpolizei Hamburg) presented a photo-album to Oberst Klein with portrets of the Offizierskorps of the Hamburg Polizei.

I thus have now a period piece of evidence prooving the existance of my photoalbum.......

I am a happy man