Instructions for German War Graves site (non-German speakers

[RF]

Hello Guests & Members of the Forum,

It has been awhile since I posted the instructions for non-German speakers on how to use the German War Graves website search engine. I believe I have updated it correctly (email me if there are any mistakes). If all else fails, you can email me directly with your info & I will check the website (time permitting). Here goes:

The website for the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund der Deutschekriegsgraberfursorge) has undergone some changes. For those searching its database (which is in German only) follow these instructions:

STEP 1

Go to http://www.volksbund.de/

STEP 2

Click on "Grabersuche" at the top of the page (photo of cross)

STEP 3

Click on "zur Onlinesuche >" in the middle of the page (green & white arrow)

STEP 4

You will be given 5 boxes to fill in. They are:

Nachname=Last name
Vorname=First name
Geburstdatum=Date of birth
Todesdatum=Date of death
Geburtsort=Place of birth

Fill in as much as possible. Remember to enter dates as dd.mm.yyyy (so July 4th, 2002 would read as 04.07.2002) Then click on the gray bar "suche beginnen"

STEP 5 (optional - skip to step 7 if you are not a 1st time user)

The new search procedures may require that a questionnaire be filled out prior to receiving your search results for first time users. As a minimum, the items marked with an asterisk must be completed. They are:

Vorname (First name)
Nachname (Last name)
Straße / Nr.*: (Street Address)
Land / PLZ / Ort*: (Country/zip code/city)

(If you are interested in completing the entire questionnaire, the translated version is at the end of these instructions)

Scroll down to the end of the questionnaire and click on "Zur Ergebnisseite"


STEP 6

You will be taken to a page that includes the address for the Commission and a short note thanking you for your support. Click on "Suchanfrage ausfuhren"

STEP 7

You will then be given the results. The term "Die Recherche war lieder erfolglos" indicates that no results were found based on the information provided. Possible matches will be listed by last names that are linked to further information. Keep in mind that the database may occasionally be down for maintenance and updating (Wartungsarbeit).
.

STEP 8

Once you have clicked on a possible match you will be taken to that individuals information page which lists:

Zum Gedenken (In memory of)

Nachname (Last name)
Vorname (First name)
Dienstgrad (Rank)
Geburstdatum (Date of birth)
Geburtsort (Place of birth)
Todesdatum (Date of death)
Todesort (Place of death)

This is followed a short paragraph which describes where the individual is buried, if known. Copy the information and paste it on one of the many online translation services (such as http://www.freetranslation.com/). The results may not be 100% grammatically correct, but it will give you the gist of what you are looking for.


TRANSLATED QUESTIONNAIRE

Anrede: (Form of address) Herr Frau
Vorname*: (First name)
Nachname*: (Last name)
Titel: (Title)
Straße / Nr.*: (Street #)
Land / PLZ / Ort*:
Postfach: (P.O. Box)
Geburtsdatum: (Birthdate)
Vorwahl: (Area code)
Tel. Nr.:
Fax. Nr.:
E-mail:
Mitgliedschafts-
interesse: (Interested in Membership?)
*(bitte auf jeden Fall ausfüllen) *Must be completed

Indicate your interest in using the database:
Grund meines Interesses an der "Gräbersuche online"


Searching for graves of family members
Suche nach Kriegsgräbern von Familienangehörigen



Family history research
Ich bin Familienforscher



Searching for graves of friends and acquaintances
Suche nach Kriegsgräbern von Freunden/Bekannten



Searching for graves of fellow veterans
Suche nach Kriegsgräbern von Kriegskameraden





Historical interest
Geschichtliches Interesse



School or research project
Schulprojekt/sonstiges Bildungsprojekt



Searching at the request of another person
Ich suche auf Bitten/im Auftrag einer anderen Person

Weitere Gründe
Other reason(s) specify



Ihre Meinung zur "Gräbersuche online"
Your comments on the online database:



Vielen Dank für Ihre Unterstützung!
Wir hoffen, dass wir auch Ihnen helfen können
Thank you very much for your support!
We hope that we were able to help you

[Jason Pipes]

EXCELLENT POSTING, thanks for taking the time and effort to write this up. I'll most likely take this info and incorporate it into a FAQ section for people to use as well. THANKS!

[Annelie]

Thankyou Roland:

I hope users will also remember to think of them when they make donations.

These people go out of the way and "beyond" to be helpful.
I know that they will even take photos of graves and if there is any additional information found send to relatives.
It certainly is a worthwhile cause.

Regards
Annelie

[NCO]

Thankyou this is very helpfull.
This may help me with one of my own questions.
cheers
Jim