Feldpost from Russia and translation.

[PHILDHB]

I was recently given an envelope & letter mailed from Russia on Oct 9 1942, the Feldpost is faint but looks like 09200, or 09208. Can anybody help. I can email an image to whoever if it helps. Also could anybody help translate the letter, again image available, thanks, Phil.

[Lorenz]

FpN 09200: schwimmende Flak-Battr. "Arkona".

FpN 09208: Nachschubstab z.b.V. 687.

To translate the letter, all you have to do is type the German words on your computer and then cut and paste into the on-line Babelfish translator.

--Lorenz

[Brian67]

I was recently given an envelope & letter mailed from Russia on Oct 9 1942, the Feldpost is faint but looks like 09200, or 09208. Can anybody help. I can email an image to whoever if it helps. Also could anybody help translate the letter, again image available, thanks, Phil.

If the letter is written in German, you can mail me an image. I will try to help you.

[Brian67]

FpN 09200: schwimmende Flak-Battr. "Arkona".

FpN 09208: Nachschubstab z.b.V. 687.

To translate the letter, all you have to do is type the German words on your computer and then cut and paste into the on-line Babelfish translator.

--Lorenz

Hello Lorenz
Are you sure, that the Babelfish-translation is good? I haven't found godd translation-programs so far.
Regards Brian

[derGespenst]

I have found Babelfish to be pretty poor.

[Lorenz]

Babelfish

I don't use it myself because I have 3 years of university German (eons ago ) and lived there for 5 years. But for someone who knows no or next to no German and does not need a precise translation, then Babelfish is more or less sufficient, in my opinion.

--Lorenz

[PHILDHB]

Lorenz, thank you so much, I tried a little research, maybe you can help again. Schwimmende Flak batt was flak on a boat or ferry? Nachschubstab z.b.v 687 was a luftwaffe supply or maintenance unit. Thanks, Phil,

[PHILDHB]

Brian 67, I have emailed you a scan of the letter, thanks, Phil.

[Lorenz]

PHILDHB -

Schwimmende Flak batt was flak on a boat or ferry?

Yes, but I must confess that it's a real strange one. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it before. However, I can say with near certainty that it's Heer and not Luftwaffe. "Arkona" is a promontory 148' above sea level on the north coast of Rügen, an island in the Baltic off the German coast. I wonder if it had something to do with the Peenemünde V-1 and V-2 programs?

Nachschubstab z.b.v 687 was simply a Heer supply staff that was in Antwerpen/Belgium before it went to Russia. In 1944-45 it was in South Poland and then in Silesia under Heeresgruppe A.

--Lorenz

[PHILDHB]

Lorenz, here it is.

[Lorenz]

Phil -

Doesn't that look more like 00264 repeat 00264??

What do you think?

[PHILDHB]

Lorenz, you could be right, maybe I need new glasses, lets try bigger.

[PHILDHB]

Incidentally, what would that make it, Phil.

[Lorenz]

Phil -

FpN 00264 in 1942:
4. kleine Kraftwagenkolonne/Infanteriedivision Kolonne 199.

Presumably, that belonged to 199. Infanteriedivision, which spend the war in the Tromsö and Narvik area in northern Norway. It was never in Russia.

--Lorenz

[PHILDHB]

Lorenz. Huh! Must be incorrect, as the contents of the letter with the envelope clearly indicate it came from Russia in the contents. Again, thanks for all your time, Phil.