How do I find info on a German Soldier?

My wife just learned that her Grandfather, whom she never met, just died. We were told that he was in the German army, possibly the Waffen-SS. His name is Karl Wilhelm Bischoff, born on November 1, 1914, and died March 15, 2008 in Kassel Germany. We have tried contacting the German Embassy and have even E-mailed the Government website in Kassel. If anyone has any idea of how to find out what branch / division / unit of the military he was in, please let me know.

 

alot of military records were destroyed, unless you have family you can contact and ask it may be hard. all veterans of the german armed forces received a pension if eligible, this may be an alternate canal to venture down if you can find out the correct department to contact in berlin or kassel. i know to this day my family has not heard of my cousin that was last heard of in east prussia. so who knows! it sucks!

 

Only thing i can tell you,write to WAsT...you have to be patient,it took 14 months to get an answere for my Fathers records.Cost will be 16 Euro but they sent you a detailed record.
Rosie

 

may I suggest you start your hunt here :

Addresses for Information and Research

some of the addys may be gone/no longer functioning

 

Waffen-SS records are on file at College Park, MAryland with the US National Archives as part of the captured German records collection. One of the few WWII branches in which an American can get fairly easily access.