Hey guys, Need some help. I picked up this cigarette case at the flee market in Ukraine. The seller told me that it belonged to German POW in Soviet Union. So I guess its a form "POW camp art." I'm currently based in Germany and I think it would be massive to find the family of this German soldier and give the case back to them. Knowing the harsh reality of Soviet GULAG, this cig case could be a last thing that they have left from their grandfather. Below some photos: The first photo shows writing "Alma-Ata 19.2.47 Sibirien Karaganda" - all the geolocations where lots of German POWs perished in the past. The second photo shows translated as "What I miss the most is my home." The third photo has what I’m assuming is his name and address: Heinz Klesper Neuenhöhe 9 WermelsKirchen, Rhld. The closest address that I found on Google maps was at Google Maps. The forth photo is his initials on the front of the case H.K. Where should I start looking?
I just found two records on the Germany, Military Killed in Action, 1939-1948 Name: Karl-Heinz Klesper Rank: Schütze DOB: 01 Dez 1920 (1 Dec 1920) Birth Place: Dortmund Military Unit: 6. Komp. Schütz. Regt. 4 DOD: 11 Aug 1941 Place of Death: U. D. S. S. R. Porietschje Ostw. Wald 2 Km. Nordos. G-A 871/0093 Name: Karl-Heinz Klesper Rank: Obergefreiter DOB: 04 Jun 1921 (4 Jun 1921) Birth Place: Gevelsberg Military Unit: 7. Komp. Gren. Regt. 80 DOD: 24 Juli 1943 Place of Death: Kalinina G-A 871/0092
But the above info may not help much, as you indicated a date of 1947, and the above two do not match.
The only phone book I could find was 1962 (maybe someone else has links to earlier phone books)…….and one Heinz Klesper living in Wermelskirchen
You could try the link below (a German forum) that may be able to help or point you in the right direction Feldgrau.net - German Armed Forces Forum
I tried to register there, but they only allow to register by email request. So I emailed them a month ago, but received no reply.
