Postal Savings Bank deposit receipt issued in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia during the German occupation
subject: This is a Postal Savings Bank deposit receipt issued in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia during the German occupation. The payment of 9,800 Koruna was deposited into account No. 98,530, belonging to the: Senior Finance Treasury of the Senior Finance President in Prague (Prague XII) The document bears: a Postal Savings cancellation from Wallachian Meziříčí (Valašské Meziříčí) dated 16 November 1941, and an official German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront) local office stamp for Wall, Meierhof. The faint pencil entry identifying the depositor is the least certain element of the document; while it appears to read "Bollandt II (S. Komp.)", the writing is too light to establish that reading with complete confidence. Everything else on the document is clearly legible. A payment of 9,800 Koruna in November 1941 was a very substantial sum. Since the recipient was the Oberfinanzkasse des Oberfinanzpräsidenten Prag (the chief finance treasury of the German occupation administration), it was likely one of the following: a tax payment, a confiscation-related payment, a government fee, or another official financial obligation. It would have represented approximately eight to twelve months' wages for an average worker, equivalent to roughly US$40,000–70,000 in relative earnings, or about US$9,000–15,000 in consumer purchasing power in the year 2026.
description: Translation (Front) Printed Den Betrag von / Částku "The amount of" Handwritten 9800 K— "9,800 crowns (Koruna)." ("K" = Koruna/Krone, the currency of the Protectorate.) Printed für das Scheckkonto Nr. / pro šekový účet číslo "For cheque account No." Printed 98530 Printed Benennung des Kontos / název účtu "Designation (Name) of the account" Printed (Account Name) Oberfinanzkasse des Oberfinanzpräsidenten Prag Prag XII Translation: "Senior Finance Treasury of the Senior Finance President, Prague Prague XII." This was the treasury office of the Oberfinanzpräsident (Chief Finance President) of Prague under the German occupation administration. Printed erlegte / vložil "Paid in by" or "Deposited by" Handwritten (faint) Bollandt II (S. Komp.) The handwriting is quite faint. A careful reading is: "Bollandt II (S. Komp.)" The last portion almost certainly abbreviates: S. Komp. = Stabskompanie (Headquarters Company) or another military company abbreviation. The first word appears to be a surname: Bollandt I would not claim absolute certainty because the graphite is very light. Printed (Fraktur) Wall, Meierhof. Translation: "Wall, Meierhof." This appears to be the depositor's place or unit designation. "Meierhof" literally means "manor farm" or estate farm, but here is almost certainly a geographic place-name. Round Postal Savings Stamp (front) The circular bilingual stamp reads: WALLASCHISCH MESERITSCH German name VALAŠSKÉ MEZIŘÍČÍ Czech name Date in center: 16. XI. 41–17 Translation: "Wallachian Meziříčí (Post Office Savings Bank)" 16 November 1941 (The "17" is the hour of processing.) Printed at bottom SPOŘITELNA "Saving Bank" Printed (Printer) SIN E.B. 1940 Printer's mark. No translation necessary. Translation (Reverse) Title Printed BUCHUNGSSCHEIN ZÚČTOVACÍ LÍSTEK "Accounting Slip" or more literally "Posting Slip." German Instructions Printed Der Scheckeinzahlungsschein ist in allen drei Teilen dem Vordrucke gemäß ordentlich und deutlich auszufüllen und sodann mit dem Be…
source: Purchased at Dublin Vintage Shop in Dublin, Ireland
date: November 16, 1941

Journal of Wolfgang Schewe (Kriegsmarine)
subject: The journal of someone who served on a German U-Boat. The journal describes his time in training and the photos seem to show him during active duty. Most of the entries are during 1941, and the final date written near the logo for U-929 being in 1945 just 5 days before VE Day. The passenger/cargo motor vessel CARIBIA (12,049 GRT / 5480 tdw) was laid down in 1931, and launched on 1 March 1932 by the Blohm & Voss shipyard, Hamburg-Steinwärder, yard number 493. Completed on 5 Febr 1933 for the Hamburg-America Line (HAPAG) for their West Indies-Central America service. As a twin-screw vessel, Caribia was powered by two 8-cyl. MAN diesel engines with a total power of 11,500 HP, giving a service speed of 15 kn, maximum speed 17 kn. She could accommodate 447 passengers in three classes and had a crew of 198. Caribia begun her maiden voyage from Hamburg in March 1933, remaining on the West Indies route until 1939 before the outbreak of World War II. After 1 Sept 1939 the ship was first laid up and in 1940 requisitioned by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) for the use as an accommodation ship in Flensburg-Mürwik, close to the Naval Academy. Caribia was painted overall gray and was armed with some AA-guns, remained in her role as a floating barrack throughout the whole war without any notable incident. German submarine U-929 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 2 April 1942, and was laid down on 20 March 1943, at Neptun Werft AG, Rostock, as yard number 516. She was commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Schulz on 6 September 1944. German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-929 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), an overall beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 i…
description: Watch and Duty Small Watch Groups Watch Officer: Lieutenant Fraszezak Engineer Officer: Lieutenant Thielmann Chief Engineer: Senior Engineer Hegmann Helmsman: Petty Officer Meissner Division Commander: Captain z. See Gumprich The Training Period from 7 January to 31 May 1941 My Introduction to Active Service On January 7, 1941, around 6 p.m., I traveled with the 13th platoon from Berlin to the port of Stralsund. We arrived there at about 6 a.m., after a journey of several hours. Upon our arrival, we were assigned to the accommodation in the barracks and soon went to the naval training company. There was a lot of hustle and bustle! We were met by our commanding officers. “Gentlemen! You are now part of the submarine service!” We were given a short speech. Slowly, I began to feel proud to belong to such a company. Everything here was new and exciting. In the afternoon, we were assigned to our platoons and groups. I came to the 4th company for further training and was placed in the 3rd platoon, 9th group. Basic training began immediately afterward. ________________________________________ 3 Months of Basic Training Introduction Finally, the long-awaited day of basic training had come. For a long time, I had been preparing myself to fulfill the duties of a German sailor to the best of my ability. Although I already had an idea of what awaited me — the hardships and difficulties of a sailor’s life — I was still determined to give my best. We were now to learn everything that belonged to the foundation of military service: discipline, obedience, and physical endurance. The last days were spent with intensified exercises, and we were tested in the use of rifles and hand grenades. The training lasted four weeks. Training – Basic Exercises The Basic Training The first days of service were quite tough. In addition to the regular duties, we began with basic training. That meant: “Introduction to basic exercises!” The instructors were strict. The commands had to be carried out …
source: Purchased from Don Kochi and part of the Tom Long collection. Translation provided by ChatGPT. Information on the Caribia and Cordillera taken from ShipsNostalgia.com. Information on U-929 taken from Wikipedia.
date: January 7, 1941 - May 3, 1945

Bekanntmachung
subject: An announcement regarding an attack by Dutch Resistance fighters on a Wehrmacht soldier and the reprisals measures that will be taken by German authorities. This announcement issued by Johann Baptist Albin Rauter (4 February 1895 – 24 March 1949) was a high-ranking Austrian-born SS functionary and war criminal during the Nazi era. He was the Higher SS and Police Leader in the occupied Netherlands and therefore the leading security and police officer there during the period of 1940–1945. Rauter reported directly to the Nazi SS chief, Heinrich Himmler, and also to the Nazi Reichskommissar of the Netherlands, Arthur Seyss-Inquart. After World War II, Rauter was convicted in the Netherlands of crimes against humanity and executed by firing squad. In May 1940, he was appointed Generalkommissar für das Sicherheitswesen (General Commissioner for Security) and Höherer SS-und Polizeiführer (Higher SS and Police leader) for the occupied Netherlands. In his position as police commander and highest ranking SS leader in the Netherlands, Rauter was responsible for the deportation of 110,000 Dutch Jews to the Nazi concentration camps (6,000 survived) and the repression of the Dutch resistance. He had 300,000 Dutchmen deported to Germany for forced labour. His first victims to die were those killed during the armed break up of the February strike on 26 February 1941, accounting for 9 dead that day: he also immediately declared a state of emergency and ordered summary executions. He was the chief promoter of terror through summary arrests and internment in the Netherlands. The SS set up a concentration camp named Herzogenbusch after the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, but located in the neighboring town of Vught that gave the camp its name: Kamp Vught. In total this camp detained 31,000 people, of whom some 735 were killed. Also, his SS manned a so-called polizeiliches Durchgangslager or police transit camp near Amersfoort, known as Kamp Amersfoort, in fact also a concentration camp, wher…
description: ANNOUNCEMENT On January 30, 1943, a member of the German Wehrmacht was shot in the back in the municipality of Haarlem. As a reprisal for this attack, the curfew in the municipalities of Haarlem, Bloemendaal, and Heemstede is immediately moved forward from 24:00 (midnight) to 19:00 (7:00 p.m.) until further notice. Furthermore, the mayors of the aforementioned municipalities are instructed to immediately assign residents of the communities to a yet-to-be-determined patrol duty. Further measures will follow. The Hague, January 31, 1943 The Higher SS and Police Leader and Reich Commissioner for Security Affairs, RAUTER, SS-Gruppenführer
source: Purchased from Antiekcentrum Amsterdam, Netherlands. Translation provided by ChatGPT and additional information taken from Wikipedia.
date: January 31, 1943

Berichtkaart
subject: This card is a WWII-era conscription notice requiring a Dutch individual to perform guard duties for the Germans, with a veiled threat regarding hostages taken from the local population. This is a notification card addressed to a man named J.J. Poppe, born January 14, 1903, living at Vondelkade 40, in Zwolle. The number "7" at the top likely refers to a conscription or duty group number.
description: 7 NOTICE CARD To Mr. J. J. Poppe, 14-1-03 (January 14, 1903) Vondelkade 40, 10 ZWOLLE The Ortskommandant has instructed me to ensure that, in support of the German guard for important Wehrmacht objects, a total of 25 Dutch guards are added. This is related to the fact that in some places in our country, attacks have likely been carried out on depots, etc., of the Wehrmacht. In this context, I assign you to perform duty for 24 hours, including 16 hours of rest, on Thursday, 2 March '44, and you are to report at 12:45 p.m. to Bureau Krenge, located behind the second platform of the Dutch Railways station (reachable via the bridge over the tracks next to the station). Further information about this can be obtained at the Riding School (Manège), Praubstraat, between 5 and 6 p.m. (Not on Sundays). I emphasize that compliance with this obligation imposed on you must be considered to be in the interest of the hostages who have been taken from the population of Zwolle and surroundings. In case of illness, a medical certificate stating how long the patient is unable to stand guard must be delivered to the riding school (manège), Praubstraat, as soon as possible. BRING THIS CARD WITH YOU. K. 2662 ZWOLLE, the 25th of February The Mayor of Zwolle, (signature)
source: Purchased from Antiekcentrum Amsterdam, Netherlands. Translation provided by ChatGPT.
date: March 2, 1944