World War II service records of German soldiers can be of great genealogical value. However, getting access to these records may be difficult because many of them were destroyed during the war.
Locating records that have information about a German soldier may be tricky but not necessarily impossible. Below are some of the ways you can learn more about your German ancestor’s military service in World War II.
If you're looking for an ancestor who served during the war for another country, check out our other World War II military records articles.
Start Your German Military Record Research at Home
The first place to start finding World War II German military records and other information about your ancestors is right at home. Ask relatives what they know about members of the family who served in the war. Try to identify the branch of military service those family members were in and where they lived.
Obituaries, photographs, letters, and other records of military service that you might find at home can start you on the right track to learning more about your ancestor’s military service.
Perform a War Grave Search
If a soldier died in battle, consider searching the Volksbund war graves website. Using this site, you may be able to discover when and where the soldier died and where the remains were buried. Keep in mind that information you may find may not include full details of the person’s military career, such as what military unit the individual was part of.
Another good method of searching for the grave of a soldier could be through the FamilySearch Cemeteries Search page or the German Cemeteries wiki pages. These resources offer useful information to help you find the soldier you are looking for.
In addition to the wiki pages, FamilySearch has other articles on how to find British war records and how to search United States World War II military records.
Contact the German Federal Archive
The German Federal Archive, known in German as Bundesarchiv, may hold key information about the German soldier you are researching. To access information from this archive, you will need to fill out two forms: the Benutzungsantrag (here is an English version for reference) and the Order for Person-Related Research form.
Email or mail the completed forms to the Personal Information Department (PA) or the Military Archives Department (MA). Keep in mind that you may need to pay a fee to access the information.
Personal Information Department
The Personal Information Department (PA) of the Federal Archives is located in Berlin-Reinickendorf. It can provide information about the following:
- Former members of the army, Reichsmarine, Kriegsmarine, and the Air Force
- Wehrmacht civil servants, employees, and workers
- Members of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (Imperial Labor Service)
Military Archives Department
The Military Archives Department (MA) is located in Freiburg and can provide information from service records of military officers and officials, military court records, and documentation of military medals and honors.
Search Records at the United States National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration in the United States has a collection of records about the German military. For more details, see Record Group 242, titled “Collection of Foreign Records Seized.”
How do I get German prisoner of war records?
Prisoner of war records of German servicemen can also be located at the National Archives. Here are just a few:
- Prisoner of War Rosters, 1942–1947, National Archives NAID 849166. This collection contains records of German prisoners of war interned in the United States.
- Records Relating to Prisoners of War, 1942–1947, National Archives NAID 849166. This collection includes death lists sent to the International Red Cross.
- Records Relating to German Prisoners of War, 1943–1952, National Archives NAID 876973
Some of these records are available to view online, but you may need to visit or contact the National Archives to obtain or view others of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the United States, you can also request an individual’s official military personnel file. You may also find military photos on Family Search.org by exploring millions of historical images on our website.
Share the History of Your World War II Era Ancestors
What part did your German ancestor play during World War II? German soldiers fought both for and against the Allied Forces, and many lessons can be learned from those individuals.
At FamilySearch, we believe that exploring the lives of our ancestors can help shape our understanding of the world. We have a range of activities that can help bridge the gap between families and their ancestors. These activities include our Surname Origins activity, which allows you to discover the meaning of your surname.
Start Building Your Family Tree Today
The FamilySearch Family Tree is a free service that makes it easy for all users to start researching their family history.
The FamilySearch Family Tree is collaborative and community led, which means that it may be easy to connect your family tree with other family trees to view information already discovered about your ancestors.
Using the German Genealogy section of our wiki, you can find a range of birth, marriage, and death certificates to help you understand the life your ancestor led!
Upload Your Memories
Although finding German army World War II service records will likely be a challenge, your search is sure to bring a more complete understanding of your family’s history.
If all you know or have about your ancestor is a few stories or a few stray photos, then be sure to upload what you do know to that family member’s profile on FamilySearch.org.
Amie Tennant and Jessica Grimaud contributed to this post.
Learn More about World War II
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