The German Casualty Tracer's Guide: Locating WW1 & WW2 Casualties and Prisoners
Introduction: The Three Pillars of German War Casualty Research
Tracing German soldiers, casualties, prisoners (POWs), and missing persons from WWI and WWII is uniquely challenging due to massive record loss, boundary changes, and the destruction of official archives.
This guide provides a centralized, systematic methodology—a "how-to" blueprint—based on the most reliable resources. We will follow a three-step process designed to leverage specialized organizations and regional records.
The Three Pillars:
- Casualty & War Graves Search: The starting point for confirming a death and location.
- Prisoner of War (POW) & Missing Persons Tracing: Leveraging the Red Cross archives for those imprisoned or displaced.
- Regional & Expellee Card File Search: Utilizing regional resources crucial for individuals from former German provinces.
Step 1: Casualty and War Graves Search (The Official Record)
Start with the official records of those who died during or immediately after the war. This establishes the most concrete fact: military death and burial.
| Resource | Focus & Value | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| Volksbund German War Graves (Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge) | The primary source for confirmed German war dead. Searchable database provides name, rank, date of death, and burial/memorial location. Crucial starting point. | Search War Graves Online |
| WWI Casualty Lists (Verlustliste) | Official, contemporary lists published by the German military (1.WK Armee-Verordnungsblatt). Provides immediate context and details for WWI soldiers. | WW1 German Casualty Lists – Verlustliste |
| Finding German War Dead | General methodology and overview of the process for confirmed casualties. | Finding German War Dead |
Step 2: Prisoner of War and Missing Persons Tracing (The Humanitarian Record)
For individuals who survived, were imprisoned, or were reported missing, the records managed by Red Cross organizations are indispensable.
A. German & Austrian Red Cross Tracing Services
These services focus heavily on those missing from WWII and the subsequent expulsions from Eastern territories.
| Resource | Focus & Value | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| German Red Cross (DRK) Tracing Service (Suchdienste) | The central point for tracing missing persons, expellees, and wartime POWs from WWII and the post-war period. Essential for finding those who returned years later or were displaced. | German Red Cross Tracing Service (English) |
| Austrian Red Cross Tracing Service | Important for tracing individuals from territories that were historically part of the Habsburg Empire or were annexed by Germany (especially post-Anschluss). | Austrian Red Cross (ÖRK) |
B. International Red Cross (ICRC) POW Databases
The ICRC database is the definitive source for WWI prisoners of war.
| Resource | Focus & Value | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| ICRC World War 1 Prisoner of War Database | Provides official records on millions of WWI prisoners, including German soldiers captured by Allied forces. Highly detailed and digitized. | ICRC World War 1 Prisoner of War Database |
| WW1 German PoWs (General Links) | A supplemental resource for various WWI prisoner information. | WW1 German PoWs |
Step 3: Regional, Provincial, and Expellee Searches (The Territorial Record)
Many German records were organized by municipality or province. For soldiers originating from territories lost after WWI and WWII (such as Silesia, East Prussia, or the Sudetenland), you must search the special Heimatortskartei (HOK) collections.
The Importance of HOK
The HOK (Card File of the Native Place) was created by the German Red Cross and other organizations after WWII to help people trace millions of missing people who had been expelled or fled the Eastern territories. The HOK files often contain crucial post-war information not found in military records.
| Resource | Focus & Value | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| The Former German Provinces & Missing Persons Search | Provides the essential context for why regional archives and expellee files are necessary for research in these areas. | Former German Provinces and Missing Persons Search |
| Danzig-Westpreussen HOK Example | A specific example showing a regional HOK resource. Use this as a guide to locate similar collections for other former provinces (Silesia, Posen, etc.). | Danzig- Westpreussen (West Prussia) Heimatortskartei |
Conclusion: Strategies and "Tricks of the Trade"
When searching for German war casualties, follow these simple but critical strategies:
- Search All Variations: German names often had multiple spellings, and records might use nicknames or abbreviations. Search with different spellings of the surname (e.g., Müller, Mueller) and first name.
- Verify Across Pillars: Never trust a single source. If the Volksbund confirms a death, check the DRK for post-war missing person inquiries, as information about the circumstances or family contacts may have been added later.
- Use the Austrian Cross: If your ancestor has an origin in Southern Germany, Bavaria, or the former Austro-Hungarian borderlands, always check the Austrian Red Cross.
- Explore Link Directories: The list below provides broader directories for military and expellee research, which are continuously updated as new records are digitized.
| Supplemental Link Directories | Focus | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| WW1 & WW2 (General Links) | A comprehensive directory of links covering military, territorial, and other supplementary research topics. | WW1 & WW2 (Links) |
Have Information to Share?
Should you have additional information, links, or "tricks of the trade" that would enhance this guide, please use the ManyRoads Contact Page to let us know.
Credits and Licensing
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.