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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: lil growler on Thursday 04 November 21 07:51 GMT (UK)
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HI there
Is it possible to find German autopsy reports online (or accessed somehow) relating to the remains of servicemen washed ashore at Castricum beach north of Ijmuiden, Netherlands June 1943. The SD and Abwehr examined all corpses for details.
Regards
Lil
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Never seen any, and I have visited all archives in the Netherlands, looking for information about missing/unknown soldiers, are you looking for a particular grave?
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There are similar held at St Venant in France from 1940 I believe these are now held by the local research group. They helped the Rogers family identify a relative previously buried as an unknown so some post mortem records must have survived but if they were German or not I do not know .
Just for info
Jim
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Phillip & verrieres
Thank you for your replies
Phillip, the grave is in Bergen N.H box D2, grave number 27.
Martijn the chairman of the Bunker Museum in Ijmuiden and WWII researcher who I had been helping with his research into the crew from the Lancaster III bomber DV157 which went down off the coast of Ijmuiden, 12 June 1943. Martijn believes the identity of the serviceman in the unmarked grave is the navigator from this bomber (by process of elimination) but he needs to to present to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision (CWGC) more documentation. We have had contact with family who are unable to provide information which would help with this research.
Images of the crew before their final departure are sort, to identify the person wearing his own life jacket with his name on it (as it is indicated another crew member may have worn it)
Cor van Pel of Egmond aan Zee, which on behalf of the Germans, until August 1943, removed the washed up bodies from the beach between Bergen aan Zee and Castricum. A page from Cor van Pels book https://flessenpostuitegmond.nl/het-lijkenboekje-van-cor-van-pel/
When washed ashore on June 24, 1943, the airman was without his dog tags and at the time an autopsy was preformed by the Germans.
We were hoping to find where those records maybe held
verrieres, Pleased the Rogers family identified their relative. I will look into what records are held at St Venant. Thank you
Regards lil
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There is a exhumation report of this casualty , but I don't have info on this one, whats in it.
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Hi Phillip
I am unaware of the exhumation report
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There is an Exhumation Report so if information can be forwarded they could check it, as in some cases the is no report, so it will be impossible to make a case of it, as the CWGC refuse to open the graves to taken a DNA sample. Other then the US Army.
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Thanks Phillip
Where would I find the Exhumation Report. Yes, CWGC did refuse to DNA test
lil
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The CWGC hold these Reports, and they are not open to the public >:(
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Thanks Phillip
I've just read the documents are not online (as you said, not available to the public) Can they be requested and if so, what is the criteria please. Opps just realised, the documents can't be requested.
I will pass your advice on
lil
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They can not be requested, they only use them when someone brings up a case so they can check if any details can be checked, and even then they not always use them correctly, have brought forward many cases throughout the years, some are still under investigation, most are turned down, had 3 cases with postive outcome.
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Yes, I just modified my post realising they can't be requested. Three positive cases are an achievement. I know Martijn has gone to great lengths to find proof etc regarding this airmen. It's not easy.
Not the same but I did research a young man in NZ who went to war under his brothers name and CWGC confirmed my findings but it was a lot of work but easier than trying to prove an unknown identity.
Good on you for researching and attempting to identify casualties, it is not easy but extremely meaningful. Thanks for your help
lil
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Your welcome, sorry I wasn't able to help out.