Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte – Polish Civilian ID Card

Description

Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte – Original World War II Civilian Identity Card

This Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte is an original German-issued civilian identity card from the final year of the Second World War. Issued in Bromberg on 25 November 1944, the document preserves the official cover, red diagonal band, portrait photograph, fingerprints, handwritten personal details, issuing marks and administrative stamps that make this type of wartime identification document especially important for historical research and responsible collecting.

The Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte is a complete historical identity card rather than a modern reproduction, loose photograph, facsimile or printed display item. It was created as a functional civil identification document and retains the features expected from a period-issued card: the title “Deutsches Reich Kennkarte,” the German eagle device on the cover, a serial number, a place of issue, a period photograph, fingerprint panels, an issuing authority section and handwritten entries relating to the holder.

The front cover is visually distinctive, with a broad red diagonal stripe crossing the document beneath the printed “Deutsches Reich” title. The inner section records Bromberg as the issuing location and includes an identification number together with the document’s stated validity date. The card is dated 25 November 1944 and was marked as valid until 20 November 1949, reflecting the administrative five-year validity normally printed on these official identity cards.

The Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte retains a period portrait photograph of the female holder. The photograph is attached within the official frame and is accompanied by fingerprint impressions, handwritten identity entries and signature fields. These features make the item more significant than an unused form or empty cover, as it remains a personal document connected to one individual’s life under wartime administration.

A particularly important historical feature is the official red status notation visible in the interior section: “Schutzangehörige (Eingegliederte Ostgebiete).” This wording forms part of the original bureaucratic classification shown on the card. It provides direct documentary evidence of how civilian identity was recorded and regulated in territories incorporated into the German wartime administrative system.

The Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte should be understood as a document of civilian life during occupation, control and war. It does not record military service or political activity. Instead, it preserves the daily administrative reality of identification, registration, photography and fingerprinting imposed on civilians. Its importance lies in that documentary role, making it suitable for collections focused on occupied Poland, German civil administration, wartime identity papers, World War II social history and archival documentation.

The personal data fields remain visible, including the holder’s first name, date of birth, place of birth and other registration details. Because handwritten names can be difficult to read from photographs and because exact transcription should be undertaken carefully, the document is best catalogued primarily by its place and date of issue: Bromberg, 1944. This avoids adding any unsupported interpretation to a personal historical record.

Condition is appropriate for an original wartime identity card. The document shows signs of genuine administrative use and long-term storage, including punched holes, foxing, paper toning, light stains, edge wear, handling marks and small areas of surface wear. These condition points are visible in the images and are part of the card’s authentic period character. The photograph, fingerprint sections, stamps and handwritten entries remain visible.

The Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte has strong display and research value because the cover and inside pages remain together. It should not be separated, trimmed or altered. The historical importance comes from the complete relationship between the cover, red stripe, personal photograph, fingerprint fields and official administrative entries. Keeping all elements intact preserves the documentary integrity of the item.

For conservation, the card should be stored flat in an archival polyester sleeve or acid-free folder. It should be kept away from direct sunlight, humidity, adhesive tape and excessive handling. The photograph and ink entries should not be exposed to pressure or mounted with glue. A museum-quality archival mount may be used for display, provided that the card is not permanently attached or altered.

Only the original Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte shown in the photographs is included in the sale. The digital watermark visible in the reference images is not part of the original document.

This Bromberg 1944 Reich Kennkarte is offered strictly as a historical and documentary collectible for research, preservation, education and responsible collecting. It does not promote or glorify National Socialism, persecution, racism, antisemitism, war or political violence. Its value lies in its survival as an original civilian identity document from the final stage of the Second World War.