Description

WWII German Documents – Rückwanderer-Ausweis & DLRG Lifesaving Certificate

This WWII German documents lot brings together two original German personal records from the 1930s: a Rückwanderer-Ausweis issued by the Rückwanderer-Amt of the NSDAP Auslands-Organisation and a Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft Prüfungs-Ausweis für den Grundschein belonging to a German police officer.

They are two separate historical documents belonging to different individuals and are offered together as a documentary collecting group. They should not be interpreted as a single-person estate or matched personal grouping.

From a collector’s point of view, the appeal lies in the contrast between two very different areas of German administrative life: return migration and employment administration on one side, and civilian lifesaving qualification on the other.

1939 Rückwanderer-Ausweis of Karl Siebrecht

The first document is an original Rückwanderer-Ausweis, or returnee identification document, issued by:

Die Leitung der Auslands-Organisation der NSDAP – Rückwanderer-Amt

The cover also gives the Berlin address Potsdamer Straße 22.

The surviving identification page is made out to Karl Siebrecht, born 25 June 1908 in Herrlingen, described as a Reichsdeutscher and a Kaufmann. His residence is given as Herrlingen bei Ulm.

The document records his recognition as a Rückwanderer and is dated:

Stuttgart, 6 March 1939.

It retains the holder’s handwritten signature together with an official period ink stamp and administrative signature.

Comparable Rückwanderer-Ausweise survive in museum collections. The Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek, drawing on the Deutsches Historisches Museum collection, identifies examples specifically as identification documents issued by the NSDAP-Auslandsorganisation, Rückwanderer-Amt.

An especially interesting feature is the printed statement on the front requesting employment offices to give preference to the holder when arranging work, illustrating that the document had an administrative purpose beyond simple identification.

DLRG Grundschein of Hans Kallas

The second document is a Prüfungs-Ausweis für den Grundschein of the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft e.V., Berlin.

It belongs to:

Hans Kallas – Polizei-Oberwachtmeister

The interior retains a period photograph of Kallas, his handwritten signature, official stamps and the printed requirements of the lifesaving examination.

The original Grundschein represented the basic level of lifesaving qualification in the historical DLRG system. The organization used the levels Grundschein, Leistungsschein and Lehrschein before the later Bronze, Silver and Gold system. Period DLRG material confirms that Grundschein certificates continued to be issued during the wartime period.

The printed examination requirements visible in this example include swimming, swimming in clothing, underwater exercises, diving, rescue techniques and resuscitation knowledge.

The fact that its holder is identified as a Polizei-Oberwachtmeister adds another documentary dimension to the piece without making it a military service document.

Two Different Personal Histories

It is important to describe the group correctly.

The Rückwanderer-Ausweis belongs to Karl Siebrecht, while the DLRG document belongs to Hans Kallas. There is currently no evidence from the documents themselves that the two men were connected.

They are therefore being offered as a two-piece historical document lot, not as a single-person grouping.

For a collector, this distinction matters. Clear provenance and accurate attribution are more important than trying to artificially connect unrelated material.

Historical and Collector Interest

The Rückwanderer-Ausweis is the stronger individual document in the pair. These returnee documents are substantially less common on the collecting market than standard Arbeitsbücher or routine civilian paperwork. Current specialist examples include individual Rückwanderer-Ausweise around €95 and larger related returnee-document groupings around €150–225 asking price.

The DLRG document complements it well. It contains a photograph, named police occupation, signature and official stamps rather than simply being a blank certificate.

Together they form a useful small study group covering:

• German civilian administration
• NSDAP Auslands-Organisation documentation
• return migration administration
• German police-related personal history
• DLRG lifesaving training
• 1930s identification documents
• original signed and stamped paperwork

Condition and Authenticity

Both documents show genuine period use and age.

The Rückwanderer-Ausweis retains handwritten and typed personal information, signatures and official stamping. The DLRG document retains its original photograph, handwritten signature, printed examination requirements and period stamps.

Age-related handling, discoloration, minor marks and normal paper wear are visible. The photographs should be examined carefully as part of the condition description.

Both documents are guaranteed original period items by Autographs & Militaria.

No claim is made that the two documents originally belonged together.

Historical Responsibility Notice

These documents are offered strictly as historical, documentary and collecting material.

Any political names, organizations or symbols are described explicitly because they form part of the historical documents and are necessary for accurate identification. Their sale and description do not indicate support for, promotion of or sympathy with National Socialism or any other totalitarian ideology.

FAQ

What is a German Rückwanderer-Ausweis?

It was an identification document associated with Germans returning from abroad. Surviving examples are recorded as being issued by the Rückwanderer-Amt of the NSDAP Auslandsorganisation.

What was the DLRG Grundschein?

The Grundschein was an early German lifesaving qualification involving swimming, rescue techniques and related practical skills. It preceded today’s Bronze, Silver and Gold lifesaving structure.

Do both documents belong to the same man?

No. The Rückwanderer-Ausweis is for Karl Siebrecht, while the DLRG certificate belongs to Hans Kallas.

Is the photograph original to the DLRG certificate?

The period photograph is physically incorporated into the certificate and bears official stamping consistent with the document’s administrative use.

Are these original 1930s German documents?

Yes. They are offered as original period documents and their authenticity is guaranteed by Autographs & Militaria.