A German helmet in the basement - How to research a WWII German soldier's service records and family

[@JosephBoot-ln7mw]

Corporal Monzhausen was held at POW section of Camp Shelby ,Mississippi which is still operating today. My US Army Special Forces group trains here sometimes. Small world sir. Great channel…. Love your work and videos. May we never forget our shared history.

[@peterpaszczak4013]

Might even had settled in the US and even have family if he didn't get repatriated.

[@JosephBoot-ln7mw]

@@peterpaszczak4013 he would’ve been welcome here I’m sure. America is the land of immigrants.

[@davea8346]

@@peterpaszczak4013 If I'm not mistaken, there were a handful of prisoners that managed to escape and remained in the US after the war. It's in the single digits. All other prisoners were repatriated. A very small percentage returned to the US as immigrants.

[@JPB-wy5cl]

Your narration is perfect. Provides facts and keeps the viewer interested.

[@davea8346]

I really appreciate your videos and the effort you go through in researching the personal history of individual soldiers. I find this much more interesting than other history presentations showing arrows on maps and the same worn out movie clips.

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks. The videos I make usualy could not have been made by any one else, because they describe stories that happened to come my way while I was digging or because I happened to find a specific person's item.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

I need to email you, my grandfather just passed away, He was Hungarian, came to USA after war. In his belongings i found American dog tags, one of the gentleman was in a significant historical event, and the dog tags in the history books are the ones in hand. I have tried to call and leave voice mails with the last name family in the towns they lived in with no avail. I want to get these tags to the familys!

[@CrocodileTear]

Sure, you can send me an email, it sounds interesting.

[@mobius-1503]

Wow I hope this story makes it to this channel.

[@noelmcauliffe]

​@@CrocodileTearDid anything ever come of this?

[@CrocodileTear]

@@noelmcauliffe I am not sure this person ever send me the information. I dont remember it in any case.

[@noelmcauliffe]

@@CrocodileTear That's a shame because it really got me interested. Thanks for your content,as a UK veteran I'm a huge fan of your channel,military history and how superbly you cover it,and your recovery and identification of the fallen heroes of every nation is heartwarming. Keep doing what you do so well my friend.

[@porkscratchings5428]

My ex wife’s family are from the Normandy area and when I first visited in the 80’s, I was gobsmacked with what her family had hoarded up in their outbuildings.What they had could only be described as a street find museum from ww2. The moth eaten out uniforms, helmets, weapons, munitions, wheeled guns, damaged vehicles, crashed warbird plane parts were all hoarded up as there was so much stuff lying around on their doorstep. I was told that her grandfather and brothers just went out collecting things on a daily basis as so much was lying around, apparently all the kids were doing it, there’s so much stuff that people have in that area it is frightening as I saw so many relics around the area and what people had hoarded away.

[@CrocodileTear]

Times have changed. Helmets can be worth thousands of dollars, etc, so people have been hunting this stuff down for years and finding anything requires good searching skills, luck, and usually a lot of both.

[@allenschmitz9644]

@@CrocodileTear chicken wire helmits hit the collectors mkt. big time in the 2000's, before that I never saw one.

[@LeveretteJamesClifford1955]

I can't believe it! I am doing research on the POW camp called Camp Clinton, which is next to Clinton, Mississippi, USA and it was a satellite camp of the POW Camp at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. During the war, Camp Shelby was the largest training camp in the entire world and when German POWs started to come to America, a part of the camp was converted to be for POWs while the rest of the camp was still used to train American soldiers. A satellite POW camp system was initiated such as Camp McCain, Mississippi, where two Army divisions, the 87th and 94th, trained for a couple of years before being sent to Europe to fight in the Rhineland campaign as well as other campaigns. As the army moved out, German POWs were moved it, but there was no more training of American soldiers there. Camp Clinton was different, however, as it was built specifically to be a POW camp. First prisoners were Germans and Italian solders captured at the fall of the German and Italian troops in North Africa. It is a regular thing to call that the fall of the German Afrika Corps but while that is true in part, not all the German troops were in the Afrika Corps. At camp Clinton the great majority of the German POWs were from engineering battalions and they were put to work (on a volunteer basis and were paid) to build a concrete scale model of the entire Mississippi River Basin, and this model took up 46 acres. It was made to study ways of flood control. After the war, perhaps a decade later, the model which was still being used, was abandoned and the US Army Corps of Engineers made another 30 miles away at Vicksburg, Mississippi that also included larger scale portions where, using powered model ships that a man could get into and steer, and learn how to pass a ship through many areas of the Basin. Sadly, in the 70's, interstate 10 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, required a new bridge over the Mississippi River and it was built (on purpose?!!!) too low to let ocean going ships pass farther north where there were many ports in different states on different rivers which could accept ocean going ships. The fact that the paperwork says that Monzhausen was sent to Camp Shelby may be true but causes me to wonder if perhaps it is possible that he might have been sent to another camp in that satellite system. I need to do further research on my story for LandmarkScout in Holland, so I will keep Nicholaus in mind while doing so. There are records including prisoner ID photos that still exist so perhaps I can find it if it still exists! I also have a gas mask can and mask as well as the extra optical pieces stored under the top of the can, and it has a number painted on the outside as well. I have given thought to that extra strap and looked at some which, even though they have a shoulder strap, also have a strap that attaches to the belt so that the can won't swing around all over the place!

[@CrocodileTear]

Hi. I have been trying to find details about German soldiers via possible POW records in the US for years, with very little success. If you think it may be possible to find a record of Monzhausen, that would certainly be very interesting to me.

[@bogdanbacanu605]

I can't tell you happy i get when you put up a new video, the level of research you do is amazing, i really enjoy it !

[@RobGerman-m7i]

I think the 192 on the gas mask container is a "rack" number. I have inherited a helmet from a Pennsylvania Veteran that was part of the 28th Division -"The Bloody Red Bucket". The veteran told me he picked the helmet up in Normandy and that the number on the helmet skirt (in my case 179) was a rack number where it was in place in a gun fortification. The helmet has suffered significant battle damage and is all original with liner and chin strap.

[@CrocodileTear]

That sounds like an interesting helmet, if you can email me some photos of it. The numbers on the gas mask were given by an NCO in each company I have since found out.

[@theikomitdermaico]

​@@CrocodileTear The numbers were painted on the can and the mask. All the Masks of a unit were centraly cleaned after training or use and afterwards they were matched to their soldier using the numbers.

[@OZP1905]

Another great video, very interesting, very informative. Keep them coming please! Good luck in your researches and investigations.

[@AgencyIsland]

Hands down one of my favorite ww2 channels! I have a stalhelm myself that was a bring back from my grandfather, and I have tried to research its history, but you're out here doing it with other pieces. I am truly glad I am not the only one who loves finding out the personal history of individual relics. Keep up the amazing work! cant wait to see what other amazing nuggets of information and backstory you'll bring us next!

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks mate. Is there anything unusual on the helmet your grandfather brought back, that could make researching it possible?

[@AgencyIsland]

@@CrocodileTear unfortunately not, i wish there was a name or something of the sort, would love to know its story

[@CrocodileTear]

@@AgencyIsland If you send me a few pictures, I can tell you the type of helmet, branch that may have used it, or any technical paculiarities

[@greghanson407]

I don't know German, but I do see a reference to Camp Shelby Mississippi. It is misspelled Strelby on that paper. Camp Shelby was outside Hattiesburg Mississippi, there was a POW camp there during WW2 and it contained a lot of Afrika Corps prisoners. Perhaps, the owner of the gas mask ended up staying in the US. When I was a kid I went to school in Texas with a guy whose father was a German POW who was in the POW camp in Galveston TX, after the war he was sent back to Germany but returned to the US to live in Texas.

[@its_cyfa]

So interesting, history brought to life. Pity no relative could be contacted

[@claustriebenbacher2077]

My take on the 192 on the gas mask container: I guess it stands for Sicherungs Regiment 192. According to his ID tag, he was part of the Lds.Sch.Batl. z.b.V (Landesschützenbataillon zur besonderen Verwendung) 628, and this battalion formed the 2nd bn of the Sicherungs Regiment 192. He also spent some time with the (Landes)Schützen Ersatzbataillon 9 in Kassel, which was responsible for the reenforcements of both the 192nd and the Lds.Sch.Batl 625. So he likely was transferred and took his equipment with him. The 625th saw action in the vicinity of Nimes, Marseille and Avignon. Digne seems far off the route of retreat, and he would have had to cross the allied advance to get to Digne. But his service record says that he was in Italy during Dragoon, so he might have come to Digne from Italy. But what did he do there? Maybe R&R? None of his battalions has had anything to do in Italy. Before the 625th, he was in the Lds.Sch.Batl 240, which had it's AOR in Slovakia. So (another) maybe, he just got transferred to the 625th, spent some time in Italy and was on his way to Southern France when the Dragoon changed his travel plans. I guess we'll never know. Sadly, we don't have any exact dates on his assignments, and we also don't know exactly when he was captured.

[@CrocodileTear]

The gas mask numbers have nothing to do with unit numbers. I have found out since making the video that these numbers were assigned by a special NCO in each unit. Information about these obscure units is often scetchy, and what can be read on the reference sites is often imprecise or even wrong. The same can be the case for the info written in the soldiers personal files: often contradictory. I have for example found out that he was captured in Digne on August 19th 1944, but then his file speaks about him being in Italy in the autumn of 1944? I dont think he was ever in Italy at that time frame.

[@MGB-learning]

Always an outstanding video and presentation. Thank you!

[@Zirler]

Thank you 🙏🏻 As usual outstanding report….. your effort is incredible Merci 🙏🏻

[@LrngMn]

The strap is to attach to the belt so it doesn't jostle around. Saw period pics demonstrating years ago.

[@CrocodileTear]

There are several straps on this gas mask can, so you have to be more specific. The short strap with the metal hook is the one normaly attached to the belt.

[@offshorequest]

I have three helmets , a M35 DD and two M34 Police (one with decals) but none have any names. Nice to see how you do your research!

[@dmeinhertzhagen8764]

Great video and outstanding research as usual. Merci beaucoup.

[@jscatt6123]

This was a great video! My grandfather in Italy had all sorts of stuff he picked up after battles, I wish I had asked him for it when I was there

[@ZEDROXY_]

Incroyable vidéo 👍bravo pour ce beau travail

[@Nikki_Baugher]

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing.

[@DVincentW]

Awesome 👍 research. I'm really appreciative of all your work.

[@HRHooChicken]

Wow, I never realised the lines on late war helmets were wires and string. To me they looked like weald seams. I always wondered why they moved from simple pressed metal to welding multiple plates together haha. Also fascinating that the wire was used to stuff vegetation into, didn't think of that either.

[@garkmr6200]

Your channel is fascinating. I’ve been a WW2 fan since I was a kid back in the ‘60s. I was able to see a bit of Europe when I was in the Navy in the early ‘80s. Saw pill boxes, barbed wire and bombed out oil storage tanks in Sicily. Anyway, thank you for the history.

[@fallschirmjagerfilms4167]

the number on a gas mask and or canister has no bearing on the soldiers ID "roll number". The numbers you see on cans and masks are unit inventory numbers. Not all units did it, but those who did very often would have their own unique ways of markings these numbers.(brush applied white or black paint being the most common styles) When a man was issued with the mask in question, the number on the mask would very often be written into the man's Soldbuch alongside the entire for the mask itself. This would allow the unit to keep track of who's mask was who's. (for example if a man lost his mask and tried to steal another mans to replace his missing one, the numbers wouldn't match and he would be exposed)

[@fallschirmjagerfilms4167]

People also must remember that Germans soldiers ID roll number was not set in stone like it was in the American Army. If a man was transferred to another unit, his number would be changed to one that was of the new unit. Page 4 of the soldbuch has an entire column that is dedicated to just logging all of the soldiers roll numbers throughout his service from unit to unit.

[@CrocodileTear]

I already though the German ID tags were complicated, I feel this a whole new level

[@emilioalcazar4170]

Love and respect your amazing work..awesome presents the helmet and the gas mask..!

[@alxbshw]

I love your videos, great research. thanks!

[@bassplayersayer]

It is nice to see You posting new video's!!!

[@rockyrowlands3652]

Your research gives a name to one of millions until then is just a statistic, but following your research is now a person.

[@Tirpitz-lv2kt]

The grandfather of a co-worker enlisted in the volunteer legion Holland. What I know is that his last name was Van De Geest, lived in Schoonhoven and went to Berlin after the war

[@CrocodileTear]

There were numerous Van der Geest and Von der Geest in the German army. And I dont know where this helmet was found...

[@karlaiken6152]

Great story as always. Thank you so much.

[@gregkrueger331]

When they add the netting for local vegetation to the helmet it’s called adding “scrim”.

[@CrocodileTear]

Not exactly. Scrim is not local vegetation, but artificial material resembling local vegetation.

[@davekreitzer4358]

Very nice , very interesting research , great job in the search , wished you had videos more often , thanks again for sharing !!!

[@Bernie-34]

It seems to be very complicated to figure out, who Nicolaus Monzhausen was. I tried to find anything about him looking for his place of birth. Zieglen/Arlon (Belgium) does not exist. And even Rammersweier, Hauptstraße 176, is not known. There is a city called Rammersweier in southern Germany, but no Hauptstraße. Facinating issues really. You need to have a great passion.

[@Panzerfaust9161]

Wow. I have dozens and dozens of German helmets with names in them. I have a bunch of WW1 German helmets with trench art inside and names. I’m thinking that they were transitional helmets and the names were painted inside during WW2. I’m really enjoying your videos, they’re really interesting, I love history.

[@schwunginhimmel7449]

Why do you have so many?

[@Pyjamarama11]

RIP Anton and Anton Neither saw 19

[@SaintSimonsSportsman]

Bottom of the service dates, should be Camp Shelby Miss. He is listed there in November 1945. Many German POW’s stayed in America. Reach out to Mississippi Armed Forces Museum where Camp Shelby was located.

[@johnboy384]

Thank you very much for these wonderfully interesting videos. 😊

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks for being one of the one in a thousand people who takes a moment to post a friendly comment.

[@commiesandmums]

I see that he was kept at Camp Shelby as a POW. Camp Shelby is where many German POWs were kept towards the end of the war. I’m in the Army National Guard and have spent some time down there for trainings. According to locals and historical plaques, the German POWs attempted to escape, evening creating a large swastika on the ground to alert potential German planes flying overhead. The escaping German POWs were actually stopped by a local farmer with his shotgun. Many of their original barracks no longer stand, but their foundations still exist. Perhaps Monzhausen was apart of that.

[@CrocodileTear]

By the time he would have reached camp Shelby, I doubt many Germans were still thinking of escaping. They were probably very satified to be POWs in the US where conditions for them were excellent. Furthermore, Monzhausen was an "oldenlisted man from a second line unit that had been put on occupation duties. This wasnt the profile of the hardcore nazi attempting to escape when it is clear to everyone the war is lost. Just my guesses.

[@bobkrohn8053]

There were 450,000 Germans in 500 camps around the US. Why escape? There was nowhere to go. Many escapes were at the end of the War because they didn’t want to go back to a hell of a mess. Many had worked on farms,etc, and fell in love with America as they were treated so well. They had to go back to Europe, spend some time there (maybe a year or two) then apply to immigrate and become citizens. The last escaped POW was collected maybe 10-20 after the War. By then he was married and was a successful businessman. That’s America.

[@CrocodileTear]

@@bobkrohn8053 The last escapee only revealed himself 40 years later: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Gaertner

[@TheOldTeddy]

Fascinating. I now live in Mississippi. I need to visit old Camp Strelby.

[@CrocodileTear]

Its actually Shelby

[@rickyspanish9002]

I'm super curious about the piece of webbing. I would have Initially thought it was a remnant of a gas sheet bag, but like you mentioned in another comment, I've never seen one constructed with leather tabs. It would be nice to see more of this mystery strap. I've been to Camp Shelby. Very hot and humid. Lots of black widows. Very cool museum on the base. I don't think there is anything left of the POW barracks, if I remember correctly

[@CrocodileTear]

Maybe the Camp Shelby museum would be interested to see this video?

[@rickyspanish9002]

@@CrocodileTear Possibly. Its been about 15 years since I went there and was only there for like 3 months so I didn't have the chance to really meet anyone at the museum and don't have any contacts

[@jeffsmith2022]

Another very good video sir...Can you imagine being torn apart from one of those shell fragments???

[@chrisrichard2526]

My uncle collected things only from the people he personally shot and nothing more. Never a soldbuch or EK but only awards. He never wanted a German to go unidentified. ( He was German himself) When he died I sent most back to Germany but I kept 2 that had a special place for him for some reason. They are with relics from my time in service during desert storm and what I took in the same manner. Why they were so important to him I don't know. An IC and IF assault badge. But whomever earned them is part of the gathering of old vets that happens here monthly. Figured their spirit is with them. People at work are always giving me things their grandfathers and great uncles brought back.

[@eisaatana96]

Ok

[@paulday-lh5mx]

Amazing and so interesting. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@mikemullen5563]

I don't have an attribution, but US camouflage uniforms were used experimentally in Europe, but were discontinued due to friendly fire incidents. They were used routinely in the Pacific.

[@Angrybarberman]

Yes, an entire group of American engineers in the camo were killed by other army groups who stumbled upon them and thought they were SS....they only realized the mistake after they'd killed probably all of them

[@joshuaromero7984]

​​@@Angrybarbermanis not true. It was already discontinued for Europe and it was the regular HBT uniform that was confused for being Germans. Never heard of engineers dying wearing that camo by allies... if it did happened then multiple sources would have mentioned it

[@joshuaromero7984]

The camo was just not that practical at Europe, that's why it was discontinued and the material would have been use elsewhere

[@walkercustoms]

Very interesting

[@johnbender5356]

on that paperwork it says camp strelby mississippi. i am almost positive that it was CAMP SHELBY

[@CrocodileTear]

Yes, it also says Camp Shelby on the document if you look.

[@Militarycollector]

Man I love your videos.. keep up the good work..👍

[@mikkel2169]

I got 2 german helmets with names on the liner. The M42 is named "Willer" on the inside liner. It was found on Bornholm, Denmark. Stamped only in the back since its a M42 I believe the 2. helmet is a M35 DD, but unfortunatly all erased. Multiple layers of paint, probably pre-war for the most part. The original layer is light green. Leather liner is marked "Schmitz K. SS- Strm" Makermarkings ET64 and lotnumber in the back.

[@mikkel2169]

By the way, very nice helmet and decal.

[@kurtwk]

Very interesting ! I just love your videos and how detailed they are, no matter the specific subject. I’ve been tossing around the idea in my head to ask for help identifying a named gas mask canister. I’ve always been hesitant because I assume you’re bombarded with similar requests quite often, however, I figured now, after watching this video, I may as well ask. I know that without a unit ID or FPN number, researching just a name would be extremely difficult, but I wondered how difficult would it be to research a woman’s name on a piece of gear ? taking into consideration that there would have been considerably less of them in the military / auxiliary role? I have a gas mask and canister in excellent condition with a hand written name and “title” tape on the extras lenses lid ( the usual spot ). It reads …. “ Victoria Kühn Kameradschaft “ and the number “ 882 “ written in white paint on the outside, top band. It’s a standard combat model m38 gas mask and can, complete with all original straps and accessories. For some reason I’ve just been extremely interested in who she was and what her job was, it’s something you don’t hear or see much about in comparison to everything else. If you ever want more information or pictures or if you already know it would be impossible, just let me know. I really appreciate it !

[@CrocodileTear]

Hi. Yes, please sent me a couple of photos. Cases of woman, foreign volunteers, etc, I always find very interesting.

[@kurtwk]

@@CrocodileTear excellent ! Expect an email, sir ! 😃

[@paulbradford8240]

As a!ways, your stories are fascinating and I want them to go on! Thank you.

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks Paul, I am getting used to seeing you comment on my videos :)

[@wolfgangthiele9147]

First off: excellent video! Two remarks: I'm surprised to learn that the Americans actually shipped German POWs who were captured in Southern France in August of 1944 to POW camps in the United States. Is that a well known fact? The soldier, Nicolaus Monzhausen, was born in 1908 in or near the town of Arlon in Belgium. That part of Belgium never was a part of the German Empire, although German speakers indeed used to live there ("Areler Land", "Altbelgien-Süd"). The name seems to originate from Southern Belgium / Luxembourg or the neighbouring parts of Germany. A spelling variant is Monchausen. I wonder how this man ended up in Germany and later in the German army.

[@CrocodileTear]

Yes, as far as I have found out from my research, most if not all pow's from southern France ended up in the US. Another example is shown in my Villeneuve exhumation report video: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWLRhZeFaJWDn9E

[@bobkrohn8053]

The decision to transport POWs to USA made lots of sense. Full Cargo ships were headed to Europe with supplies including food. Send the POWs to USA on the empty ships, feed them there. Many were PAID to work raising food as farm help was in the military overseas. There were about 450,000 POWs held in the USA. They had an excellent life there. Many came back Post War.

[@ThomasDrehfal]

I have seen pictures of these canisters that have an additional pouch attached. Some are attached by the addition of a strap or straps around the whole canister and others had a similar arrangement as this one.

[@CrocodileTear]

Yes, those pouches contain a protective sheet in case of gas attacks, but I have never seen a pouch with a strap like the unknown strap I mention in the video.

[@killianfitzgerald2195]

It almost looks like a piece of an US M1 helmet liner sweatband…

[@CrocodileTear]

@@killianfitzgerald2195 It is true that there is a resemblance.

[@gooberdoober2286]

Really find your videos absolutely fascinating, keep up the great research. I was thinking about the number 192 on the gas mask container and I noticed that the info about Nicolas says something about regiment 194 with a question mark. Was there a 192nd regiment?

[@CrocodileTear]

The 192 on the mask id not unit info. I have since been told there was an NCO in each unit responsible for gas masks, and he would assign a mask number corresponding to each soldier. To answer your question, there was no Regiment 192 in the area. There is a ? beside the 194 because when I asked the researcher to look for this soldier, I suspected he was in Sicherungs Regiment 194, the main unit in the Digne area. It turns out he was in Landeschutz Bataillon 625, a very obscure unit, but that also left a few rare traces in the Digne area.

[@johnschofield9496]

Great research, great history. I'm curious if the potential survivors of this man lived in what was East Germany. There is still a huge distrust and fear in these people from the years of harsh treatment by the government and many are still frightened by anyone they don't know.

[@CrocodileTear]

No, they were in west Germany.

[@davecurda2350]

Very cool investigation.

[@Litauen-yg9ut]

Interesting watch, Sir...

[@CrocodileTear]

I am planing to make a video about a real watch soon.

[@bobjohnston8316]

The W A or Wa A translates to Waffen Amt or weapons inspector. I think that the following numbers either indicate the identity of the inspector or, more likely, the office or branch of the weapons inspection directorate. You will see the Eagle and Wa A plus a number on the barrel of every Kar 98 rifle that the Germans produced. It’s usually on the left side of the barrel just forward of the receiver ring.

[@patriciaroult1988]

Merci pour votre partage 👍♥️ toujours émue de voir des vestiges de guerre moi qui suis pationnée et malheureusement je ne comprends pas l'anglais 😭 et ce n'est pas traduit.. donc j'essaie de comprendre en regardant les images. Voilà un grand bravoooo 👍♥️🇨🇵🙏

[@CrocodileTear]

Quand je fais des videos en francais, personne ne les regarde malheureusement...

[@patriciaroult1988]

À Bon ? C'est bien triste 😭 merci beaucoup ♥️👍

[@simipi2]

dans youtube, cliquez sur la petite roue dentelée a droite. vous cliquez sur sous titre. Vous aurez les parolesen anglais, mais vous recliquez dessus et vous aurez le choix de la langue traduite, dont le français.

[@simipi2]

@@CrocodileTear je les regarde, mais peut etre fais je parti d'une minorité. Jesuis tombé sur vos vidéos par hasard, donc le problème est que votre site n'est pas encore assez connu, mais ca viendra.

[@CrocodileTear]

@@simipi2 Bonjour. Bien sur il y a des personnes qui regardent en francais, mais c'est de l'ordre de 20 ou 30 fois moins qu'en anglais, donc ca ne justifie pas vraiment le temps passé à faire la video. J'ai fait deux versions de la video sur les corps des résistants Tonner et Bergia, une en francais et une en anglais. Malgré le fait que cette histoire se passe en France et concerne des résistants et la réaction de l'état francais, presque personne ne regarde ou ne commente en francais, et la durée de visionage moyen en francais est beaucoup plus faible que la version anglais. C'est un comble et ca ne donne vraiment pas envie de passer le temps à faire des videos en francis.

[@thurin84]

man, thats so cool they just gave then to you! looks like the name has been redone at some point. it looks like there paint removal underneath the tag. so maybe it was reissued to your guy and the 192 is tthe previous guys id tag number. still fascinating research.

[@CrocodileTear]

I think the traces are just glue, I dont see any traces of scratching or paint removal. In the meantime I have been told this gas mask number was given by the "gas protection NCO", and has nothing to do with ID tag numbers. Most ID tags have 4 number numbers, whereas the gas masks usually have three numbers, which also shows that the ID tag number being used theory is not correct.

[@thurin84]

@@CrocodileTear ok

[@richardreser150]

I stumbled into your channel by pure luck. I have watched several videos and have found your work to be exceptionally fascinating. A theory on the number on the gas mask canister could be the unit supply issued the mask and canister to him and that number was for local control/records. Not sure if German units do so during the period or not. Just a theory. Thank you for sharing.

[@CrocodileTear]

In the meantime I have been told that there was an NCO in the unit responsible for gas masks, and he was the one who decided what this number was. It has nothing to do with either the unit or ID tag number.

[@ConradSzymczak]

Excellent as always!

[@BaikalTii]

the eagle and swastika stamp/marking is called "waffenamt". common to almost all equipment. the numerals designate the specific office of inspection.

[@Whimpy13]

I got curious about the extra strap. It didn't find any other mask can with a similar strap on. It doesn't look like it belongs there. It looks newer and got diagonal patterned canvas insted of the rest of the straps vertical pattern. Good luck in finding out!

[@mrx1072]

I have a German helmet with the name « Trinchero » on it. Very uncommon name in Germany. Maybe you can find him

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

Fascinating!! Keep it up!

[@bluetrue6062]

That German soldier and I have one thing in common...we have both been to Camp Shelby Mississippi.😃

[@danstoye3902]

Ref: gas mask Monzhausen. Their is another mistake on his service record. At the bottom it says he was a POW @ Camp Strelby, Mississippi. This should be Camp Shelby. Still an active training ground for Reserve and National Guardsmen. During WW 2 this was 2nd only to FT Benning, GA in terms of American soldiers trained. Camp Shelby had 5,300 German POWS many from the Afrika corps.

[@CrocodileTear]

The records are written by hand, and my researcher who sisnt familiar with all these names, made some retranscription mistakes.

[@imadequate3376]

I like my Luftschutz bring back helmet I got from a friend because he didn't want Nazi things in his home. Interesting design looks like a Roman gladiator helmet.

[@eisaatana96]

Wtf is this "bring back" I keep seeing? Why can't you Americans just talk normally?

[@hansgruber650]

Monzhausen was sent to Camp SHELBY, it was spelled wrong on the document.

[@gregorystucklonvich9486]

If you contact the US National Archives and request a "Freedom of Information" report of German POWs held at Camp Shelby after he was taken prisoner, you may be able to get more information and a picture. I was assigned to Shelby several times sending US troops overseas to war.

[@CrocodileTear]

I tried getting POW archives from the US, apparently they no longer exist.

[@retiredafce3373]

Looks like he went to Camp Shelby in Mississippi as a POW.

[@Nyllsor]

Very intresting!

[@johndemeen5575]

Looks like he was sent to American, Mississippi, wondering what happened then? Thanks for keeping me entertained. St. Paul Minnesota.

[@CrocodileTear]

I wonder the same thing. If I had gotten a response to my letters, maybe we would know... Perhaps with this video now, a relative will come out of the proverbial woodwork.

[@johndemeen5575]

@@CrocodileTear nice of you too respond.

[@dabootvv]

Imagine he would still be alive somewhere in missisippi and gets a call from a relative in germany saying "hey nicolaus, they found your gasmask and helmet from france"

[@dabootvv]

Oh I just saw this happened with mosleys helmet, wow!

[@CrocodileTear]

@@dabootvv Exactly yes. Moles helmet. You should also see that video.

[@TerribleShmeltingAccident]

the # could be the # of hours left on the cartridge of said mask? or total hours/materials rated for etc

[@CrocodileTear]

No, the number on the mask links it to a particular soldier. In the meantime I have found out that there was somebody in each company responsible for assigning these gas mask numbers.

[@LarcR]

If Nicolaus Monzhausen stayed in the US (unlikely as that choice was seldom made available to POWs) or returned after being repatriated to Germany, he may have changed his name to something more Anglicized.

[@Mag_Aoidh]

Neat, Camp Shelby is about 250 miles south of me and where my G-Uncle Charlie joined the US Army in 1944.

[@Mark-Bretlach]

anymore research on this guy? what happened to him after capture? great video as usual

[@CrocodileTear]

POW in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and no further information after that.

[@mesicek7]

1:54 If he came from Slovenia his surname would be Rodošek. Did they change it to Rodoschek? SCH does sound like Š

[@CrocodileTear]

The Germans enlisted many men from Poland, Slovenia, CZ, Sovakia, etc, and yes, they Germanized their names.

[@hidalgohouse3815]

Camp Shelby. The armpit of Mississippi.

[@CrocodileTear]

I guess that is better than the buttcrack?

[@d3rnoobspi3ss21]

Hello, the number 192 painted on the Gasmask canister means that the soldier Monzhausen received the 192nd Gasmask set issued by the unit he served in. To me, it's not a strap that can be seen attached to the carrying strap of the canister. It could be the only remains of the pouch used to carry the Gasplane (the oilcloth or treated paper sheet to unfold in case of liquid gas attacks). The configuration of the carrying straps indicates the carrying of a Gasplane pouch in the manner adopted by the german army when the pouch was relocated from the chest of the soldier to the Gasmask canister. Those carrying straps tell something about this soldier, he followed regulations. Apparently, the lid of the canister still retains the inner rubber ring adopted to make the canister more sand/water proof (with some other modifications). This ring is often missing... Nice set and nice Stahlhelm 40 with well preserved Wehrmachtadler and interesting foliage retaining system.

[@CrocodileTear]

There is no rubber ring in this mask, and I have looked carefully but never found any Gasplane pouch that had an attachement system resembling the strap visible on this mask. I believe you are correct about the gas mask number.

[@ltcajh]

Bet it was Camp Shelby, not Shrelby for Monzhausen.

[@conceptalfa]

Great, veeeery interesting!!!👍👍👍

[@stefanboets9486]

Maybe the 192 making on the gasmask is the regiment number? It says 194? (with a question mark) in the papers. Maybe it should be 192 instead?

[@CrocodileTear]

No, in the meantime have found out that an NCO in the unit was responsible for all gas mask numbers, and the number has nothing to do with the unit or the ID tag.

[@ryansharpe3564]

Interesting video

[@scottfoster161]

At 8:04 the unknown strap has a herringbone fabric. I know this was commonly used on American equipment (straps, and such). After a brief search, it doesn't appear to be used with any German equipment as far as I can tell.

[@CrocodileTear]

I also dont see what foreign equipment this could correspond to, and none of the many militaria collectors who have seen this have had any suggestions... Perhaps it could be something Soviet?

[@scottfoster161]

@@CrocodileTear I think I found something. I have a photo I found on line.

[@robertklein1316]

I had specs which were inserted to my mask, I don't know what happened to them,, and haven't seen anything like them since.

[@CrocodileTear]

The Germans had a special pair of glasses that could be worn with the gas mask: Maskenbrille.

[@motionsick]

The local antique shop has hella German memorabilia and a bunch of helmets. Gonna have to go look at them again now that I'm an expert. 😅

[@CrocodileTear]

German helmets are a minefield and have been faked for decades. Dont buy one without actually being an expert.

[@UnusSedLeo-w5l]

0:34 "v.d Geest" most likely belonged to a Dutch volunteer ("Van de(r) Geest").

[@gregblake2635]

At the bottom of the information sheet, it had a date of 1945 and camp Stelby in Mississippi, USA. The name of it is actually Camp Shelby. What does that information mean?

[@CrocodileTear]

That is where he was held as a POW in the US.

[@mojacker]

He was in Camp Shelby

[@Spikejwh1]

"v.d. Geest" is most likely a Dutchman or Belgian (Flamish) It most likely stands for "van der Geest" or "van den Geest"

[@CrocodileTear]

There are many Van der Geest and Von der Geest known to have served in the German army in WWII.

[@Spikejwh1]

@@CrocodileTear No doubt, the remark was not meant for you as I am sure you knew this already I just mentioned it for the people who watched because I find it remarkable that you actually have an old helmet from one of them. Contrary to what we were taught in school many Dutchmen and Belgians fought for the Nazi's against B.t.w. this is also just a scribble for viewers ;-)

[@CalebNorthNorman]

Great video

[@ddawe31635]

Was this German soldier taken to a POW Camp in Strelby, Mississippi? If so, must of been eye opening. I do know about the POW Camps in Nebraska, they had alot of oerks. Put on plays, had good food, they got paid if they wanted to help farmers in the area...very interesting stuff

[@CrocodileTear]

Those archive cards are handwritten and often hard to read. So the people transcribing them make mistakes when they are not familiar with the names. Digne becamse Eigne and Camp Shelby became Camp Strelby. I think German POWs were better treated in the US then they were in Germany.

[@ddawe31635]

@@CrocodileTear yes, I figured that out. Still, he was in Shelby, MS at a POW Camp. Thank you for your informative videos. They are enjoyed

[@ddawe31635]

@@CrocodileTear I do know the POW Camps in Nebraska, the POW"s liked it in Nebraska so much, some came back to live. In fact, when the POW's were working on the farms, farmers were told not to invite them in. Lunches on a farm are pretty good, they all ate together. Anyway, thank you

[@CrocodileTear]

@@ddawe31635 Yes, many Germans ended up remaining in, or returning to the USA, Canada, the UK, France, etc. When all the cities were destroyed and half the country under Soviet occupation, you can understand them.

[@king0cans]

I have a war prize from ww2 are gun serial numbers traceable?

[@CrocodileTear]

As far as I know they cannot be traced back to the soldier who it was issued to except in higly exceptional cases.

[@jeffheld3971]

Good stuff!

[@No_Way_NO_WAY]

i assume the number on the cannister for the gas mask is a running number for easy identification. germans love numbers. the name tag inside proabably wasnt mandatory. everyone was supposed to know his number. (at least it was that way when i was in the german military.)

[@alanrose4827]

The extra strap attaches a gas cape bag, I have such a bag but not the cape.

[@CrocodileTear]

That was my idea, but I have never seen a gas cape bag wit the type of strap, neither have collectors I have asked.

[@bajejb]

I have german gas mask, found in Poland. It belong to gefr. Aude Paul.

[@CrocodileTear]

It is a rare name. It would be worth looking him up.

[@bajejb]

Any suggestions where I can find some information?

[@CrocodileTear]

@@bajejb The files are preserved at the Bundesarchiv Abteilung PA in Berlin. You can either send them a request yourself, but then you have to do the paperwork in German yourself, or else you can pay a researcher in Berlin to look up the case for you.