Hello. I recently received some documents from the Hannover archive whilst doing genealogy research on an ancestor. The archive included a divorce decree and on the document an address was listed for one of the individuals and it was the first time I had seen the address for that person. I realized at once that it was a military camp post office. I was hoping for assistance in decoding the abbreviations in the address; perhaps, I will learn which unit or branch of the military the individual was in. The document was dated 17 Feb 1943. The address was: z.Zt.M.A.Maat, Feldpost Nr.-Sch. 22 405 H. uber Cuxhaven I believe the z.Zt means "at this time"....that the person's address was only applicable at that time. The rest though, would only be guessing for me. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
zurzeit = now M.A. = ? - most probably something Navy Maat = Navy rank equivalent to corporal, lowest N.C.O rank. Feldpost-Nr. was a German system to reach every soldier by a unique number while keeping secrecy (not to give away the soldiers unit to the enemy). über = via Cuxhaven is a city at the mouth of river Elbe, giving a rough region for the mail distribution.
M.A. = Marine-Artillerie = Naval artillery, on ships and on soil as coast artillery as well as Naval anti-aircraft artillery
If 22405 is the Feldpost number it relates to "Stab u. 1.-8. Batterie (wie vorher u. 8.=Z) Marine-Flak-Abteilung 214" which makes sense with Aixman's post from Marine-Flak-Abteilungen - Feldgrau "Marine-Flak-Abteilung 214 Formed 8.26.39 in Cuxhaven with 4 companies, 1939 7 companies and in 1944 8 batteries (incl. Bttr. Hipper). Subordinated to Küstenbefehlshaber Nordfriesland, later DeutscheBucht, and from 11.44 Seekdt. Elbe-Weser." So confirms Cuxhaven
Aixman: Thank you for replying to my General inquiry about the German address and the meaning of the abbreviations. This is interesting news. I had no idea the individual with that address was in the German Navy. I really appreciate your help.
AB64: Thank you very much for replying to my inquiry about German abbreviations. Although I am sure I should be picking up on this quicker, I must confess I don't exactly know what "Stab u. 1.-8. Batterie (wie vorher u. 8.=Z)" means. However, what I have gleaned is that the feld post number places the individual in one of 7 possible companies (Feb 1943) within the Marine Flak Abteilung as a Maat or lowest NCO rank. And that the Cuxhaven location would have been temporary to maintain secrecy. Is there a way of learning what the movements were of the Marine Flak Abteilung 214 companies? What their impact was on the war? Many thanks again for your help.
The detachment was stationed in Cuxhaven throughout the war. An acquaintance from the old days, Manfred Tegge, has documented the remains of the positions on his website: Flak-Schutz im Großraum Cuxhaven regards Olli
The Feldpost Number has a H at the end which indicates that he was in the 7th Battery (7.Batterie) with the HQ (Stab) being A and 8.Batterie being I. Im Jahr 1942 sah die Verteilung der Abteilung wie folgt aus: Stabsbatterie in Cuxhaven 1. Flak- und Sperrbatterie Kugelbake (4 x 10,5-cm) 2. Flak- und Sperrbatterie Neufeld (4 x 8,8-cm) 3. Flakbatterie Drangst (4 x 10,5-cm) 7. Flakbatterie Altenbruch (4 x 10,5-cm) 5. Flak- und Sperrbatterie Stand Heide (3 x 8,8-cm) 6. gemischte Flakbatterie 4. schwere Scheinwerfer-Batterie (Source: Lexikon der Wehrmacht - Marine-Flak-Abteilungen)
