More Information about "Kennkarte"?

by [deleted]

[deleted]

Astrogator

What kind of information are you looking for? The Kennkarten were the official and general identity document for domestic use('allgemeiner polizeilicher Inlandsausweis')usually issued by the local passport issuing authority. Typically this would either be the Polizeipräsident, the local chief of police, or the Landratsamt, the administrative district office, in this case the chief of police of Berlin, represented by the 174. Police precinct in Berlin. You can see this to the lower right, the stamp over (Ausstellende Behörde) - 'issuing authority', which is 'The President of Police (chief of police), 174. police precinct'. You had to apply for the Kennkarte with your local police authority, and pay 3.00 Reichsmark. They proof of payment is in the stamp on the lower left (3 RM 3). Jews didn't have the opportunity to apply for the reduced cost, which was one Reichsmark. Relevant here is § 2 of the Verordnung über Kennkarten, 'decree about Kennkarten':

  • § 2, (1): The local police authority or those registry offices authorized by the police are responsible for the receipt of applications for the issuing of a Kennkarte. (2) The passport authorities are responsible for the issuing of the Kennkarten. (3) Locally responsible is that authority, in whose precinct the Kennkarten-holder has his permanent residence or inhabitancy, or, for lack of a permanent place of residence or inhabitancy, does de facto reside.

The Kennkarten were valid for 5 years, and a copy stayed with the issuing authority. Originally only required for the domestic male population over 18, those who lived near the border, and Jews, Kennkartenzwang was later extended to population of the occupied territories - such as Poland.

The fields of the Kennkarte, if that helps, from top left to lower right are:

  • Place of Issue
  • Number
  • Valid until:
  • Name
  • Given Name
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Occupation
  • Unchangeable characteristics
  • Changeable characteristics
  • Remarks
  • (photo)
  • Right index finger
  • Left index finger
  • Signature of the Kennkarte-holder
  • (date)
  • Issuing authority
  • Signature of the issuing official
  • (stamp as proof of payment)
  • (seals of the issuing authority and mark of the issuing official).

Hope that helped, but if you have specific questions, feel free to ask!