German issued foreigner-passports

Fremdenpass samples from Nazi Germany.

 

Non-Germans living in Germany who were not citizens, and wanted to go aboard, be it for travel or emigration, where issued these travel documents (special passports for foreigners).

 

Pre-1933 Germany housed thousands of non-Germans that found refugee and a safe haven in the country.

A large portion of those where of Russian decent, those fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the civil war that followed shortly afterwards, the fighting between the “Reds and the Whites”. Many of those fleeing where Jews, that once again, were caught in the middle and seen as the “cause” of the current unrest. Sadly, history tends to repeat itself and in every major conflict or struggle in Europe’s past, it was the Jewish minority that also took the brunt of the blame and persecution.

 

Following the end of WWI and the international refugee conferences that followed, the borders of western European countries were open to those who sought refuge and  a home. One of the countries that accepted refugees was Germany. Their origin was a mix: Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian and more. They lived a relatively quiet and safe life up to 1933, up to the rise of the NSDAP party to power in Berlin.

 

As in the 1920’s, the authorities continued to issue documentation for those living inside the country’s borders. The issued travel document was not the official Reisepass (passport), which was issued to the citizens themselves, but a Fremdenpass (Foreigners passport). These documents came out in several “editions” and form during pre-war Germany and also during the war itself, following the influx of foreign workers that were “imported” into the country to assist in the war-effort. These foreigner passports were also seen as a means of identification that had to be carried by the individual. Inside was affixed the residence-permit as well (majority did not have any exit or entry visas inside). In most samples found, the nationality clause inside the passport is indicated as “STATELESS”, though one can find samples indicating that the holder was of French, Italian, Soviet, Polish or Danish origin for example.

 

During the war the authorities issued foreigner passports to nationals of the following countries:

 

• Poland;
• Western Europe: Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France;
• Yugoslavia;
• Soviet Union;
• Italy;

 

Forced labor under German rule during World War II

 

Ostarbeiter

 

The article here will show some examples that were issued in the 1930’s and during the war.  Two main types existed: Fixed foreigner passports and temporary issues (Vorlaufiger Fremdenpass). The former were of good quality clothed covers; were as the latter were printed on pink colored stronger paper covers (unclothed). Also added are images of a different version to the Vorlaufiger Fremdenpass: a hard RED covered passport which has the SN perforated at the bottom, as the regular late war time issued German passports. Though the size is the same as in the regular pink version, the difference is in the covers and SN format only.

 

I have also added images of a transport ausweis that enabled the foreign worker to be sent to Germany. It was at a later stage that he/she was given the foreigners passport.

 

I welcome others to shed more light on these documents.

Please send me your comments or thoughts.

 

 

Thank you for reading “Our Passports”.