HUGE 74 pc Document lot WWII German Torpedo Test Engineer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine

1911–1964 German Archive Lot Gotenhafen Torpedo & Luftwaffe Travemünde Documents.A superb 74-piece archive chronicling over 50 years of a German technician’s life — Klaus Hensen, born 18 April 1911 in Stexwig (Schleswig-Holstein). His papers follow him from school certificates through Weimar-era apprenticeships, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe torpedo testing work, and into post-WWII refugee and civil employment in Kiel. This is a complete career file spanning the German Empire, Weimar Republic, Third Reich, and Bundesrepublik Germany — a rare continuum of one civilian’s life through four regimes. Highlights • Birth & Baptism (1911–1937) – Extracts from the Evangelical Church registers of Haddeby and Schleswig. – Confirmed baptism and parentage; official purple ink stamps and signatures. • Trade & Education (1924–1930) – Typed Abgangszeugnis from the Städtische Berufsschule Eckernförde (March 1929). Grades: Conduct very good, Attention good, Workmanship good, Bookkeeping satisfactory. – Signed by Schnitzker and sealed F.D.R.d.A. with Reich eagle emboss. • Employment 1930–1943 — Kriegsmarine & Torpedo Research – Certificates from Georg Henningsen and Karl Harder confirm his work as Schlosser (metal worker) in Eckernförde and Barkelsby. – Two key typed and signed documents from Torpedoversuchsanstalt Werk Gotenhafen (17 Apr 1943 & 8 Nov 1943): > “Der techn. Angestellte Klaus Hensen war vom 7.4.36 bis 30.6.42 bei der Torpedoversuchsanstalt beschäftigt … Er zeigte besondere Leistungen beim Aufbau einer Torpedowerkstatt und wurde nach bestandener Prüfung zum Technischen Angestellten ernannt.” (The technical employee Klaus Hensen worked at the Torpedo Research Station from 1936 to 1942, distinguishing himself in the setup of a torpedo workshop and was promoted after successful examination.) – Stamped with Kriegsmarine eagle and signed by Fregattenkapitän u. Werkleiter Bahl. • Luftwaffe Employment — Travemünde Torpedo Test Base (1942–1945) – Technisches Amt Erprobungsstelle Travemünde certificate dated 3 May 1945, signed by Flieger-Oberstabsingenieur Dillmann, head of department. – Translation excerpt: > “Herr Hensen war ab 30.6.42 beim Torpedowaffenplatz der Luftwaffe Gotenhafen-Hexengrund und nach Verlegung des Kriegsendes bei der E-Stelle Travemünde als technischer Angestellter tätig … Er bewies große Kenntnisse und Führungsfähigkeit; er war bei der Gefolgschaft sehr beliebt und wurde mehrfach durch Geldprämien ausgezeichnet.” (Worked as technical employee of the Luftwaffe Torpedo Test Center Travemünde; demonstrated great technical skill and leadership; awarded multiple cash bonuses.) – Stamped “Erprobungsstelle der Luftwaffe Travemünde” with eagle-in-circle seal. • Post-War and Bundesrepublik (1948–1964) – Arbeits-Pass (28 Feb 1948) listing occupation as Schlosser / Landwirtschaftlicher Arbeiter. – Ausweis für Vertriebene und Flüchtlinge – Bundesrepublik Deutschland no. 1131/1280. – 1950s–60s letters and Lohnabrechnungen from Steffen Sohst, Kiel, verifying employment in road and civil construction. – Typed 1966 pension correspondence and large blue-bordered certificate: “Urkunde – In Anerkennung der für meinen Betrieb geleisteten Dienste – Alters- und Hinterbliebenen-Versorgung Herrn Klaus Hensen.” Historical Context This archive connects the Torpedoversuchsanstalt Gotenhafen and the Luftwaffe Erprobungsstelle Travemünde, two major German naval-aeronautical weapons testing centers. Hensen advanced from locksmith to technical engineer through wartime industrial programs and later re-entered civil life under the Federal Republic. this collection centers on Klaus Hensen (b. 18 April 1911, Stexwig, Schleswig) and spans his entire working life from 1926 through postwar 1948, including: Prewar trade school and apprenticeship certificates Reich-era employment and promotion records WWII military-industrial documentation (notably Torpedoversuchsanstalt Gotenhafen, a major naval weapons testing facility) Denazification and refugee registration papers after 1945 Early Bundesrepublik (West German) refugee ID and work permits 🇩🇪 Translation Summary (key documents shown) 1. “Zeugnis” – Gotenhafen, 8 Nov 1943 (Torpedo Testing Station) The technical employee Klaus Hensen, born 18 April 1911, served from 7 April 1936 to 30 June 1942 at the Torpedo Testing Facility in Eckernförde and later at the Gotenhafen branch. Promoted to Torpedo Locksmith Foreman on 1 January 1938 and, after an examination, to Technical Employee on 1 April 1941 due to excellent performance in setting up torpedo workshops. Left service 30 June 1942 to join the Torpedo Weapons Testing Ground of the Luftwaffe at Hexengrund. (Signed by a Korvettenkapitän, stamped with the eagle-and-swastika seal of the Torpedoversuchsanstalt Werk Gotenhafen.) 2. 1943 “Tätigkeitsbescheinigung” – Erprobungsstelle Travemünde (Technical Office of the Luftwaffe) Confirms that Hensen worked as technical master at the Luftwaffe’s torpedo facilities, later as chief foreman in charge of over 800 workers, noted for reliability, skill, and leadership. He received monetary bonuses for his performance. 3. 1929–1930 Certificates – Georg Henningsen, Master Locksmith, Eckernförde “Apprenticeship and Journeyman certificates” noting excellent craftsmanship and good conduct. 4. 1936 Karl Harder Employment Certificate – Barkelsby near Eckernförde Confirms employment as a mechanic and vehicle driver 1934–1936; praises diligence and reliability. 5. 1948 Denazification Certificate Issued by the “Entnazifizierungsausschuss Eckernförde,” placing Hensen in Category V (entlastet / exonerated) — meaning no Nazi affiliation. 6. Refugee ID and Arbeits-Pass (1948–1950) West German-issued identification for displaced persons and a work card showing postwar employment as a farm and industrial worker. 7. Church Birth and Baptism Extracts (Evangelical-Lutheran, Schleswig) Confirm Hensen’s and his family’s births from 1860s–1910s, tying lineage to Schleswig-Holstein. 📜 Historical Context The Torpedoversuchsanstalt Gotenhafen was a top-secret Kriegsmarine testing site in occupied Poland (modern Gdynia), key in developing and evaluating naval torpedoes. Hensen’s progression from apprentice locksmith to technical engineer shows a career trajectory within Nazi Germany’s military-industrial complex, later cleared and reintegrated into postwar civil life. The Luftwaffe Erprobungsstelle Travemünde letter dated May 3, 1945 — just days before Germany’s surrender — is an exceptionally late document, extremely rare for collectors.This is an unusually complete lifetime dossier—spanning: Weimar apprenticeship (1920s) Third Reich technical service (1930s–1945) Postwar denazification & Federal ID papers (1945–1950) It is a rare civilian career trail from Imperial birth record to Cold War work papers — ideal for WWII industrial research or museum display. Condition All documents are original (typed, signed, and stamped). Typical folds and toning, minor edge wear, no reproductions. Seals and signatures crisp throughout. Stored flat in archival sleeves. Estimated Collector Value Comparable career-length German archives fetch $300–450 USD; this example, with both Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe Torpedo Testing content and post-war certifications, is valued at $750 – $900 USD retail. Keywords: Torpedoversuchsanstalt Gotenhafen, Erprobungsstelle Travemünde, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, WWII Torpedo Research, Kriegstechniker, Arbeits-Pass, Flüchtlingsausweis, Weimar School Certificate, Bundesrepublik Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, German document lot, historical ephemeraStore: Reichpostalhistory – trusted seller of authentic German historical documents, shipped carefully from sunny Florida. Subscribe and check back often -- new Third Reich postal items are being added weekly!Be sure and check out our other auctions and combine shipping!(TF series)