WW2; when the soldiers died?

Question

Now I don't want to sound insesitive here, but I'm attempting a WW2 story, & one of my character's is sent to war (he's eighteen, so I assume he's old enough, maybe older than the 'going' age?) & to put it bluntly, I'm going to kill him off, but the story focuses on my main character in the country-side rather than the trenches which is why the way I want them to find out he's dead is the usual way one would go about in WW2 to let family know a relative had died. What happened? Did they send a letter, & if so, what did it basically say? Or when they had 'breaks' did someone go round & tell them? Any other useful info on the war would be very appreciated, too.

By 'breaks' - notice the quotes - I meant when they were on leave, something my English teacher mentioned. If she's incorrect, forgive my false repeat.

Also my mistake on the trenches, but as my story does focus more on the country-side part of the war, I concentrate on that rather than the actual warzone.

Answer 1

The war department regrets to inform you of the death of (service number, First name, Surname). He was killed in action in (place and date), while (brief details of conflict here i.e he was defending the batallion from an assault by German forces or from wounds received).

This was usually a telegram.


Often the soldiers' regiment commander or sergeant or friend would write a letter of sympathy saying he would be missed, was a good soldier (even if he wasn't) and would offer to return personal effects

Answer 2

Which county are talking about? Sometimes they sent a telegram, often a message was sent to a local police or other civil station and they would send someone round with a message. Other times, there would be lists posted in public places. The notice was brief, along the lines of 'We are sorry to inform you...your country is proud of his sacrifice.' I knew people who only knew a family member was alive (MIA until then), when they walked through the door months after the war was over. Average age of a soldier in WW 2 was 25, the age has dropped in recent wars.

Trenches in WW 2 were unusual, this is WW 1.

What do you mean by breaks? With a war that is killing millions of people, if you work out how mathematically, with 40 million soldier killed in six years, that's 761 an hour, so there was not much of a break.

Have a search for , then a country name, you should find some info. Also civilian diaries for the period will give you a better indication.

Answer 3

For both personal info and official communication material and trip to the Imperial war museum is compulsory.
Trench warfare was mainly associated with WWI.
In WWII the armoury and tanks made it easier to move ground.
Relatives were notified by telegram. For the average person this was still a rare form of communication, so the knock at the door was dreaded.
It was usually "shot in action" or "missing, presumed dead"
They would have been no one spare to drop round and break the news it was cold and clinical.

Answer 4

For the most part in the UK it was by telegram. Very matter of fact, regret to inform you, killed in action, or perhaps missing in action. Trenches were a feature in WW1, mostly.As i don't know if you are American or a Brit, but if a Brit write to or access site of The Imperial War Museum in London. I'm sure you could get all the information you need from them.

Answer 5

Most often it was by letter or telegram sent by the War Department to his parents or other next of kin. "We regret to inform you that..." Also, it was common for the soldier's platoon or company officer would send a letter of sympathy, describing him as a hero, etc., There are countless books about the war available, including ones about the homefront. Check your library. Also, Ken Burns, who put together the tremendous "Civil War" documentary around 1990 or so, has one about WW II coming out this month on PBS. I have an idea it would have some info on the subject.

Answer 6

Most regimental commanders considered it part of their duty to write to relatives of unit casualties and in fact were very good at it. Do not forget that most officers and men were conflict only soldiers and the bond between them was better in most case then regular soldiers would care to admit (I was a regular soldier but not in WW2) Officially the relatives were informed by telegram it was perhaps brutal but given the numbers how else could they have done it. War itself is a brutal business has we all Know.

Answer 7

The next of kin were informed by Telegram, Just to add a point or two
1) the trenches were WW1 not WW2

2) a Soldier's last will and testament would be in the back of his pay book.

Answer 8

WW2 - NO trenches that's WW1

And the family got a telegram to inform them if the son/husband/brother etc was dead or presumed missing. the telegrams were very brief and were often delivered by boys on bikes. Also family members knew that their son/husband/brother ect were dead/missing when they received one - 'the dreaded telegram'

Answer 9

A telegram would be sent. The link below should help with your research. Also remember that trench warfare was less common in WW2 than in WWI, but it did still happen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/92/a3607292.shtml

Answer 10

In USSR they sent an official letter or a telegram to the next-of-kin relative announcing the death in a standard form:

Your [husband/son/father] fell in the death of the braves on [day, month, year] fighting for the [city/country].

Sincerely,
[battalion/regiment commander]