1939 German Wehrmacht POW Release Certificate-Kutno, Poland-Early WWII

Original German military prisoner-of-war release document dated October 6, 1939, issued at Kriegsgefangenenlager Kutno in occupied Poland only weeks after the German invasion of Poland and the beginning of World War II.

The document is headed “Ausweis” and identifies the holder as a Kriegsgefangene (prisoner of war). The typed text states that, according to the determination made at the time, the prisoner was considered to be “deutscher Abstammung” – of German descent, and was therefore being released to return to his place of residence. He was instructed to immediately report to the appropriate city or district commissioner upon arrival and present this certificate.

The document is dated “Kutno, den 6.10.39” and bears an original German military ink stamp and the signature of an officer identified as an Oberleutnant / battalion adjutant.

This is an especially interesting document because of its extremely early date. Kutno was the scene of major fighting during the September 1939 Polish Campaign, particularly the Battle of the Bzura, after which large numbers of Polish servicemen were taken into German captivity. German POW collection and transit camps were used immediately behind the front to process captured soldiers before transfer or release.

Of particular historical interest is the wording concerning the prisoner’s German ancestry. The certificate appears to document the release of a Polish serviceman or resident who had been classified by German authorities as ethnically German shortly after the conquest of Poland, predating the formal Deutsche Volksliste system introduced later during the occupation.

The reverse has later handwritten notations as well as a purple Polish translator’s stamp from mgr inż. Halina …, Częstochowa, suggesting the document was subsequently used or examined in postwar Poland.

Condition is as shown. The document has been heavily folded and exhibits substantial separation along several fold lines, edge losses, staining, toning, creases and general handling wear. Several sections are nearly or completely detached, but the principal typed wording, Kutno date, military stamp and signatures remain substantially legible. It should be stored flat in an archival sleeve and handled carefully.

A scarce and historically significant September Campaign / German POW administration document from the opening weeks of WWII, considerably more interesting than a typical later-war POW form because of its October 1939 Kutno origin and ethnic-German release language.