Afternoon all,

I thought i'd share a recent photo project that the group has undertaken on the subject of the 'proxy wedding'.

During the Second World War special rules were signed off by Hitler regarding the marriage law in the German Reich. The possibility of a marriage by proxy was based on the Civil Status Act which came into being in late 1939 enabling the long-distance marriage of service personnel to their wives to be at home. In 1941 this was extended to the marriage to the dead or missing if the couple were already engaged. In 1943 it also became possible to obtain a divorce in the event of the soldiers death.

Provided the bride and groom could both prove Aryan decent, a marriage certificate could be obtained from Wehrmacht high command (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), which would then be sanctioned by the battalion commander of the soldier wishing to be married. The soldier would then take part in a ceremony performed by his Officer in the field in front of the rest of the members of his unit, usually with a photograph of his wife to be sat on the table. Once the ceremony was complete, the paperwork was then sent back to the bride for her part of the ceremony which would take place at their home town registry office.

The ceremony often known as a steel helmet wedding was confirmed by 2 witnesses at the registry office with the vacant place of the groom being marked by either a full sized or miniature steel helmet finished in the colour and insignia relevant to the grooms branch of service. The bride would then be presented with the helmet in lieu of her absent spouse.

Should the worst happen, the wives would then be entitled to a widows pension and their children would not be considered illegitimate which carried a great stigma at the time. The ceremony also mean't that the spouse would become a part of the soldiers last Will and she would have a rightful claim on any form of inheritance.

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Rittm.u.Kompanie-Chef
Großdeutschland Aufklärungs
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"When Barbarossa commences, the world will hold its breath"

Excellent pictures and background! Now you have to do the other side

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Arthur

Leutnant Ulrich Stab./II/JG-52
Leutnant Ulrich Stab./I./756. Gren. Reg.
Leutnant Ulrich Heereshochgebirgsschule
Leutnant Ulrich Stab./I./Geb.Aufkl.Abt.54

Bravo! Excellent pictures... I just hope no Kameraden helped to consummate the wedding..

What goes on in Russland, stays in Russland...

Here is a registry office picture - you can see the Stahlhelm on the table:



and some keepsake helmets:

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Rittm.u.Kompanie-Chef
Großdeutschland Aufklärungs
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"When Barbarossa commences, the world will hold its breath"

Walther , fabulous pictures, interesting commentary/information ..... you've got a really first class group there

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Jäger Stefan Halle 3./I./Geb.Jag.Reg.100

Excellent project. Best reinactment pics ive seen. Picture colour and tone, troops demeanour, set surround, uniforms, details-first class imo. Well done all :^)