Was Voss a nonperson in WWII Germany?

6 November 2000, 08:01 AM

It is well known how the National Socialist government of the 1930-40's dealt with Germany's Jewish heroes of first war, utilizing the Orwellian method to destroy all record of such peoples existence.

Wilhelm Frankl immediately springs to mind.

Was

Werner Voss handled in a similar manner? Apparently Voss' father was Jewish, although Voss considered himself a Christian. I've never seen Voss' name associated with any of the German wings of WWII, and was wondering how Goebels and company handled Voss' notoriety.

mike_baram · 6 November 2000, 08:23 AM

To give you a hint as to how the Nazis handled such embarrasing references:
When they played Mendelsohn's music on the radio, it was attributed to an "anonymous" composer.

rammjaeger · 6 November 2000, 08:53 AM

No,
he was not a nonperson but he was also not (mis)used for squadron names - maybe because of his descent.

My 1941-edition of Bodenschatz "Jagd in Flanderns Himmel" is still showing Voss´photograph. I think it was simply not so easy to make him vanish because of his fame and close links to MvR. Additional there were not so many people knowing about this part of his descent. It was easier for the Nazis to eliminate Frankl´s name.

Immo_Frese · 6 November 2000, 01:31 PM

Likewise Voss is mentioned in Zuerl,"Pour le Merite Flieger" from 1938. He is shown on 4 photos in this book. The introduction was written by

Friedrich Christiansen, at this time Korpsführer of the NS-Fliegerkorps.
On the other hand it is interesting that Frankl is mentioned in the appendix, where all the Knights of the Pour le Merite are listed, but there isn't a poor word of him in the entire book.

Perhaps the NS-censorship had overseen this?

VBR, Immo

alex_revell · 7 November 2000, 07:20 AM

Mark,
Where did you get your information that Voss was Jewish?
Regards
Alex

rammjaeger · 7 November 2000, 07:57 AM

BTW: Mark, I thought his mother was Jewish.

Terry_Crisp · 8 November 2000, 04:10 AM

If anyone could cite a source verifying Voss's Jewish heritage I would be most grateful. I have a small part in an attempt to propose and write a film featuring Werner and Whether he was a good boy of Jewish decent or just another of those pre -Nazis has become an issue.

8 November 2000, 05:56 AM

I had intended to go through my books yesterday evening, but instead watched the election returns all through the night.

To the best of my memory, which I hope to confirm this evening, Musciano's 'Eagles of the Black Cross' indicates that one of Voss' parents was Jewish. I believe that Musciano's 'Teenage Ace' book indicates that Werner's military records list him as being a Christian (Lutheran?).

Assuming for the moment that the book does not indicate which parent was Jewish, it is my GUESS that it would be his father. The Nazi racial policy seemed to absolutely define anyone whose mother was Jewish to be a Jew. There is evidence to suggest that Germans with Jewish blood on the fathers side could conceivably hide this heritage and be classified as Aryan. Im not sure that I understand this policy (nor do I want to), but it appears to apply to the leader of the SD, Reynard Heydrich, one of the worst of the many Nazi criminals.

mike_baram · 8 November 2000, 07:32 AM

According to the Jewish religion, the faith comes through the mother, so unless Voss's mother was Jewish he wouldn't be recognized according to "Halacha" (Religious law).

rammjaeger · 8 November 2000, 08:27 AM

We had the Voss-discussion at least once 1 or 2 years ago and a well-known forumite (name escaped me - maybe he can report again) refered to an article of a Jewish (?) author and underlined Voss´ mother was Jewish and that would especially important for the position of Voss (like Baram was decribing).

I think my memory was not cheating me here but we will see.