IDENTITY DOCUMENTS IN HOLLAND, BELGIUM,AND LUXEMBOURG – 1944

Identity Documents were found everywhere in German-occupied Europe
FROM THE FOREWORD
PURPOSE.
The Purpose of this report is to make the reader familiar with the different categories of identity documents now carried by civilians in Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. It is by no means exhaustive, however, and can not be used for the detection of forgeries.
It should be stressed that persons whose identity documents are not absolutely in order should not be regarded with suspicion; on the contrary, they are probably people who have been aiding the Allied Cause and evading enemy police control, whereas those who have nothing to fear from the German authorities will most certainly have their papers in perfect order.

DEFINITION OF AN IDENTITY DOCUMENT.
The official definition of an identity document is as follows:
“Any paper conforming to the following description: a paper bearing a photograph and finger-print, stamped by an official authority, signed by that authority and indicating the civil status, nationality, domicile and profession of the owner”.
Numerous documents shown or described in this book are not strictly identity documents, but have been included because they are necessary for specified civilian activities (curfew passes, labor certificates, ration cards etc) This type of document is usually valid only when accompanied by an identity card.

NOTE TO “AUSWEISE”.
An Ausweis is any document making a declaration and it therefore may appear in many forms: e.g. it may certify the bearer to be fit and proper person to enter a prohibited area, to use a railway train, to exercise any profession, to be on leave, to be exempt from certain duties etc. But in nearly every case it is only valid in conjunction with the holder’s identity card whereof the number is then mentioned.

CATEGORIES.
Identity documents have been classified in this report in six categories as follows:
Category A – Documents Establishing Identity of Nationals.
Category B – Documents Establishing Identity of Aliens.
Category C – Documents Establishing Labour Status.
Category D – Documents Establishing Military Status.
Category E – Travel Documents, including Documents allowing entrance into or residence in Prohibited Coastal Areas.
Category F – Ration Cards.
Category G – Miscellaneous (Curfew Passes, Vehicle Permits, etc)
Documents establishing Dutch Military Status are not shown, as the entire Army is interned.
Unlike France and Belgium, the Dutch Identity Card is standard throughout the country.

The original purpose of this official 1944 SHAEF book was to make Counter Intelligence Officers familiar with the different categories of identity and other documents carried by the citizens of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. They include – Military Status – Travel Documents, including Documents allowing entrance into or residence in Prohibited Coastal Areas – Ration Cards – Curfew Passes – Vehicle Permits, etc. Some documents a shown are not strictly identity documents, but were been included because they were necessary for specified civilian activities.

It gives a thorough look at the minutia of the bureaucratic administration of German-occupied Europe through the documents of the military administration’s civilian occupation regime .
These historical documents are now extremely collectable. This original core reference gives reliable information to the purpose of issue, with actual-size colour illustrations of the artefact (both front, back and internal), along with a physical description and issuance regulations