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langley:
Please can anyone help me? I have only just found this site and am a novice  in this area. My father who is a WW2 veteran is researching his father's  part in WW2 & I am attempting to help him.
My grandfather served with PWB in Algiers, Rome & Florence around 1943-45. We know he headed a unit with several other foreign speakers, his addresses were 1 BNAF & CMF. Who was he employed by & where would any of his records be located? I would be grateful for any information. Thank you.

der Chef:
Welcome Langley.
What was your father's nationality, British, U.S. or Commonwealth?

PWB was the Psychological Warfare Branch of Allied Forces HQ. It was set up for Operation Torch in North Africa and continued working in the Middle East and Italy until the end of the war.

The original archives of PWB/AFHQ are held in the British National Archives (TNA) at Kew, Surrey. There are probably dulpilicates in the U.S. National Archives (NARA) at College Park, Maryland.

You should be able to obtain a copy of your father's service record from the relevant authorities depending on his nationality. WWII U.S. veterans can obtain copies of the service records from NARA. British veterans can apply to the Ministry of Defence but it's a long wait in the latter case.

Lee

langley:
Thanks for that info Lee.
It is actually my grandfather that was in PWB. He was British but of German extraction & spoke fluent German. I will pass this onto my Dad. My Dad was also in the Intelligence Corps in Italy & later in Austria.
I believe my Dad has tried to get his father's records but was told he was a civilian not Army. I have a picture of him in 'khaki' but not really a uniform, although Dad says he was classed as an officer. Who knows? we will go on trying.
Thanks again.
Caroline

der Chef:
Caroline, he could well have been a civilian. PWB was mostly formed out of civilian personnel. The British came from the Political Warfare Executive or the Ministry of Information. The Americans from the Office of War Information and Office of Strategic Services.

If you send me your grandfather's name either by email or PM, I'll let you know if I have any information on him. I've been slowly cataloging WWII psywarriors with a view to having a database on PsyWar.Org.

Best wishes,

Lee

langley:
Hi Lee, My grandfather was Alman Robert John Oswald - usually known as A R John Oswald. We think he headed  his unit with other  nationality speakers. I am most grateful for your help.

Caroline

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