Researching Franz Bittof (b. 1860-80) and Karl Bittof (d. 1939) – Volhynian Germans - EWZ Folder R 9361-IV/444978

Hi everyone,

I’m researching my ancestors Franz Bittof and his son Karl Bittof. They were ethnic Germans living in Ukraine, specifically in the Zhytomyr and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

I have the exact archival signatures from the Bundesarchiv, and I’m looking for help from anyone who might have access to digitized EWZ microfilms or specialized Soviet-era databases.

Main Research Interests:

1. Karl Bittof (Great-grandfather)

• Birth: August 16, 1901.

• Wife: Anna Webert (b. 1902).

• The Case: Family history states he was killed by the Soviets in 1939. I’m looking for any mention of him in NKVD lists or Soviet "Martyrology" databases.

• Primary Archival Reference: I am specifically looking for information within Bundesarchiv Folder R 9361-IV/444978 (EWZ 917744). If anyone has access to this folder or its contents, it would be a great help.

2. Franz Bittof (Great-great-grandfather)

• Details: Father of Karl. Likely born between 1860 and 1880 in a German colony near Zhytomyr (Shitomir).

• Goal: To identify his birth or marriage record and his parents' names.

Technical Data for Researchers:

• Family EWZ Number: 917742.

• Related Signatures: * R 9361-IV/10834 (Anna Webert)

• R 9361-IV/10835 (Children: Bernhard b. 1921 in Shitomir; Marie b. 1924 in Dnepropetrovsk).

• Surname Variations: Bittof, Bitow, Bittow, Bittof.

How you can help:

• If you have access to Ancestry (German collections), MyHeritage, or SGGEE databases, could you check for any "Bittof" in Volhynia between 1860 and 1901?

• Does anyone have a digital copy or access to the microfilm for R 9361-IV/444978? I need to check for any notes regarding Karl’s death or Franz’s origin in these documents.

• Are there any open-source lists for ethnic Germans executed in 1939 in the Ukrainian SSR?

I’ve already contacted the State Archives in Ukraine and I’m looking to supplement that research through the community here.

Thanks!