DD214 Definitions

Is anyone familiar with the WWII DD214 (separation papers) terminology? For example in the Battles and Campaign category it lists Go 33 & 40 Wd 45 Rhineland, Central Europe campaign. I've found info on the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns but what does Go 33 & 40 Wd 45 mean?

Regards,

Rodger Gergacs

Probably means go to blocks 33 and 40 for more info. WD usually meant withdrawn but who knows in this case. If it said GO instead of Go it probably meant General Order 33 and 40 from some hqs. Maybe if you wrote the entire block accurately for us the meaning may pop out. Then, this form is a lot earlier than my DD214 and military abbreviations may have changed somewhat. Regards

Buddy B

: 45 Rhineland, Central Europe campaign. I've found info on the Rhineland : and Central Europe campaigns but what does Go 33 & 40 Wd 45 mean?

A common question among history seekers. Generally, it is a bit of bureaucratic shorthand for authorization for awards, normally things like 'unit citations' whihc were awareded to units for specific battles or campaign. For example, IIRC, the 'GO 33' (or '45' or whatever) refers to a 'General Order 33' that athorizes the military to recognize units. The 'WD 45' would be short for 'War Department 45', another series of regulations concerning awards. It's been a long time, but if I recall correctly, for example a DD214 would say 'GO 33' after a campaign, usually signifying that the person was a member of a unit that won some sort of unit citation given under the authority of General Order 33. Somewhere (I'm not certain if it can be found on line) is a long list of orders like 'general order 33-xxxx where the xxxx stands for the one up number of the award. I.E. 33-69 might 'authorize the 4th Infantry battalion, for distinguished service during the Battle of the Bulge dates x....y, such and such a unit citation'. So the DD-214 might read 'Battle of Bulge GO 33', meaning that the unit you were a part of gained special merit. If you find out what unit the service member was a part of during that campaign/battle you can then find out what award the unit got.

Or something like that

'Go' would stand for 'general orders'. I would assume that Go 33 and 40 would be the orders authorizing the issuance or award of the European - African - Middle East campaign medal.

'Wd' would be 'with device' - a little star or other device was authorized to be attached to the campaign ribbon for participation in particular battles or operations. This individual was authorized two campaign medal devices for service during the Rhineland offensive (15 September '44 - 15 March '45) and the Central Europe campaign (22 March through 15 May, '45).

Cheers and all,

I believe GO stands for General Order. It may be that the 214 is saying that the Rhineland and Central European campaigns were set up and delineated on General Orders 33 and 40, respectively. As for 45 Rhineland, there may well have been a 44 Rhineland campaign set up on an earlier General Order that applied to people serving in specific areas the previous year. That's just a guess. What completely throws me is 'Wd'....I don't have a clue as to what that might mean or refer to.

I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do.

George Z.

(already e-mailed to Rodger Gergacs)

GO is General Order. Wd is War Department. 45 means 1945. thus

General orders 33 and 40 issued by the War Department in 1945.