Original WWII German Army Soldbuch – Obergefreiter Karl Haas – 353 Infanterie Division – Siegfried Line – POW – EK2 – West Front
Description
Soldbuch issued to Karl Haas in October of 1942.
Non-Regulation Photo with Side Cap!
Served in the following frontline units:
Reserve-Grenadier-Bataillon 208
On October 20, 1942, the battalion was divided in Nancy into an Infantry Replacement Battalion 208 and a Reserve Infantry Battalion 208. From that day on, the replacement battalion was subordinate to Division 462. The reserve battalion was subordinate to the 182nd Reserve Division after its formation. The two battalions were renamed Grenadier Replacement Battalion 208 and Reserve Grenadier Battalion 208 on November 7, 1942, respectively. The replacement battalion was relocated to Metz on December 3, 1942. The Reserve Grenadier Battalion 208 was relocated to Versailles near Paris on September 14, 1943.
Grenadier Regiment 226 – 79 Inf Div – Later 79 VGD
On January 31, 1944, the 1st Battalion of the 731st Grenadier Regiment of the 711th Infantry Division (15th Wave of World War XII), which had already been relocated from west to east in October 1943, was incorporated as I./G.R.226. On July 7, 1944, I./G.R.226 was replaced by the 1st Battalion of the 993rd Grenadier Regiment of the 278th Infantry Division (22nd Wave of World War XII from Italy). The 2nd Battalion of the regiment was disbanded in the summer of 1944, leaving G.R.226 to consist of the 1st and 3rd Battalions. At the end of August 1944, the regiment was again defeated in the Jassy Pocket. A few smaller groups managed to break through to Hungary via the Capes. On October 27, 1944, the Grenadier Regiment was re-established with the 1st and 2nd Battalions as part of the formation of the 79th Volks-Grenadier Division.
November 1944 – Festungs Pak Kompanie 1/XIII
The headquarters of Fortress Anti-Tank Unit XIII was established in December 1944 in Straubing in Wehrkreis XIII. In February 1945, the headquarters in the west was destroyed and reorganized in March 1945 by renaming it the headquarters of Fortress Anti-Tank Unit XXII.
Between December 1944 and January 1945, the 353rd Infantry Division operated as part of the LXXXI Army Corps at the Westfall defensive fortifications (Allied parlance: “Siegfried Line”), where it launched a major counterattack on 2 December, which was eventually beaten back by U.S. artillery. The 353rd Infantry Division was eventually trapped in the Ruhr Cauldron, where it went into American captivity around April 1945.[1] The division’s final commander was Colonel Kurt Hummel, who assumed command on 15 February 1945.
Equipment – K98, P38 Pistol (Likely as MG Gunner)
Injuries – Wounded in June 1943 – Grenade Splinter in the buttocks left side, found fit for service in May of 1944.
Awards – Wounds Badge in Silver, Iron Cross Second Class, Iron Cross First Class (No stamp but looks good for the time 2.1945).
