Original WWII German Soldbuch – Feldwebel Paul Specht – Panzer Grenadier Regiment 26 – 24 Panzer Division – Heiligenbeil 1945 – Rare
Description
Soldbuch to Feldwebel Paul Specht
It seems his Soldbuch was issued as a replacement with:
Panzer Ersatz und Ausbildungs Abteilung 10 in September of 1944.
Specht spent time in Litzmanstadt (Lodz) in 1944, with: Panzer Grenadier Ersatz Batl 413, and it seems they went into action there January 1945 and were almost wiped out.
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/InfErsBat/InfErsBat413-R.htm
Specht was finally mobilised and sent via Marschbataillon Pz.Tr./307 to the 24. Panzer-Division, (Strength 300 Mann 4.1.1945 Wehrkreis X)
Specht was assigned to his frontline unit of the 24 Pz Div – Panzer Grenadier Regiment 26 – 1 Schwadron
Commanded by: Major Höhne (RK,DKIG) Killed in Action – February 19th, 1945 (Zinten, Heiligenbeil/Eastprussia, Germany)
His Profile: https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/6832/H%C3%B6hne-Georg.htm
The division was then transported by rail, leaving behind its heavy weapons and armored vehicles, to Marienburg/Elbing (East Prussia). In the Elbing area, it was provisionally re-equipped with weapons and vehicles. The division was then deployed for defense and counterattacks in Southeast Prussia. From February 21 to March 27, 1945, defensive fighting followed in Ermland and the division withdrew to the bridgehead near Heiligenbeil. At the end of March 1945, the division was transported across the Baltic Sea to the Vistula Spit near Pillau. In mid-April, the remnants of the division (approximately 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers) were evacuated to Schleswig-Holstein, where it surrendered.
Interesting Equipment: Peaked Visor Cap, Camo Kit
Medals/Awards: Shooting Lanyard, 1st Class – 22.7.1941, Sports Badge in Bronze – 31.7.1941, War Merit Cross with Swords 20.4.1943.
Fate: I have checked online resources and was not able to find what happened to Specht, although it could be that he made it back to Germany and surrendered, although there is no POW markings on the Soldbuch, a mystery that may later be solved…
