Showing 685–693 of 1093 resultsSorted by latest
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Heer Wehrpass – Gefreiter Geipel – Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 231 (11 Panzer Division) – KIA Ultra Rare Grave Map – Killed by Partisans (Sold)
Wehrpass Grouping to Gefreiter Geipel
After a short stint in the RAD he volunteered to join Panzer Regiment 2.
Although it would seem he would not actually be assigned to the Panzer Regiment, and served in a home front unit until September 1940:
His frontline unit was:
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 231 (11 Panzer Division)
After being set up, the division moved to Romania as a teaching force in mid-January 1941 and from there took part in the invasion of Bulgaria in March 1941. In April 1941 the division was used to advance on Belgrade during the Balkan campaign. After conquering it, the division advanced on Sarajevo. After the end of the Yugoslavia campaign, they remained as an occupying force in Yugoslavia and then marched back to their garrison location at the end of April. From the beginning of June 1941 the division in Poland was made ready for the Russian campaign. From June 22nd the division fought in Russia. After the Bug crossing and the breakthrough through the Russian border fortifications, the tank battle at Radziechow and fighting over the Styr crossings at Szcznrowice and Berestezko took place on June 23. By June 25, the division reached the Stalin Line via Horyn. Fights for Ostrow and the Wilja and Horyn crossings followed. In heavy fighting, the division broke through the Stalin line from July 2nd to 5th and then the Russian positions at Miropol. Then there were fighting at Starokonstantynow and Lubar and until mid-July 1941 at Cudnow – Berditschew. Then the division advanced by July 20 on Uman, which was fought for until August 8. This was followed by cleansing battles in the Dnieper bend and in the Boguslav – Cherkassy area until mid-August. The deployment in the operational area of the 6th Army for the battle of Kiev followed by August 22nd. This began for the division on August 23 with fighting around the Gornostaipol-Osztjer bridgehead and ended at the end of August 1941. Subsequently, the division was in the operational area of Army Group South and Center. At the end of September 1941, the division took part in the defensive battle of Yelnya and Smolensk. The double battle at Vyazma and Bryansk followed by mid-October, followed by the advance on Moscow. The Moscow protective position could be breached by the end of October. and overcome the Istra by the beginning of December. From December 5, the division was put on the defensive, there were defensive battles in front of Moscow, in the Rusa-Wolokolamsk position, east of Gshatsk and in the winter position Juchnow – Gshatsk – Subzoff.
According to his Officer in command in a letter to Geipels father:
”1.2.1942 – on an attack to the village Boldyrewo. There is a train station near Mitino, the line is Smolensk-Wjasma. The place was occupied by partisans and enemy paratroopers. During the attck we noticed that the enemy was stronger than we imagined. To prevent further losses we pulled back, and your son was hit by a machine gun blast, he died on the spot. We were unable to take him with us. His personal items were robbed by the Russians, as we went back there the next day and found him with six others. We buried them near the train station.”
On further investigation with this map, a search team was dispatched in 2012 to the location to try and locate the missing graves, but to no avail.
Finding a map in such detail is extremely rare.
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Heer Wehrpass – Gefreiter Thoma – Infanterie Regiment 380 (215 Inf Div) – Killed by Partisan Patrol – Death letters (On Hold)
Wehrpass issued to Gefreiter Wilhelm Thoma
He served with:
Infanterie Regiment 380 (215 Inf Division)
On June 19, the attack of the 215th Infantry Division began on the Maginot Line near Lembach-Wörth. The regiment was deployed on the right side of the division section. The 1st / Infantry Regiment 435 and the 1st / Pioneer Battalion 204 were assigned to him. The aim of the regiment was the breakthrough at Nehweiler. By the evening of June 19, the breakthrough had been achieved and 18 plants had been taken from the regiment. The III. Battalion of fallen 3 NCOs and 3 men, 1st Battalion 1 dead officer. A total of 31 men were wounded. By evening the regiment reached Hagenau and captured two bridges prepared for demolition. On the night of June 20th the regiment began to advance through Alsace. Across the Rhine-Marne Canal to Fort Mutzig, which was evacuated by the French. The Romannsweiler – Westhofen – Molsheim line was reached on June 21. On June 22nd, the regiment encountered the enemy again during its advance, with some major fighting. On that day the advance of the regiment and the entire division ended, shortly afterwards France surrendered.
Subsequently, the 215th Infantry Division was used to secure prisoners of war in the Belfort – Geradmer – Strasbourg area. At the beginning of December 1940 it was relocated to the Moulins area on the Loire. Here the regiment operated intensive training and securing the demarcation line. In the summer of 1940 the regiment provided a guard company for the capital Paris. On February 28, 1941, the 13th Company was transferred to the IR 282 and replaced on November 13, 1941 by the 13th / IR 338. On October 1, 1941, the regiment was the only one in the division to be transferred to the le Valdahon military training area for intensive training. In November 1941 the regiment was relocated to the northern section of the Eastern Front. It was unloaded in Chadovo on the Volkhov on the road to Tikhvin. Immediately after unloading, the regiment was deployed. The III. The battalion took up positions on the east bank of the Wochow near Grusino. The 2nd Battalion arrived here on November 27th and released the III. Battalion, which was then able to relieve the trapped Meschnik. In the following three days there were heavy defensive battles around the place, whereby after the arrival of the 1st battalion of the regiment, it was used as a closed unit at Meschnik. It was supported by the 1st / Artillery Regiment 215. The regiment suffered first frostbite. Around 60 men per battalion suffered from frostbite. There was increased patrol activity on both sides.
On December 18, the front was withdrawn behind the Volkhov, where the regiment moved or had to set up new positions. The transfer to these positions took place gradually until December 23rd. There were violent attacks by Russian troops, some of them fierce.
It was here that Thoma was according to his NCO at the time in a letter to Thomas father. The 2 and half page report, goes into depth about the unit situation at the time, the NCO was also wounded the day before and states that Thoma was killed like this:
” The road was meant to be free from enemy. We did not have to pay special attention to that. Around 2 KM outside Glady on the main road, our commander spotted a small forest, we went there for something to eat. And as the luck would have it a strong enemy patrol attacked us. Because of the thick forest, they were only 50 meters away. Wilhelm was with four other soldiers, as there was a massive machine gun blast towards them and the vehicle, a burst hit him and he fell before there was time to think about cover. We took up arms, and pushed the Patrol back towards Glady. Some lost their lives on this action. Also we left many vehicles, and many horses were shot up. There was no time left, we had to leave the dead… I lost 5 of my best friends in one action. ”
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Heer Wehrpass – Funker Zblowski – Infanterie Regiment 689 (246 ID) – Missing in Action (Sold)
Heer Wehrpass issued to Leo Zblowski, in 1939.
He was from Werne in Westfalen, Germany, a Catholic who was not married.
He was enlisted on the 30.8.1939 with Nachrichten Ersatz Kompanie 36
After a while training he was assigned to:
Infanterie Regiment 118 (36 Infanterie Division)
From May 10, 1940, the division took part in the western campaign and advanced to the Meuse. Heavy fighting broke out when crossing the river at Stonne south of Sedan. The division was then used to secure the flanks of the German units advancing towards the canal. In the second phase of the campaign, the “Battle of France”, the division advanced on Verdun on the left bank of the Meuse and captured the city on June 15, 1940. The further advance to the armistice led the division into the Toul area. The division stayed here until the end of September 1940 and then returned to the home garrisons. From November 1, 1940, the division was converted into an Inf.Div. (mot). This resulted in the surrender of the 70th Infantry Regiment to the 111th Infantry Division. The drawn hawsers of the division, however, went to the 126th Infantry Division. Thereafter, the division was referred to as the 36th Infantry Division (motorized).
Infanterie Regiment 689 (246 Infanterie Division)
In exchange, the division received the 689 Infantry Regiment. In February 1942, the division was then transported by rail to the east in the Rshew – Bjeloje area. The division fought here throughout 1942. In March 1943 she stood in the western part of the front arc near Rzhev and withdrew to the Vitebsk area via Duchovshchina and Jelnya and Smolensk as part of the “Buffalo Movement” operation. The division suffered heavy losses and had only the strength of a combat group after the withdrawal movement had ended. In September 1943, further withdrawal movements began via Rudnja, Mikulino and southwest of Vitebsk.
It was here that Leo went missing, the card returning his Wehrpass states that he was reported missing, he is not listed anywhere on the official records and is likely still missing to this day somewhere in Belarus.
Awards: Eastern Front Medal
Trained: Radio Man (Funker), also trained on the light Mortar and K98 Rifle.
Interestingly, inside his Wehrpass is the form required to be filled out that the owner of the Wehrpass is not of Jewish decent.
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SS-VT ID – SS-Staffelmann Knodel – SS Regiment ‘Deutschland’ – KIA in 1942 (On Hold)
A very rare early SS-Verfügungstruppe ID Card.
These were discontinued when the SS Soldbuch was introduced, hence this was not stamped on the back with a duty stamp, and looks to be left in a folder.
SS-Staffelmann Paul Knodel was a member of the famous SS Regiment Deutschland!
They were responsible for various guard duties also at famous NS locations.
Interestingly, this ID has in pencil at the top left ‘ Junk.Tölz‘ likely meaning SS Junker Schule Tölz in Bad Tölz, the infamous SS Officer School.
It would seem thought that Knodels’ career was cut short, killed in action at the frontline on the 7th of June 1942 according to the German Graves Commission. He is listed as a SS-Rottenführer at the time of his death. He was likely fighting in the SS Division ‘Reich’ .
A very desirable ID and a greta picture of Knodel with the Regiment D shoulder badge and collar tab with ‘1’
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Heer Soldbuch – Obergefreiter Jung – Grenadier Regiment 652 (Inf Div Berlin) – Battle of Seelow Heights 1945 (Hold)
Heer Soldbuch opened in February 1941.
Issued to Heinrich Jung from Wiesbaden, Germany.
After training he was sent to a rather rare frontline unit, also known as a ‘Hunter Unit’:
Jagd Kommando 12 (Heeres Gruppe Nord)
After the battalion was deployed in northern Russia, it was used to fight partisans. The command was deployed under Army Group North near Novgorod.
After a long stint in various driving units, he was sent to :
Reserve Grenadier Regiment 86 (86 Infanterie Division)
The division was torn apart several times and its regiments were deployed separately from the division headquarters. In 1942 the division fought in the Rshew area, as well as in the first months of 1943. In March 1943, the division was relocated to the Orel area. Here she defended the Orel – Kursk railway line and led defensive battles in the Punyri area. At the end of August 1943 the division withdrew via Ssewsk and at Norwgorod-Ssewersk via the Dessna and at Lojew via the Dnieper. At the end of September / beginning of October 1943 defensive battles followed north of the mouth of the Pripet into the Dnieper and finally the retreat into the Mosyr area. On November 3, 1943, the division was dissolved, the division staff, the intelligence department and the supply troops came to Denmark.
Reserve Grenadier Regiment 167
The reserve battalion was in Söndervig in Denmark in December 1944. The reserve battalion formed with parts on February 1, 1945 the 1st battalion of Grenadier Regiment 652 of the Berlin Infantry Division.
Grenadier Regiment 652 (Infanterie Division Berlin – Former 309 Inf Div)
This unit is extremely rare!
They fought during the battle of Seelow Heights according to the book Downfall 1945 (Zaloga,p.50) Grenadier Regiment 652 took the main brunt of the attack in the Haupt Grabben Canal near Letschin just north of Seelow. Fiercely fighting for bridge area just west of the town of Letschin. They fought the 32nd Guards Rifle Corps and the 26th Guards Rifle Corps, on the first day of the attack on April 16th 1945.
If Jung made it out after Seelow, the next was the trap of the Halbe Pocket.
There is no record of Jung, if he survived then he did against all the odds as one battle after another was a disaster for the Germans.
This Soldbuch is featured in an upcoming book on the Battle of Berlin, presented with around 180 other personal documents and items as well as over 400 unpublished photos.
Awards:
Clearly, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class, as it is visible on his ribbon band, although this is not entered.
Eastern Front Medal
German Riders Medal
German Drivers Medal
Equipment and issued items:
Wool Blanket
Winter Kit
Mixed Iron Rations
K98 Rifle and Bayonet, as well as his own pistol 7.65mm
In summary, this Soldbuch was issued to a very rare unit, and the link to Seelow 1945 makes it highly desirable as well as the fact that it will soon be published.
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Heer Soldbuch – Waffenoberfeldwebel Hoppe – Heeres Flak Abt 271 (13 Panzer Division) Kuban Schild – IR17 Portrait! (sold)
A very nice Soldbuch Grouping to Waffenoberfeldwebel Erich Hoppe.
It would seem that he first served with the famous Infanterie Regiment 17 (Braunschweig) given the very nice portrait wearing the Skull and Crossbones!
After a while with the Regiment he learned to be a weapons expert!
He would served with:
Heeres Flak Abteilung 271 (13 Panzer Division) Later (Panzer-Division “Feldherrnhalle 2”)
From May 12, 1941, the division moved to Upper Silesia in preparation for the Russian campaign. By June 21, the division had reached its staging area west of Hrubieszow. As a division of the 2nd wave, the division crossed the bow on June 23 and marched via Luck and Rowno into the Holsk area, where it broke through the Stalin line on July 7 and then advanced further east on Zhitomir. The division reached the Irpen by July 10, where the first defensive battles took place by July 19, because the division had to wait for the advancing infantry. The division then advanced on Fastow and formed a Unawa bridgehead by July 23. Security fights at Mironowka and Korssun followed by August 3, which were followed by two days of rest. Subsequently, the division was deployed to security fighters at Ivanovka and Datscha. By August 22, the division reached Dnepropetrovsk, around which heavy fighting raged until August 31, 1941. At the end of August the division was relieved (the artillery remained in the Dnepropetrovsk area until mid-September 1941) and moved to the area south of Dnepropetrovsk, where it was refreshed until September 15. Then she moved to the Kremenchug bridgehead. From here it crossed the Oriol on September 26th and took part again on September 28th in the fighting for Dnepropetrovsk, which was finally taken on that day. From September 30th to October 10th the division advanced to Mariupoal on the Sea of Azov and marched from there over the Mius in the direction of Rostov. After attempting to capture Rostov by November 20, 1941, the division had to withdraw to the Mius by early December 1941. The division remained in the Taganrog Mius bridgehead for the following months. At the beginning of summer, the division was refreshed in the front and prepared for the 1942 summer offensive. Among other things, the Army Flak Artillery Department 271 was subordinated to her. The German summer offensive began on July 21, 1942. The fighting over Rostov lasted until July 27th. The division then advanced to the Kuban and formed a bridgehead there until August 6th. On August 9th the division took Maikop and formed a bridgehead there. On August 14, the division was pulled from the front and marched via Armavir to the area between Ssablinskoye, Petrowka and Alexandrowskoye. By August 26, she advanced to the Terek via Miropolsky and Tarsky. Up to 9 September, clean-up battles followed on the northern Terek bank and a new deployment to the Terek crossing in the Mosdok and Kisljar area, as well as fighting in the Mosdok and Kisljar bridgeheads. In October 1942 there were trench warfare in the Terek Arch. After a brief refreshment on the right of the Uruch-Terek estuary from October 22nd to 25th, the division attacked Nalchik by October 28th and then on Ordzhonikidze. Here the advance of the division ended. At Gisel, the division was surrounded by Russian troops in early November 1942. She was able to break out of the cauldron until November 12th. After breaking out of the pocket, the division was gathered in the Alagir / Ardon area and refreshed a little by November 15th. By the end of the year defensive battles followed south of the Terek Arch and then the division withdrew first to the Zolka-Kuma position, then to the Kalaus line and finally to the Kuban bridgehead at Kropotkin and the Goten position by the end of January. The fighting in the Goths lasted until August 20, 1943, then the division left the Kuban and crossed over to the Crimea. From the Crimea, the division was transported to eastern Ukraine. In the area around Wassiljewska she took part in the first defensive battles. At the end of August 1943, the division was included at Jefremovka. The division was able to break free by August 31, and then move to the Mariupol – Stalino line. From September 20th to October 26th there was a defensive battle in the Melitopol area, followed by retreat battles through the Nogai steppe. From the beginning to the middle of November the division in the Golaganowka area was refreshed. From November 19, 1943, the division was engaged in heavy defensive battles in the Nikopol bridgehead and eastward to Krivoy Rog, from December 18 in the Kirovograd area and from January 6, 1944 at Nowo Ukrainska. After heavy offensive and defensive battles on the southern edge of the Cherkassy basin until February 17, 1944, defensive battles south of Zvenigorodka followed until March 9, 1944. After the Russian Army broke through the German front, the 13th Panzer Division found itself in further retreats. The Bug was crossed at Pervomaisk from March 12-14. After further retreat fights between Bug and Dniester, the area around Kishinev was reached at the beginning of April 1944. From April to August 1944 the division was at Kishinew. After the beginning of the Russian Sommer offensive on August 20, 1944, the division was torn apart. By August 24, the remaining parts of the division reached the Prut in the bridgeheads Leova and Falciu. By the end of August these remnants of the division between Prut and Sereth also disintegrated. At the beginning of September 1944, the division was reorganized in Hungary about 50 km south-east of Budapest at the Örkeny military training area. However, the division no longer achieved its full target strength. From October 8, 1944, the division was already engaged in heavy defensive battles in the Pussta in the Karcag and Tisza areas. Withdrawal fights followed east of the Tisza by the end of October 1944. At the beginning of November 1944, the division in Budapest was trapped and again destroyed. In January 1945 the division in Budapest was destroyed again. The division was re-established as Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2 in February 1945.
Awards
- Wounds Badge in Black
- War Merit Cross with Swords 2nd Class
- Eastern Front Medal
- War Merit Cross with Swords 1st Class
- Kuban Arm Shield
Comes with his driving Army licence, discharge papers, as well as papers sending him home to his home in Braunschweig!
A nice Soldbuch to a decorated experienced NCO!
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Luftwaffe Wehrpass – Uffz Wagner – Ln Regiment 288 – NSFK Flugbuch!
Luftwaffe Wehrpass issued to Funker Wagner.
He served in many different units in the Berlin area, including Döberitz and Berlin Gatow!
It would see he was undergoing training as a Radio Man to be used on board an aircraft, he was even issued with Flying Headgear.
But for some reason it was discontinued and he was sent to the following units:
Luft Nachrichten Regiment 202 which later was called
Luft Nachrichten Regiment 228
For more information see: http://www.ww2.dk/ground/ln/ln202.html
A nice set, with his NSFK ID and Flugbuch with flights!
Deserves further research.
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Heer Wehrpass – Schütze Hägele – Infanterie Regiment 591 (323 ID) – Last Letters – Sad grouping
Grouping to Schütze Hägele.
He served with Infanterie Regiment 591 (323 ID) in Russia, from March 1942 till he was killed in August of 1942 in the Woronesh Area.
He was hit in the head with a bullet according to his Wehrpass.
Letters:
Sadly, he wrote to his wife just before his death (Feldpost 15.8.1942).
A letter from his Commander to his wife states the details of his last days, stating that he was hit in the head with a bullet and was killed immediately, that he was buried in the Divisions Cemetery in Nikolaijewka near Woronesch.
A tragic grouping, highlighting the loss of a young married man. With further research his last letters could be translated.
Footage of the Battle where he was killed.
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Heer Wehrpass – Uffz Blumenroth – Schützen Regt 4 (6 Panzer Division) Panzer Badge & EK2 – KIA in 1941 (Sold)
Wehrpass to hans Blumenroth born in Düsseldorf in 1917.
His service began prewar with:
Infanterie Regiment 64 ‘Soest’ (16 Infanterie Division)
December 1940 the division was relocated to the Paris area and in mid-March 1941 to the Vienna area. F
in August of 1940 he joined :
Schützen Regiment 4 (6 Panzer Division)
On May 10, 1940, the division crossed the Belgian border and advanced through the Ardennes. On May 13-14, the division forced the crossing over the Maas at Montherme. By May 18th she reached the Oise and by May 21st the canal. From May 22nd to 26th the division took part in the fighting for Flanders and on May 27th fought for Cassel, Hazebrouk and Poperinghe. After the end of the Battle of Northern France and Belgium, the division was subordinated to the Guderian Panzer Group. From June 9th to 11th the division broke through the Aisne position at and west of Rethel. From June 12th to 17th the division broke through Champagne and the Rhine-Marne Canal and captured Epinal from June 18th to 25th. They then occupied the area between the Saone and Doubs. On July 1, 1940, the division began to move back to its garrison.
At the beginning of the Russian campaign, the division of Panzer Group 4 was subordinate to Army Group North. From June 22nd to 25th, 1941, it broke through the Russian border positions, which led to the tank battle near Rossienie. By July 7, the division advanced across the Daugava and fought in eastern Lithuania and Latvia. From July 4th to 12th, the division participated in the capture of Ostrow. This was followed by the fighting on the Luga and from August 18-28, 1941, the breakthrough through the Luga position. From August 29 to September 25, the division broke into the fortifications in front of Leningrad. The division was then removed from the front and transferred to Army Group Center. From October 2-4, the division broke through the Kokosch and Dnieper positions and then took part in the Battle of Vyazma until October 11, 1941. The division then turned on Moscow and was able to advance to the Moskva Canal by December 5, 1941. From here the defensive battles for Klin followed.
He was killed in Russia, a bullet hit him in the head.
Awarded.
- Panzer Assault Badge
- Iron Cross Second Class
Trained on:
K98, MG08/15, MG34, as well as MG34 on Tripod, MP40, Luger P08, and a small Mortar.
