Soldbuch Grouping to Schirrunteroffizier (K) Johann Niedermeier. Niedermeier’s career in the Wehrmacht began early, serving with Infanterie Regiment 61 (Munich) from 1935 till 1937. His personal photo album details these early years in depth with an impressive array of photos covering: Pak 36 (Anti-tank gun) shooting in Grafenwöhr Trip to the Schwarzkopf Hütte in South Tyrol.  Gas Room training On Exercise Photo of General Halder Very detailed photos of the Pak 36 and Vehicles Photos of the Base in Munich – Raising of the flag etc. Photo of R75 BMW jumping! Very nice photo of a Panzer 1 & Panzer 1’s in attack manoeuvre. Command Car with Pennant (Einheits-PKW) Circa 70 photos – nearly all Military related! It is clear from the range of photos that from an early stage of the war Niedermeier was a driver, which also happened to be his civilian career too! Niedermeier’s Soldbuch  Opened on the 15.10.1940, Niedermeier’s first rank was that of an Unteroffizier (NCO) it is unknown if he was serving from 1937 till 1940, although it is highly likely given the fact his Soldbuch was opened as a NCO. Niedermeier was born in Munich in 1914 into a roman catholic family. He would serve in the Stab/132 Infanterie Division as a driver. As driver in the headquarters company of the division he was likely driving around the highest officers of the division on the frontline. The 132 ID fought through the former Yugoslavia they took part in anti-partisan actions and security operations, advancing to Marburg/Drau-Cilli-Agram-Banja Luka to the area of Sarajevo. It was later relieved and an prepared for the Eastern Front operations. Entering the Soviet Union the 132 ID advanced Lemberg,Ostrog/Rowno, Shitomir and other areas until it arrived in the area of Kiev. It took part in the fighting at Jusefowka, Berejaslaw and Jerkowzy, and later paused near the region of Cherson-Perekopat the start of the Crimea operations. After taking part in the advance into the Crimea in November of 1941.  It was here the 132 ID would have its baptism of fire, they were ear marked for the for the siege of the fortress Sevastapol. The siege of the city cost the division nearly 500 KIA, and three times that wounded, they did not stop at the siege but took part in the entry of the city and the destruction of the fortress. They were so badly destroyed after an amphibious landing and the fighting after that the division was pulled out in September 1942. The actions of the 132 ID during the siege is covered in depth in the book: ‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow: The Crimea 1941–44, By Robert Forczyk’ [av_video src=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDclGM-pgOY’ mobile_image=” attachment=” attachment_size=” format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′ conditional_play=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-1wylf0′] For taking part in the actions at Sevastapol: Niedermeier was awared the Iron Cross Second Class, on the 8th of July 1942 (Four days after the fortress fell!) his award document was hand signed by General of the Infantry Keitel in the Headquarters of the German High Command! Niedermeier would also receive the Krimschild (Crimea Arm Shield) in December 1942, the award document has a facsimile signature of Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. Niedermeier also received the Eastern Front Medal in September of 1942, his award document is signed by a Hauptmann who was the commander of the divisional headquarters unit. After seeing action in the Crimea region, in September of 1942, the 132.Infanterie-Division was shifted to the Leningrad Front where it became a part of the 18.Armee which was attempting to break through the lines around the city. It fought in the positions, at Gaitolowoand Tschernaja. Supporting in the positions against the Pogostje Pocket, and fought at Smerdynia as well. Unlike Sevestapol, Leningrad held and in 1944 the 132.Infanterie-Division was eventually forced into a series of withdrawals and retreats, finally ending the War in the Kurland Pocket, trapped by the rapidly advancing Soviets until its surrender in May of 1945. Interestingly, Niedermeier did not go down in Kurland with the rest of the division, in September 1944 when the division was in Latvia Niedermeier was sent back to the homefront for further training. Obtaining the specialist rank of Schirrunteroffizier (K) meaning Specialist Driver with the rank of a NCO. He would serve at the school until March 1945, then posted to the Gebirgs-Fla-Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon 700 (Mountain Troop Replacement/Anti-Aircraft/Motorised) this unit would see action directly at the end of the war defending the Pass at Innsbruck.  The Fla-Company commanded by Lieutenant Quintern took over the protection of the bridge in Reit near Seefeld. For three days Attack aircraft attacked this important railway bridge on the Brenner line. Under Lieutenant Stobba, a company was deployed on the Fernpass at the end of April 1945. Niedermeier took part in these last actions, as his Soldbuch displays a full range of equipment including the issuing of a P38 Walther Pistol in April 1945. Niedermeier was captured in 1945, and spent many years in a Soviet Gulag, (returning home with his Soldbuch!) he passed away with his family at his side. This is an exceptional lot with a war story spanning from prewar through to Siege of Sevastapol and Leningrad, the last days of the war in Austria, then survival of Soviet Gulag.  

Soldbuch issued to SS Kanonier Fritz Ziegelbauer  Fritz was born in the area of Forchheim in Germany on the 31st of December 1926 into a Catholic farming family.  He joined the Waffen SS as a volunteer at age 17, arriving in Munich for training with SS Flak Ausbildungs und Ersatz Regiment  in November 1943.  After training in Munich he was sent to the frontline unit: 3/Flak Abteilung 1 – LSSAH – (His battery was armed with the 8.8cm Flak!) Fritz was issued the following items before leaving to join the Division: M43 Cap, Tunic and trousers, underwear, overcoat, jumper, socks, laced boots and items such as a combat pack with frame as well as a helmet and the full set of combat equipment.  According to his Soldbuch, Fritz was issued a K98 Rifle along with a bayonet on the 3rd of June 1944 with the division just before they were thrown into combat in Normandy.  The division would arrive in Normandy by late June, and was thrown into combat alongside the 12th SS Pz Div HJ, by late July they were  On July 6, 1944, the rest of the division followed and moved into their staging area around Bretteville-sur-Laize, about 12 km south of Caen. On July 11, the division took over a section of the front between Maltot and Caen. On July 15, the transfer to the St.-André-sur-Orne and Frénouville line, about 3 km south of Caen, followed. After the Allied breakthrough at Avranches, the 1st SS Panzer Division was pulled out of the front line and made available for the “Lüttich” company to recapture Avranches. In doing so, it advanced as far as the Mesnil-Adelée area before the German attack was caught in the enemy defensive fire. Then the badly battered division was trapped in the Falaise pocket. Only remnants of the division were able to escape behind the Seine near Rouen. Individual combat groups withdrew via Charleroy towards Burg Reuland. At the same time, the first parts of the division were relocated to the Siegburg area in early September 1944 to refresh. The Flak unit of the infamous elite Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler has a few books covering their extensive service: Gefährten unsrer Jugend. Die Flak-Abteilung der Leibstandarte  It is unknown what happened to Fritz, but considering the last entry is in late June 1944, it is clear that he was captured in Normandy as he is not listed on the killed or missing lists for his unit. In the rear pocket of his Soldbuch is a small religious pendant.   SS Soldbücher for Normandy or the LSSAH are in todays market extremely rare and are not often seen for sale.  [av_video src=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thShrvvOxKw’ mobile_image=” attachment=” attachment_size=” format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′ conditional_play=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-2obw25′]

Soldbuch of Gefreiter Anton Hackl    Hackl was enlisted into the Wehrmacht on the 20th of Jan 1943. He would serve in a few frontline units during the war, including a short service in 1944 with Jäger Regiment 40 and Jäger Regiment 25 (42 Jäger Division) first in Croatia where Hackl contracted a contagious disease (Soldbuch Code 12) and was sent to a field hospital for two months. He would later rejoin his unit in Italy in the area of La Spezia in September 1944.   After a period of rest at home on leave Hackl was sent to Hungary where a new unit was being formed. November 1944, Hackl was posted a new unit, to the Stabs Company of Grenadier Regiment 991, (277 Volksgrenadier Division) he was issued warm clothing including extra pullovers and a Camo net. All in preparation for the Ardennes Offensive about to begin.  At the beginning of the Ardennes Offensive on December 16, 1944, the Regiment had the task of penetrating the enemy front line between Hollerath and Udenbreth, taking the villages of Rocherath and Krinkelt and advancing to Vervier via Elsenborn. By December 20th, the two villages could be taken with heavy losses. A further advance was no longer possible. The stall at Elsenborn would go down in infamy as a hard fought battle, from video games to numerous mentions in books Grenadier Regiment 991 was at the heart of the battles fighting alongside the Waffen SS and other elite formations against tough US resistance.  At the beginning of January 1945, the regiment received replacements from Navy and Air Force soldiers with little training. In the fighting for the villages of Rocherath and Krinkelt, the regiment suffered heavy losses again. By the end of January 1945 it had been pushed back to its original position. Here the regiment was disbanded after the death of the regiment commander eastwards Krinkelt. It was somewhere here in the cold weather that Hackl was so sick from frostbite (Soldbuch wound code 33) that he was withdrawn from the frontline and arrived in a Wehrmacht hospital on the 4.2.1945 in Ibbenbüren, behind the frontlines. On the 16th of March 1945, Hackl now recovered after a short stint in hospital as well as 8 days with his family on leave he would arrive at his new unit, Alarm Bataillon 462 stationed in the town of Znaim (CZ) he was issued a K98 rifle on the 2nd of May 1945 likely to form some  sort of last stand resistance. Hackl must have survived the war, he is not listed on the lists of those killed.