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Original WWII German Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Stabsintendant Meusel – Landeschutzen Batl 822 (Prag) – POW Diary – Fully Translated – Incredible Story – Rare
£261.00Soldbuch issued in 1939 to Hans Meusel. By: Landeschützen Regiment 1 – Prag The Landesschützen-Regiment 1 was formed on 29 August 1939 in Prague, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The regiment was organized into a staff and 3 battalions. The regiment was created from Landesschützeneinheiten that had been transferred to the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia during mobilization. He was assigned to Landesschützen Batl 822 (Prag) Already on 29 August 1939, the battalion was transferred to the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. There, the battalion was incorporated as II. Bataillon into Landesschützen-Regiment 1 and was thus subordinated to Landesschützen-Kommandeur I. On 9 September 1939, the battalion was renamed Landesschützen-Bataillon XXII/XIII. After the redesignation of the higher command, the battalion was subordinated to Division z.b.V. 539 as of 15 October 1939. It continued to be employed in the Prague area. On 1 April 1940, the battalion was renamed Landesschützen-Bataillon 822 in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The battalion remained under Division z.b.V. 539. It was then stationed in Bochdanetsch near Pardubitz, also in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. On 11 September 1943, the battalion was reorganized into 5 companies. It was now structured into a 1st and 2nd Radfahr-Kompanie, a 3rd Schützen-Kompanie, a 4th schwere Kompanie, and a 5th Pionier-Kompanie. At the beginning of 1945, the battalion was mobilized with 4 companies. Capture – POW Camps – Return Home – Translated Short Report about my Captivity On 19 March 1945, I was captured by the Russians near Krappitz an der Oder, between Ratibor and Oppeln, after my regiment was encircled and the attempted breakout failed. From my battalion, about one-third of the men are missing; about 25% were captured, and the rest, as stragglers, managed to rejoin the main combat troops. After a march of several days through the Russian rear area, partly under German artillery fire, I was taken to the collection camp Heidebeck bei Kossel. From there, at the end of March 1945, we went on a three-day march to the camp Tarnowitz, where our group of 1,300 prisoners on Good Friday had to make a detour through the towns of Hindenburg and Gleiwitz to demonstrate to the remaining population the condition of the German army. From Tarnowitz, on 17 April, I was sent to the camp Oppeln, and from there at the end of September on a four-day march to Hundsfeld bei Breslau; along the way we had to sleep four times in the open during pouring rain. I remained in Hundsfeld until the end of March 1946. Then came the emergency transport to Frankfurt an der Oder, and from there my release. While the Unteroffiziere and Mannschaften were already released a short time after May, several hundred officers—who had already been captured in January 1945—came to Oppeln from the camp Tschenstochau. However, the majority only arrived after the capitulation, from the West. In the end, about 2,000 Offiziere were there. From August onwards, prisoner transports of enlisted men were each accompanied by about 200 Officers. At the same time, several transports of sick and wounded returned from the East (Kyiv, Armawir, Krasnodar, etc.) and were released from Oppeln, with the exception of about 2,000 men unfit for service and youths under 18 years, who likewise remained only in German camps. In total, about 60,000 men are thought to have passed through the camp at Oppeln. The remainder, about 300 Officers and 100 men, were then transported further east, moving at the end of September to Breslau, especially Hundsfeld. From there, transports continued to the East in the same way until the beginning of December. Then there was a pause until the end of February 1946. At that time, and at the beginning of March, about 25,000 prisoners (including Officers aged 33–60) were transported eastwards for “reparations work.” Their destination remained unknown. Before this, there had been at least 10 medical examinations by Russian commissions, and those unable to work—classified as permanently disabled—were selected for release. About 1,400 prisoners were considered for this, namely around 600 amputees and 800 with internal illnesses (by rank: about 300 Officers and 1,100 men). I myself was among this group. In August 1945, I fell ill with typhus-like symptoms and during this time my weight dropped from 170 pounds to 95 pounds. I am 52 years old. The journey home from Frankfurt/Oder was very complicated, and since the crossing point at Plauen Hof was closed, I had to travel back via Leipzig, Halle, Tannroda, Jena, Hameln, Hellingsstadt, Flüchtlingslager Friedland, Kassel, Warburg (crossing into the American zone), Bebra, Fulda, Nürnberg, in order finally to reach my homeland. This journey lasted almost three weeks, and I arrived home very exhausted on 12 April 1946. Since I was supposed to notify the relatives of about 60 comrades, and in the first days was not able to write, I ask permission to use the typewriter in order to record part of my communications, which in all cases is again confirmed. .
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WWII Luftwaffe Stuka Pilot Oblt Wanner Soldbuch & Wehrpass Set – Ju 87 D-5 – 189 Missions! – Missing in Action – FFS Gold – Ultra Rare
£1,396.00We lately got in a set of nice documents, coupled by the former collector with original awards. Although they were not the pilots awards and are offered here separately, we do not split groups that belong together. Oberleutnant Will Wanner Born in 1920, he was enlisted after volunteering in the Luftwaffe in 1940. He went though almost three years of schooling on the Stuka before joining his Stuka unit in December of 1942. Wanner served with III/ Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 1943 SG 77 seen extensive action on the Eastern Front. By 20 December 1942 III./StG 77 had only seven serviceable dive-bombers. III./StG 77 lost 29 ground crew on the retreat from Rossosh to Kharkov. It probably took part in the air battles but was decimated and withdrawn to Würzburg. It was rebuilt with 37 Ju 87s and 245 officers and sent to Luftflotte 2, II. Fliegerkorps. The group moved to Cagliari, but was not to be used until the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky). In the event, the airfields were so badly damaged on the island it was ordered to return to IV. Fliegerkorps on 27 April 1943 On 8 July, StG 77 supported the Großdeutschland against the fortified village of Syrtsevo. StG 77 lost five Ju 87s and another damaged in combat with the 240 IAP. The air corps claimed, with contributions from SG 1, 84 Soviet tanks destroyed, 21 damaged, 40 vehicles destroyed, and five artillery pieces along with two anti-aircraft guns and two rocket launchers. By the evening of 8 July, 16 dive-bombers had been lost. The Germans halved the amount of Stuka sorties over the ensuing days. On 11 July, 9./StG 77, under III./StG 77 lost another five Ju 87s as it supported attacks against the 69th Army. The 183 IAP were their attackers. In the afternoon, 50 Ju 87s supported the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler’s attack on Hill 252.2. On 12 July StG 77 was involved in the Battle of Prokhorovka. While the Ju 87s could only fly 150 sorties in support, but with StG 2 the attacked with great success against Soviet armour advancing in the open. The 31st Tank Brigade, of the 29th Tank Corps, suffered heavy casualties. The 36th Tank Brigade’s commander was wounded by aircraft when his tank was destroyed. On 14 July, another six Ju 87s were lost supporting the XXXXVIII Panzer Corps The German offensive continued in the southern sector, but Operation Roland failed and the Red Army took time to begin the counter offensive, Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev. Soviet forces slowly pressed the Germans back. On 19 July 7./StG 77 was wiped out by a Soviet attack on the base at Kramatorskaya and 4./StG 77 lost another three to Soviet fighters. At the beginning of August 1943, the Soviet summer counter offensives began. StG 77 lost 24 dive-bombers and 30 damaged between 5 and 31 July 1943. Their losses from July to December 1942 were just 23. The Stuka arm had also lost eight Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross holders—Karl Fitzner of 5./StG 77 was one of them; he was shot down and killed on 8 July.III./StG 77 operated in the Kharkov and Belgorod sectors, after the fall of the latter on 5 August. From 6 to 12 August it lost four Ju 87s in combat and another three in the retreat to prevent their capture. On 17 August it was at Poltava, and the following day 7./StG 77 lost another four in combat near Sumy; four men were killed and two wounded. The group retreated to Stalino and lost another three on 2 and 3 September while 8. and 9. Staffel lost two Ju 87s near Kharkov on 5 September. Awards 4.12.1941 – Pilots Badge 8.7.1943 – Iron Cross Second Class 8.7.1943 – Front Flying Clasp in Bronze 26.7.1943 – Iron Cross First Class 24.7.1943 – Front Flying Clasp in Silver 6.2.1944 – Front Flying Clasp in Gold He flew a total of 189 Missions, according to the Luftwaffe Officer Lists he was shot down by Anti Aircraft Fire over Bialystok. WANNER, Willi. 01.06.44 promo to Oblt./A1. 27.07.44 Oblt., 7./SG 77 MIA – Ju 87 D-5 (S2+CR) shotdown by AA vic Bialystok. According to the German War graves online archive he was never buried… The both Certificates for the Front Clasps are attached to a card by the previous collector. Condition is as photographed.
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WWII Waffen SS Soldbuch – SS Sturmmann Wichmann – SS Jäger Btl 500 – Wounded Fighting Partisans – SS-Jagdverbände – Very Rare Unit
£1,321.00Here we have a rather rare SS Unit, I have not seen any to this unit in many years dealing in IDs. Siegmund Wichmann was born in 1923 in Romania. He was enlisted/Volunteered for the Waffen SS in April 1943 with: Stammkompanie / SS Grenadier Ersatz Btl “Ost” After training he was posted to his frontline unit: SS Grenadier Ausbildungs Btl “Ost” SS Jäger Btl 500 – Stabskompanie Commander SS-Sturmbannführer Beilhack Manpower strength 30 June 1944 – 1.271 SS-Jäger-Btl 500 was under the administrative command of 292. Infanterie-Division, which was part of Armee Gruppe Mitte from June 1941 to January 1945. A quick bit of research shows the divisional commander from 30.6.1944 to 1.9.1944 to have been Generalmajor Johannes Gittner. SS-Jäger-Btl 500 was engaged in security and anti-partisan operations behind the German lines during its time with 292. SS-Jäger-Btl 500 was disbanded in October 1944, the survivors being sent to SS-Panzergrenadier-Ausbildungs und Ersatz Btl 35, which was the depot of the SS-Jagdverbände and SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 500 and 600. Tessin: SS-Jäger-Btl.500 * 15. 4. 1944 zu 5 Kpn. aus dem Jäger-Btl. der Nachschub-Kdtr. Rußland-Mitte in Moorlager (Bereza-Kartuska bei Brest-Litowsk); im Partisaneneinsatz Mittelrußland, zuletzt Sept. 1944 bei Warschau; Okt. 1944 aufgelöst; Abwicklung beim SS-A usb.und Ers.Btl. 35 in Konitz. U: Sondertruppe RF -SS In March of 1945, it seems he was issued combat equipment once again including a rifle for combat with his replacement unit. SS Grenadier Ausbildungs und Ersatz Batl 25 – Konitz Westpreussen Interestingly, SS-Jagdverbände merely used SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Ausb.u.Ers.Btl. 35 as a ‘cover’. SS-Führungs-Hauptamt order of 1.12.1944 changes the nomenclature from SS-Grenadier-Ausbildungs und Ersatz-Bataillon 35 to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Ausb.u.Ers.Btl. 35 with effect from 15.11.1944. The latter designation was used as early as October 1944 in paybooks issued to members of SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 600 and the SS-Jagdverbände. Promoted SS Sturmmann – February 1945 – SS Grenadier Ersatz Btl 35 Awards Black Wounds Badge – Wounded on the 15th of July 1944 – fighting Partisans Given in June of 1944 a special Führer Paket along with money. Last comments Very rare unit, directly engaged with fighting partisans.
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Original WWII German General Gause Photo Album – Rommel Inspection Denmark 1943 – Sabotage Troops – Atlantic Wall – Hanstholm – Very Rare Images
£2,637.00Extremely Rare Images of Rommel In Denmark Taken By General Gause.
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WWII Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Gefreiter Alfred Unsinn – Child Soldier 16 Years Old – Belfort Gap France 1944 – 159 Infanterie Division
£246.00Alfred Unsinn was born in August 1928 and was called up for duty at a very young age in 1943. In 1944 he was only 16 years old! Served with: Leichte Reserve Artillerie Abteilung 9 In December 1943 they were stationed in La Valbonne, France. Fought under: 159 Reserve Division / 159 Infanterie Division On January 8, 1944, the division was transferred to southern France and deployed to protect the Atlantic coast. After the Allied landings in southern France, the division retreated to Belfort, suffering heavy losses. Other details from the Soldbuch: Signature on Page 3 – 4. Batterie, Batterieführer, Oberleutnant Günther Nostitz It seems he was likely captured, the last entries are June 1944 and I was unable to find any references to him online. Given the fact the Swastica is removed it is a sign he may have been captured.
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WWII Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Gefreiter Theodor Fischer – Grenzwach Regiment 46 – Siege of the Belgian Fortress Aubin-Neufchâteau 1940 !
£268.00Gefreiter Theodor Fischer from Richterich (Aachen) Germany, born in 1912 – in his civilian life he was a Miner! Soldbuch was issued in September 1939 with: Grenzwacht-Regiment 46 Unit was made up of Border troops from the Aachen area and took part in the Siege of the Belgian Fortress Aubin-Neufchâteau which was one of the forts in the Position Fortifiée de Liège (Festung Lüttich). During the 1940 Belgian campaign, Grenzwacht-Regiment 46 was known for its role in the brutal siege of the Fortress of Aubin-Neufchâteau, one of the forts in the Liège fortified position. After the fall of Fort Eben-Emael, Fort Aubin-Neufchâteau held out for eleven days against a massive German assault, including artillery, air attacks, and infantry assaults, before surrendering on May 21, 1940, due to exhaustion and lack of ammunition. The German forces, particularly the airborne troops, used a combination of glider landings, explosives, and flamethrowers to overcome the defenses, but the garrison’s valiant resistance impressed the attacking forces. Served also with: Radfahr-Bataillon 404 of the 263. Infanterie-Division in occupied Norway, and Radfahr-Abteilung 30 of the 30. Infanterie-Division. Until sometime in 1944 when he contracted some sort of stomach/intestine complains and was sent to various replacement units till the wars end. Soldbuch comes with his NSDAP Gesundheitspass which was in the rear of the Soldbuch.
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WWII Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Obergefreiter Wilhelm Schmitt – Sicherungs Batl 1018 – Issued Luger P08 Pistol – Wounded in Tarnow Poland 1945 – Wounds Badge – POW France 1947
£208.00Schmitt was born in 1903 and his Soldbuch was issued in September 1941. He served with: Sicherungs Batl 611 and Sicherungs Batl 1018The Sicherungstruppen ( security troops or covering troops in English, Sicherungstruppe in the singular) were German troops during the Second World War , responsible for maintaining order, ensuring the security and protection of lines of communication and guarding works behind the front line and in occupied territories. Security Battalion 1018 was formed on July 14, 1944, in the General Government. The battalion was created by renaming the II Battalion of Security Regiment 611 to four companies. After its formation, the battalion continued to be deployed in the General Government. In January 1945, the battalion suffered heavy losses near Tarnow, also in the General Government. Remnants of the battalion were later deployed in Upper Silesia. Schmitt was wounded by grenade fragments (31b) in January 1945 (likely near Tarnow Poland). He was later released in April 1945 and was sent to his unit again, although by that stage of the war who knows where he ended up, likely in an adhoc unit which sadly is not recorded in his Soldbuch. Although there are entries in French from a French POW Camp in 1947!
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WWII Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Obergefreiter Heinrich Bosbach – Ost Batl 618 (Russisch) 15th Armee in Pas de Calais – Destroyed in Normandy 1944 – Rare!
£272.00Here we have a rather beat up but original Soldbuch to a really hard to find Westfront unit… Issued to Heinrich Bosbach who served with various Festung and Pioneer Units, until his deployment in 1944 with a rather rare unit! He was also awarded the War Merit Cross with the Ost Batl 618 in France in April 1944 (LXXXII Armee Korps). Ost Batl 618 (Russisch) – 15th Armee In the winter of 1943/44, most of the Ost battalions were detached from their divisions and corps and transferred to France after the Commander-in-Chief West had freed up corresponding German battalions for deployment on the Eastern Front. Some battalions went to Italy and Denmark. In the spring of 1944, most of these battalions were fully integrated into German regiments, partly as replacements for the detached battalions, partly as 4th Battalions. The Eastern Front battalions were mostly deployed in fortified positions along the English Channel, the Atlantic coast, or the Mediterranean coast. In the winter of 1944/45, the remnants of the battalions, most of which had been destroyed in France, were gathered at the Münsingen training area and used there to form Vlasov’s Russian Liberation Army (ROA). Ost Batl 618 was attached to the 15th Armee in Normandy where it was destroyed according to the Lexicon der Wehrmacht. I am not sure what happened to Bosbach, although the Soldbuch is not in the best condition, loose and missing the back cover.
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WWII Wehrmacht Soldbuch Grouping – Uffz Paul Berenbaum – Born in France! – Incredible Story Buried Alive by US Artillery – Grenadier Regiment 713 – 416 Inf Div West Wall 1945 – Mortar Team Leader – Rare!
£427.00Here we have a really tragic Soldbuch Grouping… Paul Berenbaum was born in Wallern (Vallieres Les Metz) France. He was enlisted into the German Army in February 1940. In 1940/1941 he served with: Infanterie Regiment 178 – 76 Infanterie Division – On the Western Front then in Poland. In 1942 he served with: Infanterie Regiment 441 – 416 Infanterie Division They served in Denmark, more can be found here including the places in which they were posted: https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/416ID.htm In 1943/44 he served with Landeschützen Regiment 930 shortly before being assigned to Grenadier Regiment 713 in late 1942/early 1943. But by late 1944 he was assigned to the Feld Ersatz Batl 476 – 416. Infanterie-Division Issued a MP40 Machine Pistol On October 11, 1944, the division established a command post in Keuchingen near Mettlach/Saar. After the start of the Allied offensive across the Moselle on November 9, 1944, elements of the division were deployed in the ensuing defensive battles around Freching and Kerling. On November 17, 1944, the division’s command post was located in Tünsdorf, on November 18 in Orscholz, and on November 19 in Trassem. On November 28, the division headquarters was in Taben, and on December 3 in Taben-Rodt. On December 4, 1944, after a month of defensive fighting, the division still had a combat strength of 2,400 men, of whom 1,550 were infantry. Heavy fighting ensued around the West Wall, followed by a retreat to the Mettlach area and the Orscholz ridge. On January 14, 1945, the division still had a strength of 3,016 men. In the following weeks, the fierce defensive battles continued at the Orscholz ridge/Saar-Moselle triangle. Between February 7 and 28, 1945, the division suffered 2,195 casualties. According to his wounding tags, he was delivered on the 15.1.1945 in St Wendel with a suspected broken bone from being stuck/squeezed. According to a rather rare (never seen before) Soldbuch Paper which was to be put into the Soldbuch given by the main aid station (Hauptverbandplatz): “Verschüttet durch Artillerie einschlag mit Bewusstlosigkeit; kein erbrechen rechten unter arm eingequetscht” “Buried by artillery fire, unconscious; no vomiting, right arm crushed” After being examined the Doctor found his right arm was broken at the elbow, and he was suffering from concussion. He was transferred to Bad Wimpfen where he was to rest according to another piece of paper issued by the Hospital, although he would get a Telegram from his Wife that his relative Hilde was killed during an allied bombing raid on the 4th of March 1945. He would spend till the 28th of May 1945 in hospital recovering, before going into a POW Camp Nr 172 in Vernet d Àviege which was in fact a former Concentration Camp. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Vernet Two Letters sent by his friend Julius Niggemann in 1947 read: My dear Paul! Warmest greetings from Julius. I hope you are in good health. When will you finally come home? Considering the circumstances, we hope that the situation in Germany will soon improve. I wish you all the best and a speedy return home – your Julius! My dear Paul! With heartfelt thanks I received your kind lines. I am glad to hear that you are still healthy and in good spirits — as far as I can say, I am as well. During my last visit to Düsseldorf, I unfortunately learned of the death of your dear wife. You must come to terms with this sad fact, however difficult the loss must be for you. I do hope now, with confidence, that you will soon be released. It truly is about time that our authorities finally come to that realization as well. Düsseldorf looks desolate, and yet, despite everything, new life is springing up from the ruins again. I am always amazed at how people manage to carry on with life. For today, I wish you all the best. Stay healthy and in good spirits until we can have a joyful reunion back home. Your ever-thoughtful friend. It seems his wife Thea Berenbaum died in December of 1945. Lastly a letter dated 18.6.1948 to the now released Paul Berenbaum living in the British Zone of Germany in Munster / Westfalhen shows that he made it out alive. Last comments His story is a tragic story, from being buried alive in combat and miraculously being pulled from the rubble unconscious, loosing family by bombing raids and later his wife whilst he was interned in a former Concentration Camp. A horrible time he experienced, one can only hope he lived peacefully after the war.
