• Tümmerfrau- Emma Gustke - Berlin 1945 - Rubble cleaner - Rare grouping

    Tümmerfrau- Emma Gustke – Berlin 1945 – Rubble cleaner – Rare grouping

    $235.00

    Tümmerfrau – Berlin in Ruins The Work Control Card and photos of a Trümmerfrau For more information see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%C3%BCmmerfrau Emma Gustke, from Treptow was employed from the 18th of June 1945 to clean the streets of Berlin. Men from 15 to the age of 65 and woman from the ages of 15 to 50 years old were required to work. Her photos show the extent of the damage, brick by brick the areas were cleared. In Berlin alone around 60,000 woman were employed to clean the streets from the debris the war inflicted on the city. The pictures tucked inside the work card, a few memories she tucked away…

  • Truppenausweis - Oberst Max Röhrs - Judge in Berlin Reichskriegsgericht -  Sent "WinzenGruppe German Resistance -" leader to death

    Truppenausweis – Oberst Max Röhrs – Judge in Berlin Reichskriegsgericht – Sent “WinzenGruppe German Resistance -” leader to death

    $455.00

    Truppenausweiss for Oberst Max Röhrs, born on the 26.01.1893 in Brake, Germany. Röhrs served as a Judge in the Reichskriegsgericht (German War Court). Super rare to find anything for the Reichskriegsgericht in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Röhrs was a Judge that sent Paul Winzer to death, the leader of the Winzengruppe. As well as that, Röhrs was a judge in other high profile cases such as the case against Werner Engel another German Resistance member. This Identification paper was used right up to 1944. He is wearing the WW1 Marine Wounds Badge as well as the Iron Cross First Class with WW2 Clasp. Paul Winzen * November 24, 1911 in Dortmund Paul was born as the youngest child of the Winzen family. It is no longer possible to determine when he left his parents’ house. In the Dortmund address book from 1941 he is still listed under this address, his profession is given as a stationer. Paul Winzen was a member and leading figure of a resistance group that had emerged from free-thinking/free-religious organizations. People met to go to the theater, visited exhibitions and discussed a wide variety of topics. Politically, they rejected both Soviet communism and social democracy. They advocated a humanistic social order. After 1933, the Dortmund group, which was also called the Winzen Group after its founder Paul Winzen, met in various places and organized the resistance: leaflets against the Nazi regime were printed and foreign radio stations were listened to. When an informer finally crept into the group in 1940 and betrayed the members, they were arrested as members of the Winzen group. The trial of Paul Winzen took place in February 1942 in Berlin before the People’s Court. He and another head of the group, Josef Kasel (see Stolperstein Gneisenaustr. 89) were sentenced to death for “undermining the military force” and “preparing for high treason”. Winzen was also convicted of “broadcasting crimes”. The judgment was carried out on June 12, 1942 in Berlin-Plötzensee.    

  • Wehrmacht Soldbuch - Unteroffizier Haberkorn - Grenadier Regiment 1120 - 553 Volksgrenadier Division Ardennes 1944 - Wounded fighting US Troops 1945 (Reserved)

    Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Unteroffizier Haberkorn – Grenadier Regiment 1120 – 553 Volksgrenadier Division Ardennes 1944 – Wounded fighting US Troops 1945 (Reserved)

    $345.00

    Wehrmacht Soldbuch for NCO Kurt Haberkorn. Soldbuch opened in December of 1939 with Infanterie Regiment 174. In 1941 – Etra Südost / Wehrmachttransportleitung Südost On 01.11.1940 – set up in Vienna, the use of which is to be considered in connection with the dispatch of the German army mission to Romania, which began in October, and the increasing involvement of the Balkans in German military plans. It was initially responsible for the transport command in Ostmark, Bohemia and Moravia, the transport officer in Pressburg and the German border command in Regensburg. Location always Vienna Late 1944 / 1945 – Grenadier Regiment 1120 (553 Volksgrenadier Division) –   Fought against: US ARMY – 79 US Infantry Division & 10 US Armoured Division near Oehringen/Schwaebish Hall 1945   553. Volksgrenadier division was created on 9 October 1944 by the renaming of the 553. Grenadier division in Lorraine. The 553. Grenadier division was originally formed as a Sperr division (blocking division) in Münsingen. The unit was composed of men from Württemberg. In September 1944, the 553rd was rushed to the Lorraine region of the western front and thrown into battle against the Allied troops advancing on the city of Nancy. During September 1120. Grenadier regiment of the division defended Forêt de Champenoux to cover the withdrawal of the rest of the division. The regiment had entrenched thoroughly, building a line of log-covered dugouts and foxholes ten or fifteen yards inside the forest. Within the shelter of the woods a few assault guns backed up the infantry and covered still more entrenchments. When the Americans attacked with tanks and infantry on 20 September, they were repulsed. Repeated attempts were made to push the 1120th Regiment out of their positions during the day, and the following day, but all were driven back. The Americans tried a prolonged artillery barrage to demolished the entrenchments, but even this was unable to dislodge the defenders. On 22 September, the Americans tried a combined attack with the 80th and 35th Infantry Divisions, supported by one combat command of the 6th Armoured Division and the Volksgrenadiers were finally pushed out of the forest. With the Americans now threatening both his flanks, the 553. GD’s commander, Oberst Erich Loehr pulled his division back. The division was pulled out of the line in October. The whole 553. Grenadier division had been worn down after a month’s hard fighting and had to be reinforced. The reinforcements it integrated were number of fortress and independent battalions in the area of Army Group D. Even with the addition of these groups, one regiment (the 1121st) was dissolved along with the 2nd Battalion of 1120. Grenadier regiment. While the US Third Army was advancing from Metz, the US Seventh Army was preparing to clear the Saverne Gap. In mid-November, the American 44th Infantry and the French 2nd Armoured Divisions started an advance aimed at taking Saarbourg. Among the defending units was the newly renamed 553. Volksgrenadier division. Another hard defensive battle began for the Volksgrenadiers. The Allied assaults ground down the German units until they were only shadows of their normal organisations. After Saarbourg fell to the US 44th Infantry Division on 21 November, the remnants of 553. VGD were pulled out and transferred to southern Alsace. During Operation Nordwind the division the division attacked alongside 10. SS-Panzerdivision from Gambsheim towards Haguenau. At the end of January, the High Command decided to pull the 553. VGD out of the line entirely and rebuild it once again. The division was re-established on 31 January 1945 in Pforzheim. The division was deployed in the 19. Armee sector on 20 March. The division surrendered to the Americans shortly thereafter in Württemberg. Awards: Wounds badge in Black , he was wounded twice and received no Silver badge due to the war ending.   Soldbuch comments.  Very nice piece of paper added to the front page, detailing that he is if the captured only allowed to say his name, rank and home address, anything else is dishonourable and guilty of treason against Germany. A rare late war unit, fighting in desirable and sought after battles.   10th Armoured – US Army  Documentary about the fighting in Germany, also where Haberkorn was wounded. An interesting documentary covering the creating on the Volks Grenadier Divisions

  • Heer Soldbuch - Oberleutnant Schröder - Grenadier Regment 1114 (551 VGD) - MP40 - EK2 - Lithuania / Latvia

    Heer Soldbuch – Oberleutnant Schröder – Grenadier Regment 1114 (551 VGD) – MP40 – EK2 – Lithuania / Latvia

    $325.00

    Horst Schröder was born in 1920. He was enlisted in the Army in 1940 with a Tank Hunting training unit. He served with: Panzerjäger Abteilung 193 (93 Infanterie Div)  After the division was recalled, the division was transferred to France as an occupying force. After the start of the Russian campaign, the division was transferred to the Eastern Front at the end of June/beginning of July 1941. The division marched through Wesenberg, Narva and through the Luga position to Leningrad. From October 1941 to March 1942 the division was at the Oranienbaumer Kessel. In May 1942, the division moved to the Volkhov and the Tigoda north of Lake Ilmen, where there were heavy trench warfare. From August to November 1942 the division was then deployed at the Lowat southwest of Cholm. He was wounded March 1941 in August 1941 he was fit again. Schneider spent some time in training after. In November 1942 , he was shot in the face with a training bullet and spent six days in hospital. He severed for short periods in both the following units: Radfahr Abt 8 (8 leichte Division)  Panzer Grenadier Regiment 14 (5 Panzer Division)  March 1943 – 31a – Shot by infantry bullet – released in August 1943 Grenadier Regiment 1114 ( 551 Volks Grenadier Division) From August 22, 1944, the regiment was loaded onto the railway in Thorn and then transported via Allenstein – Memel to Akmene, where it was unloaded from August 25, 1944. On August 26, 1944, the regiment took over parts of the section of Panzergrenadier Regiment 103 of the 14th Panzer Division and replaced it in its positions. From August 27, 1944, heavy fighting broke out in the only moderately developed positions. Company-strength Russian units managed to break into the regiment’s HKL at the southern tip of Lake Jonelaiciai. The regiment managed to re-occupy the HKL in a counterattack by the morning of the following day. Since the HKL was not greatly expanded, the regiment subsequently suffered heavy losses from Russian fire. On October 5, 1944, the Russian attack on the German positions began. The regiment was badly hit and pushed south. In the period that followed, the remnants of the regiment fought in the Kurland pocket. Feb 1945 – Lung problem Awards Eastern Front Medal Wounds Badge in Silver Iron Cross Second Class Equipment MP40 Iron Rations Private Pistol Lamp Summary An interesting photo inside his apartment! This Soldbuch could be researched further and in more depth. But all in all a nice Officers Soldbuch.

  • Heer Soldbuch - Kanonier Niggeloh - Captured by British Airborne - Rhine 1945!

    Heer Soldbuch – Kanonier Niggeloh – Captured by British Airborne – Rhine 1945!

    $265.00

    Karl Hermann Niggloh was born in 1926 in Westfahlen, Germany. Enlisted in 1944 in the Wehrmacht he was sent for training with Artillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung 31  It sees they were mobilised in early 1945 and sent to the front. In January, a telegram arrived to his house telling him to return to the unit immediately. In the rear pouch of the Soldbuch are various pocket litter including a photograph, a permit to enter the driving area of a unit. The most interesting thing about this small grouping is the two letters that came with it: It surfaced in the United Kingdom. ”Impressions of NAZI Germany, East of the Rhine – Peter Graham I have just returned from the airborne assault east of the Rhine. My first impression after things had calmed down was that topographically german east of the Rhine is very much like the English country side. -….. Germany the Nation of War…… Page 2, after landing and unloading a jeep and tractor we had to clean a few houses! One or two Snipers were firing and sporadic  mortar and 88mm firs was coming over but there was no organised opposition. In one of the houses a member of the Volkssturm (German Home Guard) fired one or two rounds and gave himself up! ” Summary A very interesting little group of items, not often seen are souvenirs from the British forces! Likely with a little more research it woudl reveal a great deal more!  

  • Heer Wehrpass - Uffz Meister - Radfahr Aufklärungs-Abteilung 34 (34 Inf Div) KIA 1941

    Heer Wehrpass – Uffz Meister – Radfahr Aufklärungs-Abteilung 34 (34 Inf Div) KIA 1941

    Issued to Uffz Meister he was in the following units: 

    Kavallerie Regiment 6

    Radfahr Aufklärungs-Abteilung 34 (34 Inf Div)

    After minor preliminary battles, the division was relocated to the Eifel at the turn of the year 1939/1940. With the beginning of the western campaign on May 10, 1940, the division crossed the Our near Wormeldingen and occupied the city of Luxembourg. Then the division turned via Longwy-Dudelange and stayed here as flank protection in front of the Maginot Line. During the second phase of the campaign, the “Battle of France”, the division fought its way to the Aisne, forced the river to cross at Guignicourt and stormed east from Reims to the Marne and then to the Loire to the Allier. After the armistice, the division secured the demarcation line and moved in July 1940 as an occupying force in the area southeast of Boulogne. In September 1940, the division moved to the Channel Coast for coastal protection. In December 1940, the third battalions were given up and replaced for realignments. At the end of May 1941 the division was transported to Poland by rail and made ready for the Russian campaign in front of Brest-Litowsk. On June 22, 1941, the division broke through the border fortifications south of Brest-Litovsk and then advanced across the Berezina to the Dnieper south of Mogilev. The division then crossed the Ssosh and then the Dessna north of Bryansk in early September. From October 1941, the division participated in the advance on Moscow and the occupation of Brjansk. This was followed by the advance to Ugra in the Torwakowo area and further over the Protwa and Nara to the Tarutino area in the Malojaroslavets area. Here the division met the Russian counter-offensive, so that they had to retreat to the Shanja position west of Medyn amid heavy defensive battles.

    Trained on:

    K98 Rifle, MG34, P08 

    Awards:

    1. Westwall Medal 
    2. Iron Cross Second Class – cert included signed by Generallt Behlendorf (Kings Cross Holder) 
    3. Assault Badge – Cert included

    He was killed in action in October 1941 in Russia.