Description
Heer Soldbuch to Uffz August David, born in May 1920 in Altenwald.
His Soldbuch was issued with a Artillery training unit in December 1940.
He served with:
Artillerie Regiment 50 (50 Inf Div)
After seeing combat in the invasions of Poland, France and Greece, the division took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, fighting on the southern sector under the 11. Armee. Following the Crimean campaign, during which it helped capture Sevastopol in June 1942, the division fought in the Caucasus and the Kuban.
It seems he was able to dodge the downfall of the unit.
Festungsregiment 924 (278. Volks-Grenadier-Division)
Italy, 1944 Verteidigungsbereich Venedig
The 278th Infantry Division was re-established on November 17, 1943 as the 22nd Wave Division in Northern Italy from the staff of the dissolved 333rd Infantry Division. On December 6, 1943, the order was issued to set up the division in the Padua – Ferrara – Bologna area. By January 13, 1944, the division (excluding the GR 992) had a strength of 3,946 men. By January 16, 1944, the strength of the division had risen to 5,151 men. On January 27, 1944, the division took over the division section of the 362nd Infantry Division at the Army Department Zangen. At the end of January 1944 the division had reached a strength of 8,587 men, on February 9, 1944 it was 9,996 men. At the end of March 1944 the division was transferred to Istria. At the beginning of February 1944, the division was transferred to the Cesena – Ravenna – Lugo – Castel San Pietro area and deployed there for coastal protection. In mid-May 1944, the division was transferred to the Pescara area and deployed south of Chieti in the Orsogna – Arielli – Tollo area. The division was also assigned the defense of the coast between Francavilla and Pescara on either side. For this purpose it was reinforced by the fortress regiment 924 and two field replacement battalions. From June 7th to 19th, 1944, the division withdrew to the Chienti south of Ancona, where heavy fighting with Polish troops ensued. The division suffered heavy losses. During the second battle south of Ancona between 6th and 18th July 1944 the division’s positions were breached and the division had to fall back to the Ingeborg Line south of Montemarciano on the banks of the Esino. Here the division came to rest for the time being until, from July 25, with sustained resistance, it had to go back to the Metauro south of Fano via Senigallia until August 20, 1944. At the end of August 1944, the division was detached from its previous position on the Adriatic and moved further inland to replace the 5th Mountain Division there. The division’s new position was now north and north-west of Urbino. From mid-September 1944 there was heavy defensive fighting around San Marino. During the night of September 24, 1944, the division left the Marecchia position and headed back north across the Rubicon. On 25 September the division took over part of the 90th Panzergrenadier Division’s section just south of the Via Emilia. In October 1944 the division fought in the Savio and Ronco valleys and in November and December 1944 there were battles around Forli, Faenza and in the Senio bridgehead. In mid-December 1944 the division was in the Senio bridgehead in front of the east dam of the Senio river. After smashing the bridgehead, the division retreated across the Senio. In further heavy defensive battles, the division went back to April 1945 on the Sillaro.
Awards
- Crimea Shield
- Iron Cross Second Class
- Eastern Front Medal
Summary
A nice Soldbuch related to Italy in 1944! He was likely captured as there is no further record of him
