Original WWII Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Raimund Glanbauf – MG Gunner – 44 Reichs Grenadier HuD Division – Italy 1944 – Battle of Monte Cassino – Stepped on a Mine – War Crimes in Italy / Massacre of Capistrello – Interesting Photo! (sold)
Description
Soldbuch to Raimund Glanbauf
Page 1 is sadly missing, but the important information still is inside.
He served with Pioneer Batl 80 – 44 Reichsgrenadier Division – Hoch und Deutschmeister
From the Alpine border to Monte Cassino
Following the armistice between Italy and the Allies on 8 September 1943, the division played a central role in disarming and interning Italian troops in the Trentino and South Tyrol regions. In October 1943, it was transferred to the Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral, where it engaged in anti-partisan operations in Istria and Slovenia.
In late November 1943, the division was redeployed to Southern Italy, holding positions along the Gustav Line near Monte Cairo and the surrounding area. It took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino, suffering heavy casualties during the fighting.
On 4 June 1944, near the Capistrello train station, soldiers from Pioneer Battalion 80 executed a group of Italian civilians arrested during these searches.
The massacre of Capistrello
At the start of the Allied offensive in May 1944, the division was stationed in the sector east and northeast of Roccasecca. Following the collapse of the Gustav Line, its troops retreated along the Roveto Valley toward Balsorano. During the retreat, they conducted search operations in the hills around Capistrello, where partisans and British parachutists were believed to be hiding.
On 4 June 1944, near the Capistrello train station, soldiers from Pioneer Battalion 80 executed a group of Italian civilians arrested during these searches.
The retreat through Umbria and the Casentino
In its continued retreat, the division moved through the Sabina region in Latium toward Rieti and Leonessa, eventually advancing into Umbria. Along its route north, it passed through towns such as Terni, Assisi, Città di Castello, Umbertide, Sansepolcro, and Pieve Santo Stefano. In early July 1944, the division carried out anti-partisan search operations in the Monte Santa Maria Tiberina area and engaged in combat in the Perugia region.
Crossing into Tuscany, the division advanced through the Casentino mountain region and established positions at the Passo dei Mandrioli. On 20 and 21 August 1944, its units carried out a major operation, code-named Maskenball, near the pass and the village of Badia Prataglia. The operation aimed to clear the area of partisan forces.
The Sassoleone reprisal action and combing operations in Budrio and Medicina
In September 1944, the division was positioned in the northern Apennines, south of Imola and Castel San Pietro. On 24 September, the Pioneer Battalion conducted a reprisal operation in Sassoleone, during which 23 civilians were killed in response to the killing of a German officer in a partisan ambush.
After suffering heavy losses in the fighting in Valsanterno, the division withdrew to the area around Budrio to reorganise. On 9 October 1944, one of its battalions carried out search operations in the towns of Budrio, Medicina, and Sesto Imolese, detaining 269 men. Two were identified as partisans and immediately executed, while 120 others were deported to Germany for forced labour.
Transfer to Hungary and the end of the war
In November 1944, the division was transferred to Hungary, where it fought in the Lake Balaton area. Toward the end of the war, its remaining units retreated to the Austrian-Hungarian border. To avoid capture by the Red Army, these units withdrew to Linz, where they surrendered to American forces.
Other notes:Â
He was issued either a MG42 or MG34 in 1944 – MG (Machinengehwehr) is not to be confused with MP (Machinenpistole) !Â
Glanbauf stepped on a mine in February of 1945, damaging the right side of his face and his right leg. For which he was given the Wounds Badge in Black. He was found fit for service again in April 1945, but what happened to him after that I was unable to find anything out.
Also a really nice and rare page is entered in at the start of the Soldbuch – This describes that he is a member of a Traditions Unit and this comes with benefits. That he belongs only to that unit and that he is to be returned to the unit in the case of injury or sickness. That this paper must be shown when asked for and that it is not to be removed from the Soldbuch. Under order of the Divisions Commander!Â
On his Photo it can be seen he is wearing his Combat Equipment Y Straps and the photo was likely taken in Italy as it is dated 1944!
For more information on this unit:
https://www.ns-taeter-italien.org/en/perpetrators/44th-hoch-und-deutschmeister-reichsgrenadier-division
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44th_Infantry_Division_%28Wehrmacht%29
