Description
Leutnant Lübke
Rudolf Lübke was born on the 11th of February 1910 in Stettin, Pommern ( today Poland).
Lübkes Soldbuch was issued in November 1939, with:
Infanterie Panzer Abwehr Ersatz Abteilung 32 / 32 Infanterie Division
Note: Matching Tag and Soldbuch!
Lübke served in a supply function, although he was armed and travelling to and from the frontline.
32 Infanterie Division
At the outbreak of World War II, the division crossed the Polish border on 1 September 1939 and reached the Vistula at Kulm on the third day of operations. On 6 September the division crossed the Drewenz at Gollup and continued its advance to the Modlin Fortress via Sierpc. The division encircled the fortress from the southeast and then marched to Warsaw–Praga.
In December 1939 the division was moved to the Eifel.
Here the Feldersatz-Bataillon 32 (32nd Field Replacement Battalion) was transferred to the 162nd Infantry Division in January 1940.
At the beginning of the Battle of France (Fall Gelb—Case Yellow), the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, the division stationed southwest of Prüm in the Eifel and penetrated the Belgian border defenses and crossed the river Meuse at Givet. The division then marched through Ohain to Cambrai, and from here south of Douai to La Bassée and Lille. During the second phase campaign, Fall Rot (Case Red), the division crossed the river Somme at Bray-sur-Somme and the river Seine near Rouen. Afterwards the division pursued the defeated French opponents to the river Loire near Nantes. Here the division remained until August 1940. It then relocated to the Cotentin peninsula, in preparation for Operation Sea Lion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), the planned invasion of the United Kingdom which was never carried out.
In October 1940 the division was transferred to East Prussia. At the same time, the staff of Infanterie-Regiment 4 (4th Infantry Regiment) and every 3rd battalion of every infantry regiment were handed off to the 122nd Infantry Division. The hand-offs were replaced.
In the winter of 1941 the Division was trapped in the Demyansk Pocket along with the 12th, 30th, 123rd and 290th infantry divisions, and the SS-Division Totenkopf, as well as RAD, Police, Todt organization and other auxiliary units, for a total of about 90,000 German troops and around 10,000 auxiliaries. Their commander was General der Infanterie Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt, commander of the II. Armeekorps (2nd Army Corps). Following the successful relief of the Demyansk Pocket three of its infantry battalions were disbanded due to heavy casualties.
Lübke stayed with the Division until he was wounded near Riga. After which is unit would be trapped in the famous Kurland Pocket, so this wounding allowed him an early escape from Kurland.
In April 1945, Lübke recovered from his wounds was posted to:
Panzergrenadier Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon 90
They were made mobile and sent to the Oder Front with:
Panzerausbildungsverband Ostsee
The tank training association Baltic Sea was set up on March 28, 1945 from members of various training units of the tank troops and remnants of other associations in the Prenzlau area. Even before training and deployment were complete and before the planned brigade strength had been reached, the unit was relocated to the Oder front near Stettin in April 1945. During battles with the Red Army, the unit was severely decimated. The rest ended up in Soviet captivity.
Equipment and Weapons
K98 as well as a Spanish Victoria Pistol. Later Lübke bought a Mauser 7.65mm Pistol from Heeres stock.
Wounds
On the 11th of November 1944, Lübke was wounded with a piece of shrapnel and moved away from the front with a Hospital train.
Awards
War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords – 26.3.1942
Eastern Front Medal – 29.7.1942
Iron Cross 2nd Class – 1.4.1943 – Pleskau Northern Russia.
Wounds Badge in Black – 22.8. 1944 – Riga
Lübkes military career did not end in 1945, after his return to Germany he moved to Hamburg and joined the Bundeswehr (Modern German Army) enlisted in 1960. Interestingly, his old rank was reinstated, and joined once again logistic troops. Lübkes military career ended in July 1969 as a Major. Interestingly, he was allowed to wear his WW2 earned Medals of which they are entered, also note the entry for the Demjansk Shield.
