Description
Wehrmacht Soldbuch for Obergefreiter Otto Freudenberg
Otto was born on the 1.3.1902 in Möglin into a protestant family, he was in his civilian life a gardener.
His Soldbuch was issued on the 23.1.1941 by Infantry Ers. Batl 466. A replacement unit, although Otto would serve on the home front and not see combat to later.
He was posted to various units responsible for supplies, most interestingly for the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht in Berlin!
Otto would serve with Landes Schützen Batl 303 which guarded supply lines in southern Russia, then he served with Landes Schützen Batl 311 in the Berlin area with similar guard duties.
Otto was then posted to a rather odd unit, Panzer Ersatzteillager OKH ‘A’ – (this unit translates as Tank Parts storage – Army High Command)
Although the unit is relatively unheard of, the location is known…
On the 20.April.1945 he is awarded the Cuff title ‘Kurland’ in Latvia…
Throughout his service he was issued many rifles and items of equipment – as well as a few Führergeschenke – usually a package full with food and small items.
According to the papers found in the back of his Soldbuch he was captured by the Soviets on the 8th of May 1945. By September in a hospital in Dunaberg, Daugavpils in Latvia.
He was released according to his Soviet issued capture papers, on September 1945 and sent back to Berlin, on the grounds that he was too old and sick. A very lucky ending, as many of the transports that left Latvia went directly to POW camps in mainland Russia. Interestingly he wrote a list of places he was held POW in Latvia…
A nice Soldbuch with a unique entry for the Kurland Cuff title, and then captured in Kurland…
