Description
Wehrmacht Soldbuch to Obergefreiter Erich Kohler
Kohler was born on the 28.12.11 in Schura, Tüttlingen into a Protestant family. He was married and worked in a Factory in his civilian life.
His Soldbuch was issued on the 12.4.1940 with a Pionier training unit.
Kohler seen a few units before being sent to the frontline, arriving at the front in early 1941 with:
Pionier Bataillon 125 (125.Infanterie Division)
Interestingly Kohler was issued a Flare Gun and a carrier for the pistol on his arrival at the Front.
As part of Army Group South, he was awarded the Assault Badge on the 13.12.1941 for actions in the Mius area, in Southern Russia.
Kohler was found on the 23.3.1942 by members of the SS Panzer Abteilung 5 ‘Wiking’ with freezing wounds: 3rd Degree (In third degree frostbite, the layers of tissue below the skin freeze).
It is unknown what happened to Kohler at that time, but for his efforts at that time he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on the 25.3.1942
After three months of rest, he would rejoin his unit, remaining there till the end of 1943. Kohler was decorated in September of 1942 with the Eastern Front Medal and the Wounds Badge in Black.
Kohler was sent to Pionier Bataillon 712 (712 Infanterie Division)
On page 15, an interesting entry can be seen – that he was attached to the Kampfgruppe Fischer in Aachen.
Kohler was wounded by a piece of shrapnel on the 18th of September 1944
Kohler would recover from his injuries in November 1944, and was assigned to a replacement unit in Mainz.
In the rear of the Soldbuch is his detailed capture papers issued by the US Army on the frontline, captured on the 28.3.1945 in the town Holzhausen Taunus by the US Army.
