Description
Soldbuch grouping to Walter Haselbach
Born in Berusdorf, (today, Bernartice Czech Republic) in 1924.
He enlisted int he German Army in 1942.
Serving shortly with Feldausbilungs Regiment 381 in 1942.
In 1943 He joined:
Panzer Grenadier Regiment 12 (4th Panzer Division)
He was shot with a bullet in August 1943, although this was a minor wound.
In July 1944 he was hit by splinters, being released from hospital in October 1944.
Panzergrenadier Regiment ”Schlesien” 1945
Panzer Division Schlesien was formed in February 1945 at the Döberitz military training area near Berlin. Originally it was to be called Panzer-Division Döberitz, but was then renamed Panzer-Division Schlesien. The Panzer Division Schlesien was equipped with 21 Type IV tanks by the Army Equipment Office, and another 20 tanks were added in March 1945. The division was only deployed shortly before the end of the war. In February 1945, the Silesian Panzer Division was placed under the command of Army Group Vistula and was to be deployed in Frankfurt an der Oder. At the end of March 1945, the Silesian Panzer Division and the Holstein Panzer Division were combined to form the 18th Panzergrenadier Division.
Panzer Grenadier Regiment 30 – 18th Panzer Grenadier Division – Berlin 1945
According to maps in the unit divisional history, this unit was defending a square sector S-Bahn Westkreuz – S-Bahn Halensee – Kürfurstendamm
He was issued with a StG 44 Assault Rifle.
The story of the unit and Haselbach is featured in a new book on the battle of Berlin 1945 (Release date Summer 2022).
It seems Haselbach made it out of the encirclement near Westkreuz and was killed on the 8th of May 1945, he was buried in Berlin – Spandau. Interestingly, the author has noted that those killed in that sector where not buried in Spandau but near the Olympic Stadium and mostly the battle had ended in that sector around one week before. This would indicate that Haselbach along with many other fractured units likely made its way towards Spandau in an attempt to make it out of Berlin. It was here he was killed or died of his wounds, and was buried in Spandau.
Included
- Soldbuch – Missing rear part Page 21 on, looks to have been pulled due to blood staining.
- Wallet holding the Soldbuch
- Wounds Badge in Black (Mm93)
- Four Photos of Haselbach in Uniform
- Wounds Badge Black Document
- Large Glass Framed Picture of Haselbach – with black ribbon
- Documents to his father and mother.
Awards
- Wounds Badge in Black
- Panzer Badge in Bronze
- Close Combat Clasp Bronze
Summary
Killed in action in the Berlin, this battle hardened Soldier seen heavy action in the Eastern Front, and was a witness of the struggle of the last battles on the Oder Front. Finding Soldbücher to KIA German Soldiers for the Battle of Berlin is nearly impossible they don’t come up very often. The majority that do come up are not combat veterans, but elderly or young soldiers. This example is extra ordinary. The large framed photo bearing the black ribbon
