Description
Soldbuch issued to Heinrich Paschold from Frankfurt Germany, issued in 1942 with a pioneer unit.
Awards: Iron Cross Second Class with the 251 Infanterie Division 06.1943
He served with various Pioneer units,
Pioneer Batl 750
Pioneer Regiment 512
Heeres Pioneer Brigade 47 (47 Volksgrenadier Division)
Unit History
The 47th Volksgrenadier Division was raised on September 17, 1944 in Aarhus (Denmark) to replace the destroyed 47th Infantry Division by renaming the 577th Grenadier Division. In addition, the remains of the 47th Infantry Division were incorporated. Half of the division’s personnel came from the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine, with another third from fresh enlistments aged 17 and 18. The rest of the division consisted of older cohorts with Eastern experience. The training of the division suffered from a lack of equipment, some of which could only be made available when the division was transported away. From November 8, 1944, the division was loaded and moved to the Rurfront in the Düren area. During a heavy Allied air raid on Düren on November 16, in which the city was almost completely destroyed, the division suffered its first casualties. Part of the division staff was destroyed. Although the division was actually deployed in the West Wall, it was thrown into the heavy defensive fighting during the 3rd Battle of Aachen in battalions when it arrived at the unloading stations. The division had to replace the bulk of the 12th Volksgrenadier Division and parts of the 275th Infantry Division in the Scherpenseel – Schevenhütte (Stolberg area) section. Heavy defensive fighting ensued around Hamich, Hastenrath and Scherpenseel. The last two towns were lost on November 18, Hamich on November 19, with the division suffering heavy casualties. Wenau was lost on November 20 and Heistern on November 21. The strength of the grenadier regiment dropped to 230 men. All grenadier regiments only had combat group strength. On November 21, the remnants of the division were merged with the remnants of the 12th VGD into one battle group. On November 27, the remaining remnants of the division were transferred to the Wollersheim–Vlatten area (near Zülpich) for refreshment. After the start of the American attacks on the Rur-Inde position between Lucherberg and Merode in the direction of Düren, the 47th Volksgrenadier Division had to replace the 3rd Parachute Division on the night of December 9, 1944. The replacement that arrived on December 8 could only be integrated insufficiently. Deployed in the Düren bridgehead, the division again suffered heavy losses. On December 14, the remnants of the division received orders to cross over to the east bank of the Rur, what she did on December 17th. On December 30, after various refreshments, the division still had a combat strength of 3,051 men. In the fighting on the Maginot Line, the division had to take over the front section of the 21st Panzer Division. In the following weeks she was used in the moder section. On January 16, 1945, the division was relocated with all parts south of the Bienwealdes. From there, the division took part in the last battles of “Operation Nordwind”, the German offensive in Alsace and Lorraine, from January 20, 1945. On January 28, the division received orders to replace the 25th Panzergrenadier Division, which was to be transferred to the east, on the Moder. At the beginning of March the division went back to the West Wall fighting. On March 18th the division was in the Alzey area. On the night of the 25th March 1945 the remnants of the division moved to the east bank of the Rhine. The fighting strength of the division was 830 men. It was refreshed with the remains of other troops. On March 29, 1945, French units crossed the Rhine near Germersheim in the area of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division and formed bridgeheads there. The division was too weak to be able to prevent this. On March 30, the remnants of the division delayed the American advance between Schwetzingen and Hockenheim im Hardt. On April 1, 1945, the division was the last association of the LXXX. Army corps withdrew from the Rhine plain and retreated to the south-east. On April 8, 1945, the division was deployed as the right neighbor of the 16th Volksgrenadier Division along the Enzufer. To withdraw the LXXXX. Army corps in the Swabian Alb, the 47th Volksgrenadier Division had the task of going back to the Ludwigsburg – Leonberg line on April 19th and 20th, in order to bridge the gap between the LXXX. and the LXIV. secure army corps. But already on April 21, the Allied forces succeeded in encircling the LXXX. Closer Army Corps. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans. Volksgrenadier Division had the task of going back to the Ludwigsburg – Leonberg line on April 19 and 20, in order to bridge the gap between the LXXX. and the LXIV. secure army corps. But already on April 21, the Allied forces succeeded in encircling the LXXX. Closer Army Corps. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans. Volksgrenadier Division had the task of going back to the Ludwigsburg – Leonberg line on April 19 and 20, in order to bridge the gap between the LXXX. and the LXIV. secure army corps. But already on April 21, the Allied forces succeeded in encircling the LXXX. Closer Army Corps. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans. so as to be the interface between the LXXX. and the LXIV. secure army corps. But already on April 21, the Allied forces succeeded in encircling the LXXX. Closer Army Corps. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans. so as to be the interface between the LXXX. and the LXIV. secure army corps. But already on April 21, the Allied forces succeeded in encircling the LXXX. Closer Army Corps. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans. The combat group of the 47th Volksgrenadier Division managed to break out through the encirclement in the direction of the Swabian Jura. The combat group then built up a base-like front in the Grabenstetten – Neuffen area. On April 24, the battle group was able to cross the Danube to the east, where it was crushed. Remaining units came to the Tyrol area until the end of the war, where they were taken prisoner by the Americans.
