Wehrmacht Soldbuch – Unteroffizier Haberkorn – Grenadier Regiment 1120 – 553 Volksgrenadier Division Ardennes 1944 – Wounded fighting US Troops 1945 (Reserved)

Description

Wehrmacht Soldbuch for NCO Kurt Haberkorn.

Soldbuch opened in December of 1939 with Infanterie Regiment 174.

In 1941 – Etra Südost / Wehrmachttransportleitung Südost

On 01.11.1940 – set up in Vienna, the use of which is to be considered in connection with the dispatch of the German army mission to Romania, which began in October, and the increasing involvement of the Balkans in German military plans. It was initially responsible for the transport command in Ostmark, Bohemia and Moravia, the transport officer in Pressburg and the German border command in Regensburg. Location always Vienna

Late 1944 / 1945 – Grenadier Regiment 1120 (553 Volksgrenadier Division) –

 

Fought against: US ARMY – 79 US Infantry Division & 10 US Armoured Division near Oehringen/Schwaebish Hall 1945

 

553. Volksgrenadier division was created on 9 October 1944 by the renaming of the 553. Grenadier division in Lorraine. The 553. Grenadier division was originally formed as a Sperr division (blocking division) in Münsingen. The unit was composed of men from Württemberg. In September 1944, the 553rd was rushed to the Lorraine region of the western front and thrown into battle against the Allied troops advancing on the city of Nancy.

During September 1120. Grenadier regiment of the division defended Forêt de Champenoux to cover the withdrawal of the rest of the division. The regiment had entrenched thoroughly, building a line of log-covered dugouts and foxholes ten or fifteen yards inside the forest. Within the shelter of the woods a few assault guns backed up the infantry and covered still more entrenchments. When the Americans attacked with tanks and infantry on 20 September, they were repulsed. Repeated attempts were made to push the 1120th Regiment out of their positions during the day, and the following day, but all were driven back. The Americans tried a prolonged artillery barrage to demolished the entrenchments, but even this was unable to dislodge the defenders. On 22 September, the Americans tried a combined attack with the 80th and 35th Infantry Divisions, supported by one combat command of the 6th Armoured Division and the Volksgrenadiers were finally pushed out of the forest. With the Americans now threatening both his flanks, the 553. GD’s commander, Oberst Erich Loehr pulled his division back.

The division was pulled out of the line in October. The whole 553. Grenadier division had been worn down after a month’s hard fighting and had to be reinforced. The reinforcements it integrated were number of fortress and independent battalions in the area of Army Group D. Even with the addition of these groups, one regiment (the 1121st) was dissolved along with the 2nd Battalion of 1120. Grenadier regiment.

While the US Third Army was advancing from Metz, the US Seventh Army was preparing to clear the Saverne Gap.

In mid-November, the American 44th Infantry and the French 2nd Armoured Divisions started an advance aimed at taking Saarbourg. Among the defending units was the newly renamed 553. Volksgrenadier division. Another hard defensive battle began for the Volksgrenadiers.

The Allied assaults ground down the German units until they were only shadows of their normal organisations. After Saarbourg fell to the US 44th Infantry Division on 21 November, the remnants of 553. VGD were pulled out and transferred to southern Alsace.

During Operation Nordwind the division the division attacked alongside 10. SS-Panzerdivision from Gambsheim towards Haguenau. At the end of January, the High Command decided to pull the 553. VGD out of the line entirely and rebuild it once again. The division was re-established on 31 January 1945 in Pforzheim. The division was deployed in the 19. Armee sector on 20 March. The division surrendered to the Americans shortly thereafter in Württemberg.

Awards:

Wounds badge in Black , he was wounded twice and received no Silver badge due to the war ending.

 

Soldbuch comments. 

Very nice piece of paper added to the front page, detailing that he is if the captured only allowed to say his name, rank and home address, anything else is dishonourable and guilty of treason against Germany. A rare late war unit, fighting in desirable and sought after battles.

 

10th Armoured – US Army  Documentary about the fighting in Germany, also where Haberkorn was wounded.

An interesting documentary covering the creating on the Volks Grenadier Divisions