Description
Soldbuch issued to Gefreiter Alois Hirzy
Born in Feldbach, Austria on the 3rd of July 1922.
His Soldbuch is a replacement issued in 1945, interestingly he was issued with a small piece of paper stating that he is not to be blamed for the loss of his Soldbuch as it is reported as missing. The paper asking for a replacement to be issued if possible, dated February 1945.
Gebirgsjäger Regiment 144 – 3 Gebirgsjäger Division
The division took part in the Invasion of Poland 1939 as part of Army Group South, but was transferred to garrison the West Wall before the end of the campaign. In 1940 it joined the invasion of Norway, most famously sending its 139th Mountain Regiment under General Eduard Dietl to seize the ice-free Arctic port of Narvik. The Allies briefly managed to take the town back, but abandoned it to the Germans after the invasion of France.
In 1941 the division moved into Lapland to participate in Operation Silberfuchs, the attack on the Soviet Arctic as part of Operation Barbarossa, but failed to capture Murmansk. The division was withdrawn to Germany for rehabilitation at the end of the year, but left its 139th Mountain Infantry Regiment behind to operate independently. After rehabilitation, the division returned to Norway in 1942, where it served as a reserve. It was then transferred to the Eastern Front, where it served as a reserve for Army Group North near Leningrad. In November 1942 it was committed to the front where the Soviets had surrounded Velikiye Luki, and then transferred to the far south to help in the attempt to relieve Stalingrad. It fought the remainder of the war in the south, retreating with the front lines through Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and finally surrendering to the Soviets in Silesia at the end of the war.
On 1 January 1945, the 3rd Mountain Division (then under Army Group Heinrici of Army Group A) had a strength of 9,805 men.
Regimental History for the period he was with them:
There the regiment was loaded and shipped by ship to Kristiansand, Norway. It was quartered in the towns of Lillehammer, Hamar, Gjövik, Elverum and Stören. In August 1942 the regiment moved by ship to Hangoe. From there it marched into the 11th Army area in the Mga area outside Leningrad. On September 28, 1942, the regiment marched into its staging area. On September 29, 1942, the attack on the Soviet troops encircled near Gaitolowo began. They were destroyed or captured by October 1, 1942. At the beginning of October 1942 the regiment returned to Mga. After the regiment was refreshed, it was loaded onto the railway and moved south to the Millerowo area. The regiment had to protect the city, which had extensive supply depots, from the Soviet troops who had broken through. On December 23, 1942, the Red Army reached the city. After the first Soviet attack on the city failed on December 24, 1942, the city was surrounded by the Red Army on December 25, 1942. On January 15, 1943, the defenders’ situation had become hopeless and the breakout to the west began. The regiment fought its way through heavy fighting to the Donets and its own lines near Voroshilovgrad, which was reached on January 18, 1943
Awards
Interesting and not so often seen:
Antrag auf verleihung des Infanterie Sturmabzeichens – Application for the award of the Infantry Assault Badge
Stating that he had taken part in Assaults on the 29.9.1942 / 30.9.1942 / 28.12.1942
Wounds Badge in Black – January 9143
Infantry Assault Badge – GJ 144 – Signed by Regimental Commander Oberst Friedmann Knighs Cross Signature KIA 1943 (Seen Below)
The following death notice for Friedrich Friedmann describes why he received the Knight’s Cross. The action took place in the Millerowo area as part of the battles of Gruppe Kreysing.
“Oberst Friedmann has Fallen in the East: Oberst Friedrich Friedmann, commander of a Gebirgsjäger-Regiment, commanded the rearguard during the breakthrough battles along the Don in February 1943. When the columns marching in front of him found the hitherto open road once again occupied by the enemy, Oberst Friedmann independently decided to reopen the road. Despite being hotly pursued by the enemy, elements of the Regiment succeeded in clearing the retreat route and forcing a breakthrough. Oberst Friedmann was thereupon awarded the Knight’s Cross. This brave officer died a heroes’ death on the 21.08.1944 during the fighting in the East.”
Final Comments
His Soldbuch was found in an attic and the pins have came loose or are gone. Still a nice addition to any serious GJ collector. Other paperwork includes permits for entering base in Austria, and a small CV detailing his time in the HJ through to the Wehrmacht.
