WWII German Army Soldbuch Obergefreiter Krey – Panzergrenadier Regiment 59 – Breakout Bobruisk – Close Combat Clasp – FREE SHIPPING!
Description
Soldbuch belonging to Gefreiten, (Corporal), Erich Krey, born on December 9, 1922.
Solduch released on October 15, 1941. It served initially in the Feldersatz Batailion 20, attached to the 20 INFANTERIE DIVISION, that at that time, was destined in Russia, attached to 18 Armee, within the Group of Armies
North.
With this division, fought in defensive battles, between October of 1941 and September of 1942, in the front of Leningrad, near the town of Tschudowo, in the area of Voljov, fighting against the troops of the Soviet Army, and the Partisans acting behind the German line. On October 1, 1942, he was transferred to the Panzergrenadier Regiment 59, attached to the 20-
PANZER DIVISION, which on that date was stationed in the Russian village of Orel, attached to the 2 Pazerarmee, within the Group of Armies Center. In November of that year, 20-PD was sent to the Bukinos Paschkowa-Burisy-Koloschina-Warnawina sector, where the 7 Luftwaffen Feld Division, was
collapsed by the Russian attacks, opening a major gap on the German front,
That the 20.PD, had to close with strong struggles, and major losses. In December, he was seriously injured, and removed from the
battlefield, until December 1943. In February of 1943, the division returned to Orel, fighting, against a new Soviet offensive, to the south of the city. Later, the 20-PD was sent to rear, to prepare for Operation Citadel, the Battle of Kursk. The battle began on July 5, 1943, and the 20-PD, fought alongside the 4 Panzer Division, in the north of Orel, but only advanced a few kilometers, suffering significant casualties. Between 7 and 10 of July, the
Panzergrenadier Regiment 59, lost a third part of its personnel.
Then, the Soviet counterattack, and 20-PD fought in the defense of Stolptscheje, fighting, which lasted until August 8, when the exhausted division, with heavy losses, retired to the area of Roslavl – Juchnow.
Between September and October, new retreats, towards Jelnja, Roslavl, Pokot and Gorodok. At the beginning of November, the remains of the division were sent south of Newel to cover a new breach opened by the Russians between the Northern and Central Army Groups.
NOTE: throughout this year, this
soldier did not participate, having been wounded in combat.
After this battle, 20-PD planned to withdraw from the battlefront, to rest and refuel, but the Russians started a new offensive on December 13 against Vitebsk. Along with the 129 Infanterie Division, the 20PD, was in charge of the defense of the city. The Russians attempted to conquer Malaschenki airfield, but the Panzergrenadier Regiment 59, along with several tanks of the division, momentarily halted the Soviet onslaught, but the airfield was conquered the next day. Finally the front stabilized in January of 1944.
In February, the division was withdrawn to a quieter battlefront, where it remained, until May 1944. On June 22, the Soviets launched Operation Bragation, the great offensive, against the Army Group Center.
The division was sent to Bobruisk-Mogilev, where it was surrounded, in which it was called Bobruisk’s kessel. Later the kessel was divided in 2 groups, separated by the river Berezina. With the remaining tanks
of the 20 Panzer Division, at the point of attack, 15,000 to 30,000 German soldiers fought their way, with terrible losses. The Panzergrenadier Regiment 59 was reduced to a simple kampfgruppe, with hardly any fighting ability.
The survivors of the Division, and the remains of the vehicles, were transferred to East Prussia, to rest, and receive new replacements. On January 5, 1945, 20-PD, was sent to Hungary, to attack the Uiszla bridgehead, on the Vistula River. But, due to new Soviet offensives, the divison, was urgently moved to
Ratibor, (Poland), to defend the river Oder. In February, a new mission: to try to break the siege of the city of Breslau, but the division was very weakened, and did not achieve its objective. Between March an April, 20-PD fought in defensive battles in Neisse, Königsbrück and Dresden.
Finally, the remnants of the division marked to the west, to surrender to the American troops.
Soldbuch, with numerous entries, delivery of material, including a Luger P08 pistol and another Walther P38, a Kar98 bcd mauser, (manufacturer: Gustloff Werke), winter clothing, … ..
Seriously injured, by
grenade shrapnel, the December 14, 1942; Was admitted to several military hospitals, for a year, (so he could not participate, in the Battle of Kursk). He received a Führerspacket in May 1944. The soldbuch, has a record of 21 days of close combat, dated from December 15, 1942, until January 28, 1945.
Decorated in 4 occasions:
1) Wounded Badge in Black, , (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz), granted on February 2, 1943, due to
the serious shrapnel wounds sustained in the month of December of the previous year.
2) Iron Cross of 2nd class, ( EK2), won on February 21, 1943. In the photograph on the cover, you can see, the ribbon of this medal, sewn in the buttonhole of the jacket
3) Panzer Badge in bronze, (Panzerkampfabzeichen in bronze), granted the 15 of March of 1943 – he can be seen wearing it.
4) Close Combat Clasp, (Nahkampfspange), awarded on November 15, 1944
Picture in the Soldbuch- indeed it seems to be Krey, although it seems it was added to a new cover at some point. Priced Accordingly
