Description
Soldbuch Issued to Günther Vaupel in August of 1939.
Vaupel was from Görlitz and was a painter in his civil profession, he was not married.
Panzer Aufklärungs Abt 22 (22 Infanterie Division LL )
At the end of October 1939, the division was transferred to the Sennelager military training area to be trained for airborne operations. At the beginning of the western campaign, the division was used as part of the 7th Flieger-Division for airborne operations. The 16th Infantry Regiment landed in the Waalhaven area, the 47th Infantry Regiment in the Katwijk-Valkenburg area and the 65th Infantry Regiment in the Ypenburg area. During these operations, the division suffered heavy casualties. In June 1940 the division was transferred to St. Quentin and in July to the area northeast of Antwerp for refreshment. The division stayed here until December and then moved to the Stendal-Magdeburg area. In the winter of 1940/41. In April 1941 the division came to Ploesti to secure the Romanian oil fields. In June 1941, the division moved into its staging area northwest of Jassy in Romania. From here the division took part in the Russian campaign from July 2nd. The division crossed the Prut, in mid-July the Dniester south-east of Mogilev and in August the Dnieper at Berislav. The division then marched to the Sea of Azov, broke through the Perekop Isthmus to Crimea and took part in the first attacks on the Sevastopol fortress. The division was then transferred to security tasks in the eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula. From January to April 1942, the division was in trench warfare in front of Sevastopol and from May 8 took part in the battles to regain the Kerch Peninsula. In June she took part in the storming of Sevastopol. After the end of the fighting, the division was transferred to Greece and refreshed in the Athens and Salonica area. By order of the General Army Office of July 29, 1942, the division was to be reorganized for airborne use and received the additional designation (L.L. motorized trop.). There were also reclassifications in the units. On October 1, 1942, the airborne use was lifted again. The division has now been reorganized for use in Crete.
Later Panzer Aufklärungs Abt 122 (122 Infanterie Division)
It seems that towards the end of 1944, Vaupel is in Kurland, Latvia. His unit is developed in some of the heaviest fighting in Kurland, around the Saldus (Frauenburg) area. Parts of the unit were sent to the Cieceres Lake West side according to Lexicon der Wehrmacht. Interestingly, Vaupel was in the Panzerspäh Company, these would have had Sdkfz 221/222 Armoured Recon Vehicles. It is unknown what happened with Vaupel, he is not recorded as killed in action.
Equipment/Issued:
Issued K98 Rifle, Italian Pistol, Compass, Saw and Lamp.
Other remarks:
Found Fit for tropical service, Eye inspection in Kreta,
Awards:
- Iron Cross Second Class
- General Assault Badge . 1941
- Wounds Badge in Black – Jan 1942
- War Merit Cross with Swords – July 1942
- Eastern Front Medal – July 1942
- Krim Campaign Sheild – March 1943
Close Combat Days in Southern Russia :
- 18.9.1941 – Rodionowka
- 28.10.1941 – Ongernay
- 1.11.1941 – Bachtshissaraj
Signatures:
There is a detailed list of the officers here. Could be matched to a nice signature in the Soldbuch : https://www.historic.de/Militar/22.%20ID/AufklAbt22/AA22Main.htm
Final Comments:
A super Soldbuch for Panzer Recon, these are really hard to find. He seen around, Holland in 1940, Greece and Crete, then to Russia, and finally to Latvian territories for the final battles of WW2 in the Kurland Pocket. A very nice Soldbuch, from a desirable unit, something for the real advanced Panzer Recon Collectors. Super photo in the Soldbuch in Tropical Gear. Vaupel is not listed as KIA or MIA. Although his Soldbuch drops off around March 1945.