WWII German Waffen SS Soldbuch – SS Rottenführer Hellwig – Battle of Arnhem & Ardennes – 9. SS-Panzer-Division “Hohenstaufen” – Ultra Rare (Sold)
Description
SS Soldbuch issued to Hans Hellwig, born on the 6th of March 1924 in Kiel, Germany.
Personal details: Roman Catholic, trained as a sales man. 1,76cm tall, he had a scar on his forehead. Hellwig was not married and his next of kin was his father in Kiel.
Hellwig was serving with the Luftwaffe (as his EKM states: 288 Schwere Flak Ersatz Abt 62) before being transferred to the Waffen-SS in early September (also carried his rank over!) he was in Nürnberg for further training at the Signals replacement base. He was issued full uniform and equipment on the 5th of September in Nürnberg. This included his SS Helmet, tent and poles, ammo pouches, rucksack and eating utensils.
It would seem he passed the course fairly fast and was sent to his frontline unit (as page 22 indicates an SS Untersturmführer sent found him fit for duty on the 9.9.1944):
SS Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 9 (9. SS-Panzer-Division “Hohenstaufen”)
When the Allies landed in the Arnhem area on September 17, there were still around 2,500 men from the division in this area. These were assembled in the Velp area and then faced off against the landed paratroopers who had landed east of Oosterbeek. After the end of the fighting for Arnhem (17.09 – 26.09 – note that Hellwig has a security stamp from the 25th signed by SS Ostuf. Herbert Escher during the battle on the 25.09) , the remaining parts of the division followed to the Westerwald, where the division was finally reorganised. The division reached a strength of around 13,000 men by seconding members of the Air Force and Navy. On October 17, 1944, they were transferred to the Münster – Hamm – Paderborn – Gütersloh area and two weeks later to the Euskirchen – Münstereifel – Neuenahr area. By mid-December the division had reached a strength of 19,605 men and was thus above the target strength. However, the teams were insufficiently trained. On December 17, 1944, the division was moved to the Stadtkyll – Jünkerath – Blankenheim area. The following day they attacked Schoenberg via Losheim. Initially fighting with Teieln for St. Vith, the division was placed under the I. SS Panzer Corps on December 19 and was supposed to relieve the SS Kampfgruppe “Peiper” at La Gleize by advancing on the right. By the time the division arrived in the Vilettes area, however, the combat group had already been wiped out. At the end of December 1944, the division then moved to the area north of Bastogne. After heavy fighting for the city, the division was replaced by army units on January 6, 1945 and commanded to the area of Vielsalm. Then pushed back to the St. Vith area, the division was finally pulled out of the front on January 23 and transferred to the Prüm area. Four days later, she was transferred to the refreshment room in Mayen.
By the end of January 1945, the division had again reached a strength of 19,462 men due to new Luftwaffe deployments. Already on February 9, the division began to be transferred to Hungary for the planned offensive on Lake Balaton in the Kisber area. Two days later, it moved into the starting position for the “Spring Awakening” operation in the Seregélyes area, about 15 km south-east of Stuhlweißenburg. In heavy fighting, however, the division could only make small gains in terrain. On March 17, 1945, the division still had a strength of 10,820 men. On March 19, the division was replaced by army units and moved to the area south-west of Stuhlweissenburg. During the retreat that followed, on March 22, 1945, the division was already around 30 km to the north-west in the Berhida – Ösi – Vár-Polata area. After fighting in the Veszprém area, the division went back to the Reichsschutz position on April 7, 1945. Deployed in the Radkersburg area, the division was refreshed again by the end of April 1945. The transfer to the Amstetten area followed at the end of April. From here she reached the Enns on May 8, 1945, where she was taken prisoner by the Americans.
Signatures:
25.09.1944 – SS Ostuf. Herbert Escher (2 Kp.)
SS-Nr. 455.980 He served with 2. (Funk-)Kompanie from SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 9 with 9. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hohenstaufen’. Between September 1944 and May 1945 he was commander from 2. (Funk-)Kompanie with SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 9 from 9. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hohenstaufen’. He took part in the fightings in Hungary in 1945.
14.4.1945 – SS Ostuf. Gerhard Knabe (2 and 3 Kp.)SS-Nr. 456.073
In 1945 he served with 2. (Funk-)Kompanie from SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 9 with 9. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hohenstaufen’ and he took part in the fightings in Hungary.
Other Soldbuch entries to note:
Payment in Dachau – he was given a special payment in Dachau, signed off by SS Ostuf. Herbert Escher.
Another note is entered into the Soldbuch, likely after a small dental treatment that he is to report to SS-Feldersatz Brigade 102 (II SS Panzer Korps) directly after.
Issued a rifle K98k – 17.10.1944
Promotion: 1.12.1944 – from SS Sturmmann to SS Rottenführer.
Permit to carry a pistol number 15828 – 5.2.1945
Captured by Allied troops: Cover Page: POW Number, 31G 5064964 he was sent to the United State of America, on the last page of the Soldbuch his POW number was written once again this time long after the wars end in February of 1946.
Last comments:
This SS Soldbuch is a highly desirable item, the story of Hellwig is quite remarkable he made it through the last years of the Division and survived fighting on both fronts and managed to see the last days luckily making it out to the US lines to surrender. The signature for Escher during the Battle of Arnheim, and the Ardennes link make this Soldbuch a highly sought after piece. Find another one! They are just not out there!
