Description
Soldbuch opened in September 1939 with Artillerie Regiment 262.
Stabswachtmeister Hubert Bogensperger was from Linz, and born in 1908.
He served with Artillerie Regiment 262 – 262 Infanterie Division (till 1943)
From June 14, 1940, the division attacked the Maginot Line south of Pirmarsens and was able to enclose Bitsch Fortress from the north on June 19. After the end of the western campaign, the division remained in France as an occupying force and moved to Poland in August 1940. On October 1, 1940, a third of the division was handed over to the 137th Infantry Division. (Staff/462, III./462, III./482, III./486, III./AR 262). The levies have been replaced. From June 22, 1941, the division took part in the Russian campaign. From the Tomaszow area, the division crossed the German-Russian border and stormed through Brody, Miropol and north of Zhitomir into the area east of Korosten. Then the Dessna was crossed. This was followed by participation in the battle of encirclement around Kyiv and after its completion the transfer via Konotop and Novgorod-Sseversk to Trubchevsk. In the course of the German attack on Moscow, the division advanced into the area between Yelets and Yefremov. After the start of the Russian counter-offensive in front of Moscow, the division had to withdraw to the Orel area. Between Nowosil and Orel she moved into her new position, in which she held until July 1943. After the termination of the German offensive at Kursk, Operation “Zitadelle”, the division became an army reserve of the 9th Army and was used from August 1943 to ward off the Russian breakthrough between Orel and Bryansk. The division suffered the heaviest losses, so that its strength melted down to that of a combat group. Only the remnants of the division were able to withdraw to the Orscha area. On November 2, 1943, the division was disbanded and formed Division Group 262.
Artillerie Regiment 388 – in July 1944
Heeres Artillerie Korps 411 -Infanterie-Division Ulrich von Hutten
They were formed in January 1945, and the Stab was assigned toInfanterie-Division Ulrich von Hutten.
Already on April 12, 1945 the formation of the division was finished. The division had a strength of around 5,000 men. Already in the night of April 15, 1945, the division moved to the Mulde and was deployed in the Mulde section between Dessau and Bitterfeld. The division’s main battle line ran from south of the blown-up Autobahn bridge of Reichsautobahn 9 (Leipzig-Dessau) across the Mulde between Kleutsch and Möst. The division’s supply units and reserves took up positions east of the Mulde in the area of Kleckewitz, Alt-Jeßnitz, Roßdorf and Mulkdenstein. The first skirmishes with American troops took place near Sandersdorf and Thurland. The division managed to stop the American spearheads who wanted to advance on Bitterfeld. Heavy fighting developed around Thurland during the night of April 16, with most of the village being destroyed. There was further fighting around the towns of Raguhn and Siebenhausen. The heavy fighting lasted until April 20, 1945, on April 21, 1945 the Americans took Bitterfeld. The Infantry Division Ulrich von Hutten was transferred to the Eastern Front with the 12th Army and marched to Wittenberg. There it formed a bridgehead to the north-east and north, which was intended to secure the Elbe line between Wittenberg and Coswig. The division’s task was to secure the town of Wittenberg and the villages north of the town. On the morning of April 25, the division’s regiments that had arrived east and south-east of Wittenberg were engaged in combat with Russian units. The division managed to block the Russian attack on Wittenberg. The division then took part in the 12th Army’s relief attack on Berlin. On the left flank of the XX. Army Corps pushed the division through the villages south of Brück into the Lehnin forest, where heavy forest fighting broke out. The division then marched towards the Autobahn triangle south of Ferch. By April 28, 1945, the heads of the division advanced as far as Ferch, by the evening of April 29 the Bliesendorf – Ferch line had been reached and the town of Hutten had been taken. Here the German advance came to a halt and the division turned to defense. After absorbing the remnants of the 9th Army from the Halbe pocket, the division and the remnants of the 12th Army began to withdraw to the Elbe. By May 8, 1945, the last remnants of the division had been taken prisoner across the Elbe near Tangermünde.
Awards:
- Medal for 1.10.1938
- Iron Cross second Class ( Note he was awarded the KVK2 but this was advanced to EK2)
- Eastern Front Medal
- War Merit Cross First Class
Final Comments:
A nice first issue Soldbuch to an important functionary in the unit a Stabswachmeister. Interesting entry for the Iron Cross Second Class as his KVK was crossed out. Late war units like this are highly sought after.