Friederich Maaßen was born in Habinghorst in 1921. His Soldbuch was issued in January of 1942 with an infantry training regiment. He served with: Infanterie Regiment 696 – 13th I.G. Kp ( 340 Infantry Division)  Serving in the Infantry Support Gun Company: With the loading of the first parts of the division onto the railroad, on May 12, 1942, the transfer to the east began with unloading in Volkowysk. For the most part, they reached the Dnieper in the Gomel area via Baranowicze – Ssluzk – Rogachev, mostly by land march. Here the division was briefly assigned to security services and also took part in a partisan operation. After a further land march via Chernigov – Neshin – Baturin – Glukhov, the division arrived in Kursk with the last parts on July 4, 1942, and then in a brisk advance south of the Kursk-Kastornoje railway line with the first parts on July 5th the area between the rivers Kschen and reach Olympus. During the march, smaller, scattered enemy groups were attacked again and again, but this did not cost us any casualties. By July 7, the division was assembled in bulk in the Kastornoye area (here DivGefStd). Despite the strenuous marches of the past, the division began the following day to relieve the 9th Panzer Division northeast of Kastornoje and took up a position northwest of Voronezh in line with the right wing at Gremjatsche/Malaya Werejka – Spasskoje – Ilinowka – Golossnowka. On July 10 (first battle!) they came under a strong enemy tank attack, which led to a break-in 2 km east of Maloprokrowka as far as Wereika (north of Semljansk). Here the division was in very hard defensive fighting (killing 10 tanks) and was supported by the Luftwaffe. This burglary was then cleared on July 13 by surrounding the enemy together with armored forces from the 9th PD. The enemy had assembled in front of the divisional front with strong armored forces (over 100 tanks), heavy artillery and motorized infantry and attacked the division several times a day for the next two weeks. All attacks were repelled (partly in counterattacks) and the enemy suffered considerable losses in man and material. The reported number of kills of over 30 tanks by the division testified to the severity of the fighting. In a further attack scheduled on July 23, together with the 9th Panzer Division to encircle the enemy group in front of the division, which was constantly being strengthened with new units, the division was able to hold the northwestern flank of the encircling movement (height 218 near Ivanovka) and the own line was advanced on the right wing to Lomowo – Ssurikowy Wysselki and with it the enemy from Bol. Wereika expelled. The division’s losses in the battles of 21. -26. July were 13 officers and 754 Uffze + men. On July 27, the 9.PzDiv was finally separated and from July 29. Parts of the 377th Infantry Division took over sections of the 340th ID in exchange for sections of the 340th ID. Even during August 1942 and in the first two weeks of September the efforts of the Red Army to regain the left and right banks of the Don at Voronezh did not abate. However, all enemy attacks, some of which were massed with tanks and heavy artillery, were repelled. In order to compensate for the losses incurred by the trench fighters, the order was given on August 19, 1942 to ruthlessly comb out the cable. The tense personnel situation repeatedly required the subordination of battalions and regiments to and from neighboring divisions. Division sectors were often exchanged or extended on army orders, but the division generally remained in the “Northern Front” north of Zemlyansk, albeit partly in extension to the west and east to the Don (Donskaya) and from there turning sharply to the south, the Follow the course of the Don (right bank) to the Olchowatka area. Maaßen was wounded due to an accident in September 1942 and sent to a hospital, recovering in March 1943 he rejoined the division: Infanterie Regiment 695 (340 ID)   There is a daily divisional report to be found here! Great in depth analysis on the Division! https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/340ID.htm Maaßen was wounded once again this time a fragment of a grenade splinter. Interestingly he there was a note in the back of the Soldbuch issued a few weeks before from the Panzerjäger Abt 350 (Tank Hunters) that he took part in learning how to fight tanks at close quarters and was now proficient with the Panzerfaust! He also was confirmed to have three Close Combat Days – all in early 1944! By late 1944 he would rejoin the division: Divisions Kampfschule 340 – later Feld Ersatz Batl 1340 (340 Volks Grenadier Division)  On November 16, 1944, the expected American offensive against the Rur position in the Geilenkirchen – Würselen area began. By November 25, the Americans had succeeded in pushing the German formations back to the approach to the Jülich bridgehead. On November 20, the 340th Volksgrenadier Division was ordered to move into the Rur position immediately. To reinforce the Jülich bridgehead, the 340th Volksgrenadier Division was transferred to staging areas close to the front during the night of November 21st. Thus, the division was not deployed as a closed unit, but from the transport trains and was immediately involved in heavy defensive fighting. On November 23, the division was engaged in a heavy defensive battle in the Jülich bridgehead. After heavy losses, the division left the Jülich bridgehead on November 28, 1944 and the division retreated to the east bank of the Rur. In the bridgehead the division had lost 31 officers and 2,400 men. On December 2, 1944, the division was replaced by the 363rd Volksgrenadier Division. On December 6, the division was deployed in Linnich, Lindern. In the battle for Flossdorf, one battalion of the division was completely wiped out. On December 25, 1944, the division was pulled out of its previous front area and supplied…

Soldbuch grouping to Walter Haselbach Born in Berusdorf, (today, Bernartice Czech Republic) in 1924. He enlisted int he German Army in 1942. Serving shortly with Feldausbilungs Regiment 381 in 1942. In 1943 He joined: Panzer Grenadier Regiment 12 (4th Panzer Division)  He was shot with a bullet in August 1943, although this was a minor wound. In July 1944 he was hit by splinters, being released from hospital in October 1944. Panzergrenadier Regiment ”Schlesien” 1945  Panzer Division Schlesien was formed in February 1945 at the Döberitz military training area near Berlin. Originally it was to be called Panzer-Division Döberitz, but was then renamed Panzer-Division Schlesien. The Panzer Division Schlesien was equipped with 21 Type IV tanks by the Army Equipment Office, and another 20 tanks were added in March 1945. The division was only deployed shortly before the end of the war. In February 1945, the Silesian Panzer Division was placed under the command of Army Group Vistula and was to be deployed in Frankfurt an der Oder. At the end of March 1945, the Silesian Panzer Division and the Holstein Panzer Division were combined to form the 18th Panzergrenadier Division. Panzer Grenadier Regiment 30 – 18th Panzer Grenadier Division – Berlin 1945  According to maps in the unit divisional history, this unit was defending a square sector S-Bahn Westkreuz – S-Bahn Halensee – Kürfurstendamm He was issued with a StG 44 Assault Rifle. The story of the unit and Haselbach is featured in a new book on the battle of Berlin 1945 (Release date Summer 2022).  It seems Haselbach made it out of the encirclement near Westkreuz and was killed on the 8th of May 1945, he was buried in Berlin – Spandau. Interestingly, the author has noted that those killed in that sector where not buried in Spandau but near the Olympic Stadium and mostly the battle had ended in that sector around one week before. This would indicate that Haselbach along with many other fractured units likely made its way towards Spandau in an attempt to make it out of Berlin. It was here he was killed or died of his wounds, and was buried in Spandau. Included Soldbuch – Missing rear part Page 21 on, looks to have been pulled due to blood staining. Wallet holding the Soldbuch Wounds Badge in Black (Mm93) Four Photos of Haselbach in Uniform Wounds Badge Black Document Large Glass Framed Picture of Haselbach – with black ribbon Documents to his father and mother. Awards Wounds Badge in Black Panzer Badge in Bronze Close Combat Clasp Bronze Summary Killed in action in the Berlin, this battle hardened Soldier seen heavy action in the Eastern Front, and was a witness of the struggle of the last battles on the Oder Front. Finding Soldbücher to KIA German Soldiers for the Battle of Berlin is nearly impossible they don’t come up very often. The majority that do come up are not combat veterans, but elderly or young soldiers. This example is extra ordinary. The large framed photo bearing the black ribbon  

Small set to Emilie Tenkhoff. For RAD service with RAD 153 in Münster. Small compete set, with photo.

Wehrpass to Theodor Mayer, born in Breslau 1914.  Enlisted in the Wehrmacht in 1938. Mayer won the Iron Cross Second Class. His service took up three pages of the Wehrpass! He was killed in the battles after the turning around at the gates of Moscow. Online was a lot of unit information: See below Artillerie-Regiment 50/Artillerie-Regiment 14  On August 24, 1939, the regiment received the order to leave its staging area in the Guttentag – Rosenberg area at nightfall and move to a new staging area further east. The 2nd Division of the 50th Artillery Regiment left the regiment association at the start of the regrouping and was assigned to the 3rd Light Division. The regimental staff moved into the command post at the Kreuzenfeld school at 8 p.m. On August 25, 1939, the regiment was informed that the attack on Poland was planned for August 26, 1939. At 10:10 p.m., while preparing for the attack, the division received the order to call off the attack. On August 31, 1939, the regiment was again ordered to move into the staging areas. On September 1, 1939, the German attack on Poland began, with the German infantry being able to advance in the area of ​​the 14th Infantry Division without resistance. The regiment left its positions around 8 a.m. without having fired a shot. The regiment followed the infantry. The 1st Battery and the 53rd Infantry Regiment had meanwhile crossed the border into Poland, and the regiment reached the Lisswarthe sector around noon. The regiment took up positions near Dombrowa in the afternoon. Only the 5th battery fired 17 shots that day. By nightfall the 1st and 2nd sections of the regiment were in Pila, the 3rd. Division in Truskolyassy and the 1st Division of the 50th Artillery Regiment had not yet reached the regiment due to the bad roads. On September 2, 1939, the I. Department was assigned directly to the 11th Infantry Regiment and the III. Department subordinated to the 101st Infantry Regiment. The 2nd Battalion took up positions west of Wreczyca Wielka. The 1st Section of the 50th Artillery Regiment prepared itself east of Klepaczka. The 1st Division lost 3 horses in an air raid. During the night the I. and III. Battalion approximately 250 rounds of jamming fire on the field fortifications northwest of Czestochowa and on Grabowka. On September 3, 1939, the advance continued. The I. and III. Department of the regiment remained assigned to the infantry, the 2nd department was assigned to the 53rd Infantry Regiment. In the evening the following areas were reached: headquarters in Rcasowy, I. in Gorne, II. at Wierzchowisko, III. around Marjanka-Redzinska and I. Section of the Artillery Regiment 50 around Kiedrzyen. The advance continued on September 4, 1939, with the I. and III. Detachment marched in your infantry regiments. The regiment marched to Garnek via Rudniki, Witkowice and Klomnice. At nightfall the divisions were in: I. n Piaski, II. in Raczkowiece, III. in Silnica and I. Section of Artillery Regiment 50 in Garnek, together with the regimental headquarters. On September 5, 1939 the following were reached without fighting: I. in Mosty, II. in Kurzelow, III. in Stanowiska and I. Section of the 50th Artillery Regiment in Maluszyn. On September 6, 1939 the following were reached without fighting: I. in the forest south of Prcedborz, II. in the northern part of Dobromierz, III. in Czermno and I. Section of the 50th Artillery Regiment in the southern part of Dobromierz. September 7, 1939 was a rest day after the long marching performances. It was not until September 8, 1939 that the advance continued and the regiment marched into the Pianow area. In the evening they reached: I. Jakomovice, II. in the eastern part of Kol. Czerwona Wola, III. in Katoniow and I. Section of the Artillery Regiment 50 in Stupia. On September 9, 1939, the regiment continued to march towards Szydlowiec. In the afternoon the II. and III. Detachment in position at Huzisko or Odrownoz, but without being able to fire. The 1st detachment of the regiment reached Serbinov in the evening, the 1st detachment of the artillery regiment 50 Mniow and the regimental staff Mokra. On September 10, 1939, the 1st Division was subordinated to the 53rd Infantry Regiment and reached the area south of Szydlowiec as a corps reserve. II. and III. Division remained subordinate to the 101st Infantry Regiment. On September 11, 1939, towards evening, the following areas were reached: I. Section of Artillery Regiment 50 Blaziny, II./ AR 14 Plusy, III. Rzeczniow and regimental headquarters in Brendocin. On September 12, 1939, the Vistula was reached near Solec. Here the protection to the east was taken over. III. Division 101 took up positions in Infantry Regiment between Solec and Przedmiescie, II. took up accommodation in Sluszczyn, I. Division of Artillery Regiment 50 took up accommodation in Lipa Miklas and Lipa Krepa. The regimental headquarters was in Gruszczyn. On September 13, 1939, the regiment took up firing positions on the Vistula. The 2nd batteries were ready to fire at about 6 o’clock south of Blizsze, and 2 batteries of the 1st at about 8 o’clock near Dziurkow. The batteries support the passage of the infantry across the Vistula from daybreak. Were shelled by the II. Battalion Kamien and Kepa Gostecka, by the I. Battalion of the Artillery Regiment 50 the wooded area west of Janiszow and by the III. Division the heights eastward from Kamien. By the evening the infantry had formed a bridgehead and taken the village of Kamien. On this day the regiment had fired 750 rounds of light FH and 35 rounds of heavy FH. Itself had two dead and 3 wounded. It was not until September 15, 1939 that the 9th battery was able to cross the Vistula as the first battery of the regiment, while the other batteries lay dormant. On September 16, 1939, the order was issued that the staff of the III. Division and the 7th and 8th batteries at Piotrowin are to…