Showing 1018–1026 of 1403 resultsSorted by latest
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Luftwaffe Soldbuch – Schütze Lange – Landesschützen Batl 11- Hildesheim 1945 – Died as a POW Bourges/Dagneux
Luftwaffe Soldbuch to Karl Lange, he was initially in a Flak replacement unit in the Harz area from 1943 till 1945.
As the war was drawing to an end, he was found fit for frontline service, as per the interesting entry on Page 17!
He was given the new rank of Schütze and entered : Landesschützen-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 11 which were stationed in Hildesheim.
It would seem shortly after his capture, in October 1945 he died in Bourges France, and is buried in Dagneux.
An interesting Soldbuch, it is very uncommon to find Soldbücher to soldiers who have died.
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Heer Soldbuch – Stabsfeldwebel Parisek – Panzer Regiment 33/ Pz Reg 204 / Panzer Lehr Paderborn TIGER or TIGER 2 !
Wehrmacht Soldbuch to Stabsfeldwebel Franz Parisek from Vienna.
The Soldbuch was opened with Panzer Abteilung 33 in November 1939.
According to his Licence he was permitted to drive the Panzerwagen 1 since 1936!
Frontline Units:
Panzer Abteilung 33 – 4 Komp / Panzer Regiment 33 – 7 Komp (9th Panzer Division)
The regiment was also known interestingly as ‘Prinz Eugen’
The 9th Panzer Division was set up on January 3, 1940. It emerged from the 4th light division, which was reclassified accordingly for this purpose. In addition to its previous troop units, it received the headquarters of the 9th Rifle Brigade, the 85th Panzer Intelligence Department and, instead of a tank department, the 33rd Panzer Regiment. Before the start of the western campaign, the division was in the area around Limburg. At the beginning of the western campaign, the division then advanced from the Wesel area via Cleve to the Netherlands. It reached Moerdijk on May 12th via s’Hertogenbosch and Rotterdam on May 14th via Dordrecht. The division then crossed The Hague and Amsterdam, turned east and marched along the Meuse until May 17th to Roermond. The division then swung westwards via Hirson and reached Doullens on May 24th, where it was stopped in front of Dunkirk due to Hitler’s order to stop. After the German attack resumed, the division entered Dunkirk by June 1. Before the final fall of the city, the first phase of the western campaign for the division was over and the division moved to the area south of Amiens. During the second phase of the campaign, the “Battle of France”, the division broke through the “Weygand Line” north of Clermont, advanced on Coullommiers and reached Sens on June 15th. Roanne was reached by June 19th. From there the division turned to the northwest and marched via Orléans and Poitiers to Branne, which was reached on June 25. This is where the division’s campaign in the west ended and immediately afterwards they transferred to their home garrisons.
At the beginning of February 1941 the division moved to Romania and in March to Bulgaria. As part of the XXXX. Army Corps (12th Army), the division took part in the Balkan campaign from April 6, 1941. It crossed the Yugoslav border west of Küstendil and advanced on Skoplje. On April 9, the division reached the Albanian border at Prisren. From April 11, the division fought the British-Greek Central Army south of the Aliakmon. On April 14th, Kozani was taken. After crossing the Aliakmon, the division attacked the Servia position, but was turned away. Subsequently, the division embraced this position and marched on Oba. On April 26, the division moved via Larissa to the Pharsalos – Volos area on the Aegean Sea. Before the end of the fighting, the order to march north came and the division marched through Yugoslavia back to its home garrison. At the beginning of the Russian campaign, the division was subordinate to the XIV Army Corps in Army Group Center. Coming from Silesia, the division followed the German attack leaders and crossed the border to the Soviet Union at Annopol on June 28th. The first battles with Russian tanks took place near Zloszow. Zloszow was taken on July 1, Tarnopol was taken on July 2, and the Stalin line was broken at Podwolcczyska on July 7. On July 16, Biala Zerkiew was taken and the division then took part in the Battle of Uman. On August 16, the division took part in the capture of Krivoy-Rog and two days later reached the Dnieper, where it turned on Dnepropetrovsk. On September 11th the division crossed the Dnieper at Kremenchug and closed the Kiev pocket at Snjatin on September 15th. After the end of the Battle of Kiev, the division advanced in the direction of Orel until it was forced to stop by the first muddy period in early October 1941. It was not until November 2nd that the advance could continue and the city of Kursk was conquered. The division then advanced eastward on the Don, but the attack got stuck at Shchigry. The front around Shchigry was held until the spring of 1942. It was not until June 28, 1942, that the division was used again on the offensive from its positions. She crossed the Tim and marched to Kobylia Ssnowa. On July 6, the division had to turn to the north to secure its flanks and advance on Ssemlyansk. Here there is heavy fighting with Russian tank units. On August 4th, the division was withdrawn from the front to take part in the “Wirbelwind” operation, the advance on Ssuchinitschi, via Orel in the Bolchoff area. There were heavy and costly battles around the Shisdra section. By August 26th the own positions had to be taken back behind the Shisdra. From 9 September the division was withdrawn from the front and assigned to the 9th Army in the Gshatsk area as an army reserve.
Panzer Regiment 204 – (22 Panzer Division)
The regiment was transferred to the Crimea to support the beleaguered 46th Infantry Division in their defensive battle on the Kerch peninsula. The unit was hastily thrown into operation without prior investigation and suffered correspondingly high losses. At the end of April 1942, the new III. Department also in the Crimea. Since the staff was still insufficiently trained, training units from the Putlos tank shooting school, which were flown in specially by the Army High Command of the 1st Tank Army, were trained. By May 11, the regiment had advanced eastward and reached the coast of the Sea of Azov near Kerch. At the end of May 1942 the regiment marched to the Donets in the area south of Slavyansk. The III. Division remained as part of the “Kampfgruppe Rodt” until the end of the fighting in the Crimea.
In Kramatorskaya, south of Slavyansk, the regiment was refreshed close to the front and continued its training. Staff and I. Department were at the end of May southeast of Kharkov as part of the III. Panzer Corps deployed. After the return of the staff and the II. Division, the regiment reported at the end of May 1942 without the III. Division 10 Panzer II, 36 Panzer 38 (t), 8 Panzer III long, 6 Panzer IV long, 6 Panzer IV short. Above all, the mass of Panzer II and Panzer 38 (t) greatly reduced the combat value of the regiment. At the beginning of June the regiment then moved to the area southeast of Kharkov as part of the 22nd Panzer Division in order to take part in the “Wilhelm” operation. From the area north of Chugujew it hit the north-east of Krasn on June 10 in two days. Army berth in front. Here, on June 13th, the connection to the left, encircling wing of the 6th Army, advancing east of Kharkov, was established, thus enclosing a larger enemy group. From June 20, the regiment was used in the “Battle of Kupyansk”. After a difficult relocation march back to the Don, the regiment attacked from the Balakleja area in a northeast / east direction in order to win the “Oskol sector” south of Kupyansk within five days of heavy fighting. After eight days of rest, the regiment advanced in early July 1942 as part of the German summer offensive against Rostov-on-Don until the end of July and took part in the battles to conquer the city. At the same time, the III. Division hived off from the regimental unit and transferred to the “Combat Group Michalik” of the 2nd Army.Later:
Panzer Ersatz Abt 500
Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung Paderborn (TIGER)
Interestingly, Parisek gets posted to the above unit, they were mainly a unit that trained Tiger and Tiger 2 crews, although as he was with them in September 1944. I have found the following information: During September 1944 Pz.Ers.Abt. 500 provided personnel and 15 Tiger I to form s.Pz.Kp. Paderborn (better known as s.Pz.Kp. “Hummel”).
It would seem that this unit fought at the Battle of Arnhem against English Paratroopers.
Unfortunately, the only page missing in the Soldbuch is page 17, so we will never know if he was the group that left for Arnhem in September 1944, but one thing is for sure. He would have known the Tiger or Tiger 2 inside out in order to train crews and with his experience it is unlikely that he would have been left behind. Further research would be needed!
Awards entered into the Soldbuch:
- Service Medal IV
- Marksmanship Lanyard
- Annexation Medal 1938
- Eastern Front Medal
- Krim Arm Shield
- War Merit Cross wit Swords
Equipment:
1942 issued with Binoculars and Walther P38
Here is a picture of the famous Tiger School in Paderborn, it is highly likely that Parisek is in this picture!
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Luftwaffe Soldbuch – Oberfeldwebel Böhnke – Missing in Action Pilot – EK2/Transport Clasp Silver! (Sold)
Soldbuch to Oberfeldwebel Walter Böhnke.
A pilot in :
Luftdienstkommando Ostland
Flugzeugüberführungs-Geschwader 1 – Responsible for flying new aircraft to their units!
http://www.ww2.dk/air/misc/flug1.htm
Awards:
1.Pilots Badge
2. Transport Clasp Bronze
3. Transport Clasp Silver
4. Iron Cross Second Class
On 15th of October 1944, he did not return from one of his missions.
He is missing since and must have crashed somewhere in Poland. We will never know the real fate of this Pilot or what happened on his last flight…
The Soldbuch is a 100% complete with all pages and the portrait photo. Notice the rare light blue variant of the Luftwaffe Soldbuch which was made in Berlin Gatow!
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Heer Soldbuch – Obergefreiter Sengle – Artillerie Regiment 85 (101 Jäger Div) Kuban Shield
Wehrmacht Soldbuch opened in July of 1940.
Issued to Obergefreiter Richard Sengle
Frontline unit:
Artillerie Regiment 85 (101 Jäger Division)
The regiment was divided into four divisions. The I. to III. Division were equipped with 7.5 cm I.FH and 10 cm cannons, the IV. Division was 15 cm. s.FH. The regiment was under the 101st Light Infantry Division. The regiment was trained on the heights of the Brody forest until the end of March 1941, when it was relocated to the area south of Graz.
On April 7, 1941, the regiment began the Balkan campaign. The regiment marched through Lower Styria and Slovenia via Marburg an der Drau, Pettau and Krapina to the Save west of Agram. The 101st Light Infantry Division was no longer used and on April 2, 1941, relocated back to the Prague area, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. After only a short stay, the regiment was transferred by rail via Kolin – Olmütz and Poprad to the Spiš around Käsmark. From here the regiment then marched to southern Galicia in the Neu-Sandez area. In mid-June it was moved to the area west of Przemysl. Here the regiment got ready for the attack on Russia. On June 22, 1941, the regiment broke through the Russian lines north of Przemysl. On June 28, 1941, there were fights at Rudki, which was followed by the breakthrough through the chain of lakes on both sides of Komarno. At the beginning of July 1941 there were persecution battles north of the Dniester near Chodorom, Halicz, Marjampol, Monasterzyska and Czortkow. On July 7, 1941, the Zburcz was crossed. The Stalin Line was reached at Jaltuszkoff by July 14, 1941 and broken through here on July 15 and 16, 1941. Then the Stalin line was rolled up southeast to Jaltuskoff. Fighting broke out at Myki, Maryanowka and Kopajgrod. After further pursuit battles, the Bug was crossed at Ladyshin on July 24, 1941 and the bridgehead there strengthened. From July 28, 1941, the road to Uman was approached in the direction of Gaiworon, which was reached on July 31, 1941. After the Battle of Golovanyevsk from August 6 to 8, 1941, the 101st Light Infantry Division became Army Group Reserve and was able to rest for a week.
Then the regiment marched to the Dnieper and forced the crossing over the river at Kremenchug between September 2 and 12, 1941. After the successful crossing of the river, pursuit battles followed, which led the regiment via Poltava to the Worskla. Subsequently, an advance was made to Bogoduchow. Defensive fighting broke out between October 13 and 16, 1941 near Murafa. Between October 17 and 27, 1941, the regiment and the division took part in the fighting and the conquest of the city of Kharkov. The Donets was reached by the end of October. Here the regiment strengthened the Staryj Ssaltoff bridgehead. At the beginning of December 1941 a march was made from Kharkov to Gorlowka. From January 6, 1942, heavy defensive battles broke out between Debaltsevo and Troitskoye. These dragged on in varying degrees until May 1942. On May 16, 1942, the regiment prepared to attack Isjum. Between May 17 and 19, 1942, the regiment managed to break through to the Donets. There were fights at Majaki, Chrestishche and Golaja Dolina. On May 19, 1942, there was fighting at Studenok. Defensive battles ensued between Raigorok and Ssemitschewo in the Donets Basin, which lasted until mid-June 1942. On June 22, 1942, the regiment then attacked the Donets between Oskol and Isjum as far as Podwyssokoje, and on June 24, 1942, Isjum was taken. The regiment was then transferred to the Ssiawiansk area to prepare for the breakthrough into the Donets Basin. On July 6, 1942, the 101st Light Infantry Division was renamed 101st Jäger Division. The first and second divisions were also re-armed to form the mountain division. The attack on southern Russia began on July 9, 1942 and led the regiment to the Kuban until August 7, 1942 and to the area around Maikop until mid-August. The regiment continued to advance into the Caucasus on both sides of the road to Tuapse. From October 3rd to October 14th, 1942 there was fighting over the Kurinkij Basin, on October 15th and 16th, 1942 the Yelissvaetpolsky Pass was stormed and the Shoamyan was taken afterwards. From October 20, 1942, the regiment had to defend itself at Zarya Gora and the Jelissavetpolsij pass. The positions reached in the Caucasus had to be held until January 15, 1943, when the retreat from the Caucasus to the Kuban bridgehead began. There were battles at Tochtamukai, Schendschij, Krasnodar, Auscheds, Ssadowij, Krimskaya and Novorossisk, among others. After the fighting in the Kuban bridgehead until July 15, 1943, the regiment took over a stretch of coast near Temryuk to secure the Taman peninsula.
On September 13, 1943, the regiment was transferred across the Crimea to the Votan position south of Zaporozhye. On September 19, 1943, the defensive battle over the Wotan employment began. In November 1943 defensive battles followed on the lower Dnieper on both sides of Berislav. At the beginning of January 1944 the regiment was relocated to the Vinnitsa area. Heavy offensive and defensive battles broke out here, including in the places Komarow, Voronowzy, Latanzy, Potoki, Schenderiwka and Rotmistriwka. The fighting in the Vinnitsa area lasted until March 1944. This was followed by retreat and boiler fighting as part of the 1st Panzer Army near Vinnitsa, Brailoff, Bar, Novaya-Uschiza, Kamenez-Podolsk and Uszieocko. On April 10, 1944, the attack battles began over the Stypa and the Dnjetr at Wozilow, Snowidow and Isakow, which dragged on until April 20, 1944. This was followed by fighting in the forest northwest of Zukow near Brotniki, which was followed by fighting near Peczeniyzn. From July 16 to 27, 1944, the regiment took part in the Battle of Lemberg and then in the defensive battles south of the Dniester. On August 8, 1944, the settling over the Carpathian Mountains began, followed by fighting at Turka. On September 20, 1944, the Turka position had to be given up. The regiment withdrew across the Carpathian ridge to the defensive position northwest of Ungvar, which was reached on October 28, 1944. Via Jeszenö, Szobranc and Michalowec it went to the Gisela position near Kosice until December 10, 1944. From December 27, 1944 to January 12, 1945 the regiment moved to the area south of Schemnitz east of the Gran Valley. From the middle of the month there were heavy defensive battles that brought the regiment to Altsohl, the Grantal and Neusohl in March. In March 1945 and April 1945 the regiment was fighting in the Great Tatras in the Neusohl area. At the end of April 1945 the regiment was relocated to the Malacky area west of the Little Carpathians. Further fighting broke out on the west bank of the March and in the Marchfeld, and the retreat continued via Angern, Prottes and Matzen. At the beginning of May 1945 the regiment stood at Hollabrunn and returned to Nesselbach via Horn, Weitra, Deutsch-Beneschau, Kaplitz and Rosenberg. Here the regiment came into American captivity.
Awards:
Eastern Front Medal
Black Wounds Badge
Kuban Arm Shield
Issued: K98.
He was wounded in December of 1943, although his wounds pages are not inside the Soldbuch (price reflects this) its still a highly desirable Eastern Front Campaign, and the entries for the Kuban Medal are not seen so often.
A fact worth noting for the film fans among us, The 1977 movie “Cross of Iron”, based on the book “The Willing Flesh” by Willie Heinrich, directed by Sam Peckinpah is inspired by the authors service in 101. Jäger-Division.
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Sale!
Police Soldbuch – Meister der Gendarmerie Wallner – Police in Regensburg – 9 Medals! (Layaway)
Original price was: $185.00.$165.00Current price is: $165.00.Police Soldbuch
Meister der Gendarmerie Georg Wallner, serving in Regensburg during the war.
His medals are as follows:
- Iron Cross Second Class
- Military merit cross 3 class with swords
- Cross of honor for combatants at the front
- Austrian war memorial medal
- Police Service award – level 2
- Police Service award – level 1
- Wounds Badge in Black
- SA Badge in Bronze
- Medal for the Memory – October 1st 1938
A nice Soldbuch for a Gendarmerie with plenty of awards, these are uncommon with awards entered.
The city of Regensburg was subject to heavy Allied bombing raids towards the end of the war.
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Heer Soldbuch – San Feldwebel Embacher – 88 Infanterie Division – Cherkassy EK1! Combat Medic!
Heeres Soldbuch for a Medical NCO
San-Feldwebel Siegfried Embacher
Soldbuch was opened in April 1941.
Frontline units:
Führungs-Nachrichten-Regiment 40
Plus various Medical Units on the frontline,
San.Komp (Mot) 2/188 – – 88 Infanterie Division (In 1944)
The division was trapped and some elements succeded to break out of the Korsun – Cherkassy Pocket in 1944.
According to the Soldbuch on Page 21, Embacher won both classes of the Iron Cross, and interestingly his certificates were recorded as being lost in the Cherkassy pocket. The entry specifically states that he is entitled to wear both classes of the Iron Cross!
Footage of the Korsun – Cherkassy Pocket
Issued:
Pistols. Luger P08 and a Radom
Pocket Lamp
It would seem that he was sent to a replacement unit after the destruction fo the division, in the area of Kassel. Where he was captured by US Forces, the capture paper in the back of his Soldbuch. Included in this lot was the Police Drivers licence for his son who was in the West German Police.
An interesting Soldbuch to a real Combat medic with both classes of the Iron Cross!
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Heer Soldbuch – Gefreiter Schneider – Heeres Artillerie Brig 732 – Oder Front 1945 – ‘Last Army’ (Sold)
Heeres Soldbuch
Opened in August 1943 in Altenburg
Gefreiter Herbert Schneider
Frontline units:
Heeres Festungs Artillerie Abt 1050 (17th Armee) (Versetzt 10.1944)
From the end of July 1944, the newly established 17th Army was then deployed in Galicia between San and Wisloka. From the beginning of October 1944 to mid-January 1945, the army was used for trench warfare on the Wisloka between the Vistula and the Carpathians
Heeres Artillerie Brigade 777 (March 1945)
Armed with 17cm Artillery, pictured below. His unit was amalgamated into Heeres Artillerie Brigade 732 , (9 Armee)
The Red Army crossed Germany’s border on January 12, 1945, and forced the 9th Army to retreat all along the front until it was deployed westward to the river Oder. Three of the 9th Army’s formations were tasked with defending the Seelow Heights, which was the last defensible region before Berlin. To the north was the CI Army Corps, in the centre General Helmuth Weidling’s LVI Panzer Corps, and to south of the Heights was the XI SS Panzer Corps. In addition south of Frankfurt (which was defended by the Frankfurt Garrison) was the V SS Mountain Corps. In total the 9th Army was reduced to 100,000 men and 800 tanks and assault guns against which the Soviets had over 1,000,000 men and 10,000 tanks and assault guns.
The Battle of the Seelow Heights started on 16 April 1945 when Marshal Georgy Zhukov’s 1st Belorussian Front attacked across the Oder. The 9th Army held the line for about 3 days. After heavy fighting Weidling’s LVI Panzer Corps was driven back towards Berlin. Most of the CI Army Corps divisions, now north of the salient created by the 1st Belorussian Front were reassigned along with LVI Panzer Corps to Army Detachment Steiner which was tasked with counter-attacking and pinching off the salient in an unrealistic plan conceived by Hitler. In the end Weidling’s corps was driven back into Berlin and he was promoted to commander of the Berlin Defensive Area, reporting directly to Hitler. Theodor Busse and the rest of the 9th Army were driven into a pocket in the Spree Forest south of the Seelow Heights and west of Frankfurt an der Oder.
From inside the pocket west of Frankfurt Busse attempted a breakout to the west to join up with the 12th Army. The breakout, known as the Battle of Halbe, resulted in the destruction of the Ninth Army as a coherent force. Troops that were not captured or killed by the Soviets crossed the Elbe at Tangermünde and surrendered to the US Army.
A great documentary about the Last Army…
Items Issued:
28.7.1944 – Iron Rations
K98 Rifle and Bayonet
In summary: It seems Schneider was in March still with his unit, he is not listed as KIA or MIA. But he was with the 9th Army during its final end, what happened to Schnieder we will never know for sure.
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Signed Mein Kampf Dedicated to Gauleiter of Brooklyn NY (SOLD)
Adolf Hitler signed and dedicated Mein Kampf. This 1937 two volume set of Mein Kampf is a special gift edition, or the “Geschenkausgabe” edition in hardback cloth. The dedication is what makes this particular example extra special. Hitler wrote three lines to Joseph Schuster which reads:
” To fellow Party Member,
J. Schuster
In Memory of our common battle for Germanys greatness.
A. Hitler, November 1937 ”
Joseph Schuster was the Gauleiter of Brooklyn, New York and was a member of the German American Bund, the German-American Pro-Nazi organisation that consisted only of American citizens of German descent. The main goal of this organisation was to promote the National Socialist Germany of Adolf Hitler. It was founded in 1936 and dissolved in 1941, after the USA went to war with Germany. On August 12, 1935 the New York World telegram reported that there were 1,100 Nazis in Ridgewood, Brooklyn, but “to most of them, the American Nazi movement offers simply another of those sociable Vereins they can never resist joining.” There were two main organisations: the Friends of the New Germany, headed by Joseph Schuster: and the breakaway American National Socialists League established in January 1935, headed by Anton Haegele. According to William Birnie in the same newspaper on August 14, Nazism offered two attractive features to German Americans who might have had no interest in spreading Nazi propaganda: first, they supported the war on the American boycott of German goods and services; second, they offered an extensive program of social and athletic activities.
For more information please see the following links:
https://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/nazis-in-ridgewood-rallied-for-hitler/article_3b3ac484-3347-5a91-b364-76264c5d6495.html
https://www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2013/02/22/nazism-1930s-brooklyn
A signed Mein Kampf dedicated to an American is an extremely rare item and we’ve never had one in our possession before.
In order to purchase this item, it is required to contact us first via email in order to process your payment accordingly, it is marked as Out of Stock but we have this in our Archive and the listing will be updated as soon as it is sold.
The item can also be brought to a Militaria show in Europe if you want to personally inspect or pay for it. Next show: Ciney Belgium April 2022
This item comes with a COA from the Experts at Militaria Berlin, please see the photos.
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Soldbuch & Licence & POW Papers – Kraftfahrer Eberlein – (Div413) – Hanau/Aschaffenburg/Würzburg/Coburg – 1945 Endkampf
Soldbuch to Frederich Eberlein He was born in 1900 into a Protestant family, and was a teacher in his civilian life and was married. His Soldbuch was issued in July 1944 with a driving unit. Frontline units: Heeres Flakartillerie Brigade 505 His last unit in 1945 was: 1 Armee Korps z.b.v Kraftfahr Ersatz A.A 13 (Division Number 413) The division moved into a defensive section on both sides of Aschaffenburg and secured the Main Line here. However, the division was completely unsuitable for defense, so that on March 26th, American units were able to cross the Main via a railway bridge south of Schweinsheim that had not been blown up and form a bridgehead. Division No. 413 was unable to remove this, which is why the 36th Volksgrenadier Division was brought in for support. Division No. 413 then took over the defense of the Hanau – Aschaffenburg – Miltenberg section with all the troops in it for defense. It turned out, however, that there were no troops at all in the Hanau – Aschaffenburg area. The division then withdrew to the east in the Coburg area. Here the division received the order to advance from the Coburg area via the Schleussingen-Römhild line in the direction of Meiningen into the flank of the advanced Allied units in order to cut off supplies. However, the division’s attacks did not penetrate. By April 10, 1945, the division’s battle front had already been split into small groups by the advance of several armored spearheads. These stood individually, without connection to the division, in a defensive battle against strong Allied forces that advanced eastwards via the Schleussingen – Hildburghausen – Rodach line. At noon that day, the combat group of the division headquarters was pushed back by a tank attack on the eastern edge of the Callenberg Forest. Towards evening the combat group had to retreat to Coburg. Of the units subordinate to the division, generally only the command staffs with insignificant troops remained after the fighting for Coburg. The division formed three combat groups from this, but they were only able to block the routes of retreat against weak enemy forces in order to slow the enemy advance. The combat groups went over the line Sonnenberg – Steinach – Neuhaus – Lichte – Graefenthal through the Thuringian Forest and from there to the east behind the Saale near Saaldorf and north of Hof to Posseck. There were no battles, but the combat groups were repeatedly attacked by enemy armoured reconnaissance troops and then had to evade quickly. At Posseck, the staff collected scattered people and the remains of various associations and branches of service. In addition, the division was assigned an assault gun platoon, which made effective anti-tank defense possible for the first time. It was also possible to delay the opponent’s action against Bad Elster for three days through the stubborn defense of Gottmarsgrün and Rosbach. On April 19, the front could be extended to the north via Bergen, thus establishing a connection with its northern neighbour, the 347th Infantry Division. In the meantime Bad Elster had been declared a hospital town. Accordingly, the enemy pressure shifted to Bergen-Arnsgrün. After heavy artillery fire with simultaneous tank attack, the height of Bergen was lost. On April 22, 1945, the defensive front was withdrawn from the Freiberg – Arnsgrün – Bärenloh line to the Marieney – Leubetha – Jugelsburg line, leaving battle outposts in place, and extended southwards via Raunergrund to the Bad Brambach – Fleissen road. From April 22, 1945, enemy activity in the newly occupied position subsided. Only gradually did the enemy pressure increase to such an extent that the battle outposts had to be withdrawn from the HKL. On April 28, 1945, the division was subordinated to the Schmidt Police Regiment in the Muldenberg – Schöneck area. On May 4th, the enemy attack began on the division’s HKL, which had been breached in several places after a short time. At 16.15 the enemy penetrated Klingenthal and attacked the heights of Aschberg – Obersachsenberg – Grünberg – Neudorf. By 5 p.m. the enemy armored forces were in possession of these high positions. The middle of the division withdrew to the woodland east of these heights. During the night the remainder of the division returned to the Sauersack – Frühbuss line. In this line, the division went into captivity on May 8, 1945. He was issued rifles and pistols as late as April 1945! He was captured and sent to a POW camp in France, (PG 363281). A nice Drivers licence with photo, he was allowed to drive interestingly motors vehicles that were operated by generators!
