Wehrpass collection - all units

Infantry divisions

Unteroffizier Friedrich Gross served with 11./I.R. 19, 7. I.D. from December 1940 to August 1943. Wounded by shell splinters and shot in the chest. Spent time in hospital in 1943 and then served with training units and attended a ROB-Lehrgang for infantry in March 1945. Awarded Inf.Sturmabzeichen, EK II, Ostmedaille, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK I, Nahkampfsp. 1. Stufe.

Schütze Lüder von Linden completed his RAD service in September 1941 before starting his basic training and serving with 4./Feld-Ers.Batt. 291./2. He transferred to 1./I.R. 2, 11. I.D., I. Korps, 18. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord, Wolchow-Ladoga in March 1942. Killed in action in Posadnikow/Ostrow, Russia a month later. No awards recorded.

Grenadier Josef Deinzer did his basic training with 3./Gren.Ausb.Batl. 97 from January to February 1943 before transferring to 2./Res.Gren.Batl. 23, 141. Res.Div. where he was involved in fighting in White Russia. In April 1943 he transferred to a training and replacement unit and a march company before joining 5./Gren.Rgt. 23, 11. I.D., XXVI. Korps, 18. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord, Wolchow-Ladoga in September 1943. After being injured in the hand, he spent a few weeks in hospital before returning to the training and replacement unit. Released from active service in March 1944. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter (Julius) Hans Puziak was called up to serve with Inf.Pz.Jäg.Ers.Kp. 24 near Prague in April 1942 and completed his basic training as an anti-tank gunner in June, when he joined 14. (Pz.Jäg.)Kp./Inf.Rgt. 88, 15. I.D., which had just been transferred to France for coastal defence duties after spending almost a year with the 4th Army as a part of Army Group Mitte. Died on 9 March 1943 near Estrowka (?) in the Charkow area. Awarded the EK II.

Feldwebel Karl Herzner served with 14./I.R. 21 and 14./I.R. 104 from October 1936 to September 1937 and then with 14.(Pz.Abw.)/I.R. 21, 17. I.D. from August 1939 to January 1942. He died on 26 January 1942 of shell splinter wounds to his head, throat, stomach and left thigh suffered the previous day. Awarded the Schützenabzeichen am PAK 36/37, EK II, Inf.Sturmabzeichen and EK I.

Obergefreiter Rolf Eckhoff volunteered and was accepted for service with II./I.R.47 in February 1937. He started his active service when he was inducted into Stab I./Inf.Rgt. 76, 20. Inf.Div. in November 1937 where he remained as a man pack radio operator until he was wounded by a shell splinter in his right arm on 1st August 1941 in ????????. After recovering from his wound and serving with a signals replacement company he joined a march battalion before transferring to Stab I./I.R. 65, 22. Inf.(LL)Div. in November 1941. Killed during the siege of Sewastopol in February 1942. Awarded Sudeten-Erinnerungsmedaille, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK II and Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber.

Oberschütze Paul Wagner first served in the Wehrmacht from October 1935 with I.R. 52, Inf.Lehr-Rgt. and M.G. Btl. 38 rising to the rank of Leutnant der Reserve before the war, and was discharged as fit for war duties after completing his 3 years of active service with 12./Inf.Rgt. 382 (Lehrdiv. ????) in February 1941. Just over a week later he was recalled as an ordinary soldier to 1./I.R. 102, 24. I.D. Killed on 27 June 1941 when he was shot in the head in Huta Zielona, Russia (buried in Potylicz, Ukraine). Awarded Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der HJ.

Oberfüsilier Ludwig Köbler was inducted into 4. (M.G.) Ers.Komp. I.R. 87 in October 1940 and joined 12. (M.G.) Komp. I.R. 87 (later mot.), 36. I.D. (later mot.) six weeks later. Killed by a direct artillery hit in October 1941. No awards recorded.

Oberleutnant Wilhelm Neuschäfer served with Infanterie-Regiment 181, 52. I.D. from August 1939 until he died in Spass-Demenskoje of wounds received in February 1942. Awarded EK II and Inf.Sturmabzeichen.

Oberleutnant Rolf Behne already saw active military service with the RAD from 1939 and volunteered to serve with 4.(M.G.)Kp./I.R. 503, 290. I.D. from November 1940 to May 1941 before transferring to the infantry school at Döberitz for officer training. He joined the officer reserve of Heeresgruppe Nord in September 1941. He then served with II./I.R. 220, 58. I.D. (and 8. Jäg.Div.???) from September 1941 to July 1943 and was involved in defensive fighting with a field replacement unit in Russia before being killed by a shell splinter fired from an anti-tank gun near Krederiskis, Pandelys, Lithuania (Todesort H.V.Pl. Nereta/Lettland) on 31 July 1944. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK II, Ostmedaille, Inf.Sturmabzeichen, EK I, Nahkampfspange 1. Stufe.

Gefreiter Adolf Laubach served with 10./I.R. 105, 72. I.D. from October 1940 to September 1941. Shot in the chest while in the Ukraine and died in Kriegslazarett 1/606 (Vatra Dornei, Rumania) as the result of an embolism a month later. Awarded the Schutzwallehrenzeichen, EK II and Rumänischer Orden: ...........tigkeit und Treue mit Schwertern Kl. II.

Gefreiter Hubert Stadtfeld volunteered to join the Wehrmacht and served with 1./I.R. 105, 72. I.D. from November 1941 to January 1942. Killed in action 4 km west of Feodosia in the Crimea on 18 January 1942. No awards recorded

Obergefreiter Otto Schmidt served with 1./Pz.Jäg.Abt. 72, 72. I.D. from December 1941 to August 1943 and with 7./A.R. 185, 85. I.D. from March 1944 to August 1944. Awarded Verwundeten-Abzeichen III. Stufe for shell splinter wounds and bullet wounds received in Russia and Normandy, Ostmedaille, Rum. Krim.Med. - Kreuzzug g. d. Kommunismus, Krimschild and Sturmabzeichen.

Gefreiter Theodor Häberle served with 5./I.R. 460 from October 1939 to the end of February 1940 and then with 5./I.R. 14 (later 5./Gren.Rgt. 14 and 1./Sturm-Rgt. 14), 78. Sturm-Division from January 1942. Received a head wound (shell splinter) in November 1942 and died in a reserve field hospital in Brest Litovsk in April 1943 after being shot in his upper thigh a month earlier. Awarded Ostmedaille, Verw.Abzeichen in Schwarz, EK II, Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber.

Obergefreiter Georg Müller served with Stab I. and 6./Inf.Rgt. 158, 82. I.D., from December 1939 (beurlaubt 16.8.40-1.2.41) to March 1943 when he was wounded by shell splinters for the second time. After recovering from his wounds he returned to 9./Gren.Rgt. 158 in July 1943. Killed in action in Jarroslawka (???) west of Kursk on 17 August 1943. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz.

Wachtmeister Horst Zobel (volunteer) served with 6./A.R. 16 from November 1935 to September 1936 and with 1./Art.Rgt. 183, 83. I.D. from December 1939 to June 1942 when he transferred to 12./A.R. 183. Died in a dressing station after being badly wounded by a shell splinter in the fighting near Welikjia Luki on 16 January 1943. Awarded EK II, Verw.Abzeichen in Schwarz, Sturmabzeichen, Verw.Abzeichen in Silber.

Gefreiter Manfred Lindermann served with 91. Infanteriedivision from July 1944. No awards recorded.

Feldwebel Karl Thoß volunteered to join the Luftwaffe and served with Luftfunk-Ers.-Komp. 7/11 Königsberg (Pr.) from November 1937 to June 1938 (basic training) before transferring to Lg.Nachr.Rgt. 12 in July 1938. He remained with this airforce signals unit in operations on the western front against Belgium, France and Britain until December 1942 and then with Lg.Nachr.Rgt. Westfrankr. until the beginning of February 1943. After 3 weeks under marching orders he joined the Auffangabtl. of 113. I.D. At the end of March he joined the newly re-established 10./Gren.Rgt. 261 (after it had been destroyed in Stalingrad in January 1943) and served with 113. I.D. while it was being re-formed in the west until July 1943. Between July and the end of September 1943 he served with 113. I.D., 18. Pz.Gren.Div., 337. I.D., and then again with 18. Pz.Gren.Div., 337. I.D. before being wounded in the stomach and thigh in K........., Russia. He died of his wounds in Orscha two days later on 27 September 1943. Awarded the EK II posthumously.

Soldat Günther Schaaf volunteered to join the Wehrmacht in April 1940 and was initially put back and exempted from RAD service. His military service started when he joined Kraftf.Ers.Abtlg 6 in Dortmund in March 1941 where he remained until February 1942. He then transferred to Feld-Ers.Btl. 126/2 for a week before joining 3./Inf.Rgt. 426, 126. I.D. Killed west of Mailukowy-Gorkij on 5 December 1942. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter Franz Gutneder (volunteered to serve as flying crew with the Luftwaffe) served with Stabskp./Gren.Rgt. 426, 126. Inf.Div. from April 1943 to January 1944 when he was reported MIA near Krasnoje Selo, Russia. His medical records suggest he survived his time as a POW and suffered from severe health problems from 1948 onwards. No awards recorded.

Feldwebel Anton Schäfer was involved in Luftwaffe operations with the RAD beyond the Reich borders before completing his basic training with a signals unit and then transferring to the signals company of Inf.Rgt. 438, 132. I.D. in March 1941. Lost his lower legs on 14 May 1942 1 km west of Wassiljewka, Crimea. Both of his legs were amputated two days later and he was discharged from service in November 1943. Awarded EK II, Ostmedaille and Verw.Abz. in Gold.

Obergefreiter Rudolf Schmidt served (as a machine gunner) with 9./I.R. 391 (11.1939 - 01.1940) and I.R. 401 (01.1940 - 06.1942), 170. I.D. Killed in action near Sewastopol (Kamary vor Swastopol) in the Crimea on 12 June 1942. No awards recorded.

Schütze Wilhelm Klinzing started his basic training with 15./Feld-Ers.Batl. 206 in April 1940 and then served with 3. Komp. Inf.Rgt. 312, 206. I.D. from July 1940. He was released from active service between August 1940 and April 1941 to serve the war industry. Killed in Redjkino approx. 60 km NNE of Rschew on 26 December 1941. Awarded Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber.

Obergefreiter Bernhard Henning served with a number of replacement and transport units from February 1940 until the middle of June 1942. In July 1941 he contracted a venereal disease and spent some time in hospital. He joined I.R. 306 (later Gr.R. 306), 211. I.D. in June 1942 and served with various companies until he was shot in the head in March 1944. Died on 19 May 1944. Awarded the Verw.Abz. in Schwarz.

Oberschütze Otto Bode served as an anti-tank gunner with 1./Panzerjäger-Abteilung 216, 216. I.D. from August 1940 until he was killed in action in Meschtschowsk, Russia in January 1942. Awarded Sturmabzeichen and Ostmedaille.

Obergefreiter Karl Gollwitzer served with I.R. 481, 256. I.D. from August 1939 until June 1942, when he contracted spotted fever. After serving with replacement and training units until June 1943, he joined Gren.Rgt. 922, 243. I.D. Killed near Le Ham on 11 June 1944 in the fighting on the Cherbourg Peninsula during the invasion of Normandy. Awarded Ostmedaille.

Obergefreiter Wilhelm Arzdorf served with 4.M.G.Kp.I.R.463, 263 I.D., from October 1940 until January 1942 (coastal protection duties with 7. Armee in France until April 1941, then with 4. Armee in Brest, Bialystok, Smolensk, Wjasma, south of Moscow, Juchnow), and with 4.(M.G.)Kp.Gren.Rgt.463 from May 1943 until the end of November 1943 (3. Pz.Armee/16.Armee in Welish, Newel). Completed NCO and tank destruction courses in March and June 1943, respectively. Wounded in January 1942 and then again by shell splinters to his right temple, right upper and lower arms and right upper leg in Widussowo in November 1943. Spent the rest of the war with convalescent and replacement units before being discharged from the army in February 1945. Awarded Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen, EK II, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, Inf.Sturmabzeichen, Ostmedaille and Verw.Abz. in Silber.

Gefreiter Jürgen Thode took part in Luftwaffe operations while serving with the RAD from March 1942 until May 1943 and was then used for anti-partisan operations and rear area duties with Gren.(F.)Ausb.Rgt. 720, 391. (Feldausb.)Div., Pz.A.O.K. 3 and Heeresgruppe Mitte until February 1944, and then with Gren.Rgt. 720 and Div.Füs.Btl.(A.A.) 263, 263 I.D. Went missing in action on 28.12.1944 in Bungali, Kurland (died same day near Kalvene according to the Volksbund database). Awarded EK II, Inf.Sturmabzeichen, Nahkampfspange 1. Stufe and 2. Stufe and EK I.

Schütze Alfred Emrich served as a machine-gunner with I.R. 368, 207. I.D. and 281. Sicherungs-Division from April 1940 to March 1942. He was given extended leave to serve the war economy from August 1940 to February 1941. Died at a main dressing station in Gschatsk of brain damage caused by an artillery round while serving with Grenadier-Regiment 508, 292. I.D. in Didenowo, Russia, in November 1942. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz and Ostmedaille.

Gefreiter Johann Roth first served with 9./I.Rgt. 767, 376. I.D., 6. Armee, in the Charkow and Donbogen sectors from April until September 1942 when he was wounded by bomb splinters that passed through his right side and an infantry round that passed through his left hand. After spending time with convalescent and marching units, he joined the newly raised static 2./Gren.Rgt. 897, 266. I.D., 7. Armee, at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen in Germany in June 1943 and then left for Brittany. Discharged from the army in September 1943. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz and Inf.Sturmabzeichen.

Gefreiter (Walter) Oswald Zeidler completed his basic training with 4.(M.G.) Kompanie Inf.Ers.Btl. 173 from October 1941 to February 1942 when he joined 4.(M.G.)Kp./Inf.Rgt. 534, 384. I.D. Died at a dressing station run by 1./San.Kp. 384 in Kischjakow (???) on 25 August 1942 after being wounded by shell splinters to both lower legs the previous day. Posthumously awarded Verw.Abz. in Silber.

Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier divisions

Stabsgefreiter Franz Jann served with 11.(I.G.)Kp./Schützen-Rgt. 113, Stabskp./Pz.Gren.Rgt, 113 and 9.(I.G.)/Pz.Grg.Rgt. 113, 1. Pz.Div. from November 1940 to May 1945. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, Panzerkampfabz., Ostmedaille, EK II.

Obergefreiter Wilhelm Berns served with 11.(I.G.)/Inf.-Rgt. 113, Stabskp./Pz.Gren.Rgt, 113 and 9.(I.G.)/Pz.Grg.Rgt. 113, 1. Pz.Div. from January 1941 to May 1945. Awarded EK II, Panzerkampfabz., Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, Ostmedaille, EK I, Verw.Abz. in Silber.

Schütze Walter Neukötter served as an armourer with 3.Kp./Panz.Rgt. 11, 1. lei. Division and 6. Pz.Div. from November 1938 to September 1942 (?), spending time with replacement and convalescent units before serving with 7./Panzer-Regiment 27, 19. Pz.Div. from September to November 1943. Killed in action south-west of Komarski, Russia on 7 November 1943. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter Gustav Werner served with I.R. 480, 260. I.D. from August 1939 until transferring to Inf.Ers.Batl. 480 (Genes.Kp.) in June 1941. He was then discharged from military service in February 1942. He was recalled and inducted into Gren.Ausb.Btl. 42 in March 1943 and saw active service in Russia from July to September 1943 with 7./Pz.-Gren.-Rgt. 111, 11. Pz.Div., XXXXVIII. Korps, 4. Pz.Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd, Belgorod, Poltawa. After spending time with various convalescent, training and marching units belonging to 11. Pz.Div. in the Heeresgruppe Süd sector until early 1944 and then in France, he rejoined 7./Pz.-Gren.-Rgt. 111 in September 1944. Reported missing in action on 13 November 1944 near Habodingen/Lothringen. No awards recorded.

Unteroffizier Norbert Lotter served with Artillery Regiment 5 in Neuhaus from October 1932 to the end of March 1934. He then served with A.R. 267, 267. I.D. from February 1940 to June 1941, then with artillery companies in Schtz.Rgt. 5, 12. Pz.Div. from August 1941 to September 1942, and then with Geschütz-Ersatz-Kompanie für mot. Schützeneinheiten 2 before transferring to 8.(M.G.)Kp.Gren.Rgt.876 (later 8.(M.G.)Kp.Gren.Rgt.178), 76. I.D. in February 1943. Died in Eger municipal hospital in June 1944 after his lower left arm was torn off by a shell splinter in the southern sector of the Russian front in November 1943. Awarded Panz.Kampfabzeichen in Bronze, Ostmedaille, Verw.Abzeichen in Silber, EK II.

Hauptfeldwebel Max Schäfer served with the heavy company of Kavallerieschützenregiment 4, 6. Panzer-Division, from November 1938 to August 1940, when he transferred to the heavy company of Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 64, 16. Panzer-Division. He fought in Poland, on the Western front, in the Balkans, on the Eastern font, in the attempted relief of Stalingrad, where he was wounded, in Italy, including the fighting for Salerno, in the Ukraine and in the fighting retreat back to Germany where he entered captivity in May 1945. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK II, Schutzwallehrenzeichen, Ostmedaille, Panzerkampfabzeichen in Bronze, KVK II mit Schwertern, Divisions-Wappen 16. Pz.Div., Nahkampfspange 1. Stufe, KVK I mit Schwertern.

Gefreiter Klaus Holtz von Holzenberg served with the RAD from April 1942 and was involved in fighting as part of Luftwaffe operations from June until he started his basic training and served in anti-partisan operations in the rear area of Heeresgruppe Mitte with 1./Inf.(F)Ausb.Rgt. 719 in October 1942. From March to April 1943 he was assigned to Marschbatl. 391/9 before serving with 1./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 101, 18. Pz.Div. (part of XXXXI. Korps, 9. Pz.Armee, Orel/Operation Zitadelle in July 1943). Wounded in Oserki on 5 July 1943 and discharged in April 1944 after spending 8 months in hospital. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Silber, EK II.

Mountain and Jäger divisions

Obergefreiter Karl Ostertag served with 4./Geb.Art.Rgt. 94, 4. Geb.Div. from November 1940 to January 1944. Killed in action near Losowataja, Russia. Awarded the Ostmedaille, rum. Errinerungsmedaille "Kreuzzug gegen den Kommunismus" mit oxydialer Spange Kaukasus, EK II.

Gefreiter Gustav Abel first trained as a mountain trooper and then served with 5.(schw.)/Jäg.Rgt. 204, 97. Jäg. Division from July 1942 to June 1944. He was wounded twice by shell splinters and then contracted spotted fever (Fleckfieber) in April 1944. He then served with various convalescent units before being discharged as an Obergefreiter in April 1945. Awarded the Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber, EK II, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz and Kubanschild

Independent units

Pionier Heinrich Brück volunteered to enlist and served with 5./Ers.-Btl. I.-R. Großdeutschland in Neurüppin from July until October 1941.He then transferred to Schwere Kompanie (mot.) I./Inf.-Rgt. Großdeutschland and was killed in action on 5 February 1942. Buried near Orel. No awards recorded.

SS-Schütze Heinrich Becker completed his basic training as a member of the SS-Verfügungstruppe with 1./SS-Inf.Ers.Btl. "Germania" in Arnheim from the beginning of October to mid December 1941. He then served with 6./SS-Inf.Rgt. 4 (mot.) as part of the XXXXIII. Korps, 4. Armee until he was wounded near Koludkinow in the Juchnow area on 23 January 1942. Dead on arrival the following day at the Nowo-Alexandrowskoje casualty clearing station. No awards recorded.

Unteroffizier Karl Maurer served with Stabsbattr. Beob.Abt.15 from August 1939 until March 1942, when he transferred to 1.Battr. le.Beob.Abt.(mot)15, 2. Armee. Killed in action in Russia in October 1943. Awarded Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen, Ostmedaille, KVK II mit Schwertern, Kraftfahrbewähr.Abz. in Bronze.

Obergefreiter Heinz Zuschlag first served with an anti-tank company and battalion staff of I.R. 70, part of 36. I.D. from August 1939 until November 1940 and part of 111. I.D. until December 1941 when he suffered from second degree frostbite in Adamorosk, Russia. After spending time with infantry convalescent and replacement units, he joined Werfer-Abteilung 9 in September 1942, which was used to create Werfer-Regiment 71 (Tropen) in November 1942. His company was part of the two Abteilungen destroyed in Tunis in May 1943. Following a brief period of re-organisation, he was transferred to one of the regimental munitions supply columns and then to 4./Werfer-Regiment 71 in Italy in August 1943. The regiment became part of Werfer-Brigade 5 assigned to AOK 10 in 1944. He remained in Italy and took part in the fighting for Sicily and Salerno and fighting withdrawals until he died of wounds to the lungs and spine caused by artillery fire in June 1944. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter Maximilian Stanglmeyer served with Flak-Rgt. 5 in 1937 and Stab III./Werf.Rgt. 88, 6. Pz.Armee from September 1944 to April 1945. Released as a POW by the Americans in June 1945. Awarded Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz for a wound sustained during the Ardennes offensive "Wacht am Rhein".

Unteroffizier Wilhelm Ehrich served with 1./schw.Art.Abt. 102 and 1./schw.Art.Abt. 151, Heerestruppe from August 1939 to June 1942 (23.06.1942 Im Kriege: Verwundungen und ernstere Krankheiten -23- Kriegslaz. 1/626 Rußland). He was then assigned to convalescent and replacement units before transferring to a company at army prison Wehrmachtsgefängnis Graudenz from August to December 1942. From February 1943 he served with field POW unit Feldstr.Gef.Abt. 14 and was involved in fighting in the Heeresgruppe Mitte sector and withdrawals before taking part in the defensive fighting in the Newel area from October 1943 to January 1944. Awarded the Ostmedaille.

San.Obergefreiter Hans Seyfferth served with San.Komp. 1/46 in Poland, Holland, Belgium, France, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Russia from August 1939 to October 1942. Died at main dressing station HVP Tscherwjakoff, Westkaukasus. Awarded ???, KVK II mit Schw., Ostmedaille, Krimschild by A.O.K. 11.

San.Obergefreiter Curt Wolf served with San-Komp. (mot.) 2./256, 256 I.D. from November 1941 to July 1943 and then with San.Komp. 1./572. Awarded the Ostmedaille.

Luftwaffe units

Schütze Ludwig Hieringer first served with the RAD before completing his basic training with 11. Kompanie Fallschirmjäger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 1 from the beginning of September to the end of November 1943. He then served with 8./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 in defensive fighting in central Italy from the beginning of December 1943. Killed in action by shell splinter wounds to his head and lungs near S.Lorenzo on 11 September 1944. Qualified for the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen and awarded the Luftwaffe-Erdkampfzeichen and EK II.

Obergefreiter Hermann Totz volunteered for service with the Luftwaffe in October 1941. After completing his basic training with Regiment General Göring 3. Ersatz-Batterie Utrecht in January 1942 he served with Regiment General Göring 2. Wachkompanie until February 1943 and then other training and replacement units with Regiment Hermann Göring until August 1943 protecting the ground forces and naval and military facilities in the occupied territories against attacks from England. He then briefly served with 11./Flakregiment Hermann Göring before transferring to 6./II. Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2 Hermann Göring in October 1943. Promoted to Obergefreiter in November 1943. No awards recorded.

Pionier Konrad Schmidt did his basic training with Ersatz-Regiment Division Hermann Göring 8./Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie in Utrecht, Netherlands from July to August 1943 and then served with 3./Fallschirm-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon Hermann Göring (in Germany until November 1943) until the end of May 1944. Awarded Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwarz after he suffered shell splinter wounds to his back and thigh on 16 February 1944. Went missing in action in Valmossfora, Italy, on 29 May 1944.

Obergefreiter Aloysius Konrad did his basic training with 4./schwere Flak-Ersatz-Abteilung 64 in Kassel-Wolfsanger from October to December 1941 and was then transferred to 5. Batterie (Genesendenzug) schwere Flak-Ersatz-Abteilung 64 until the beginning of February and 5. Batterie Flak-Sammelbatterie schwere Flak-Ersatz-Abteilung 64 until the beginning of March 1942. He then served with 5. Batterie Flakabteilung 291 and participated in defensive fighting in the Wolchow area until Christmas day 1942 when he suffered from first and second degree frostbite to both feet. Following his assignment to Ersatzbatterie/schwere Flak-Ersatz-Abteilung 64 until the end of March 1943, he served with 1. Batterie leichte Flakabteilung 861, taking part in a course at the Flak- und Nahkampfschule of I. Flakkorps in April 1943. Awarded the Ostmedaille and Tätigkeitsabzeichen der Flakartillerie. Killed by an exploding mine on 28 January 1944 in Stary Daschew, 25 km north of Gaissin, Ukraine.

San.Unteroffizier (and later Fahnenjunker) Max Gerleve completed his basic training as an airman in March 1940, then trained as a medic before serving with various medical units in Germany until February 1942. He then served on the Eastern front until the end of October 1943, during which time he was in combat areas (mit Feindeinwirkung) for 209 days. He then studied medicine until the end of October 1944 when he transferred to Fallschirm-Sanitäts-Abteilung 2, 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division. Awarded the Ostmedaille.

Oberjäger (and later Unteroffizier) Kurt Gast volunteered to serve as an airman and first trained as an aircraft mechanic in early 1940. He saw active service and was wounded in Belgium and France before training as a paratrooper and completing his jump training in Wittstock in January 1941. He remained with a training unit until February 1942 when he transferred to Stab I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment. 5 and later 3./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5. Wounded in Tunisia on 18 January 1943 and then served with Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon Koch until March 1944. Discharged to the reserve from Münster training and replacement office in May 1944. Qualified for the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen and awarded the Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwarz.

Leutnant Karl-Hermann Wasow volunteered for service with the Luftwaffe and was accepted as a Fahnenjunker in August 1941. He served with motorised signals units in North Africa and Russia from March to August 1942 and from May to August 1943, respectively. After training as an aircraft radio operator he then served with other signals units attached to night fighter and fighter units in Germany and Denmark from October 1943 until August 1944. He then transferred to Fallschirm-Armee-Oberkommando in Nancy, France and served with III./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 5 before transferring to II./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 3, seeing action with 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division in the Ardennes as part of operation Wacht am Rhein. Killed in action while serving with Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 7, 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division in Keppeln just south of the Reichswald in the Lower Rhine area during the Anglo-Canadian offensive on 19 February 1945. Awarded the Italian Kriegserinnerungsmedaille.

Obergefreiter Josef Rupprecht completed his basic training with III./Luftgau-Nachrichten-Regiment 13, 19. (Ersatz-)Kompanie in June 1941 and then served throughout the war on the Eastern front with 3./Ln.Tel.Bau-Abt. z.b.V 5 until March 1942, and then Ln.Rgt. 10, which later became Ln.Rgt. 110. Discharged from service on 2 May 1945. Awarded the Ostmedaille and the rumänische Errinerungsmedaille "Kreuzzug gegen den Kommunismus".

Unteroffizier Heinrich Brauer served with 5. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division, Artillerie-Abteilung 2. Batterie from October 1942 to July 1943, and then with the Nachschubkompanie of the same division until November 1943 performing security duties and on active service in the Crimea and Caucasus. He spent the rest of the war with various replacement and training units in Germany until he joined 553. Volks-Grenadier-Division in March 1945. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter Ludwig Senft trained as a radio operator with leichte Flak-Ausbildungs-Abteilung 39 from the end of April to the beginning of July 1942 when he joined leichte Flak Abteilung 684 in air defence duties in Germany. In September 1942 he transferred to 3. Reserve-Flakabteilung 521 and then to 3./Artillerie-Regiment 12 (L), 12. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division as it was forming at Truppenübungsplatz Bergen near Celle in November 1942. He then trained as a combat engineer when he transferred to 1./Pionier-Bataillon 13 (L), 13. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division as it was forming at Truppenübungsplatz Fallingbostel in December 1942. This division served with 18. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord, Wolchow and was incorporated into the army as 13. Feld-Division (L), XXVII. Korps, 18. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord, Ladoga in November 1943. This division was disbanded and its elements merged with 12. Feld-Division (L) to create a new type infantry division in April 1944. As part of this fusion, he transferred to 3./Pionier-Bataillon 12 (L) at the beginning of May 1944. The Soviet offensive to drive a wedge between army groups north and centre started on 22 June 1944, with the frontal attack against Heeresgruppe Nord beginning the next day. He was killed in action near Plaudisi, Lettland on 19 July 1944 during the heavy defensive fighting across the entire width of the front between the Düna and Narwa. Awarded the EK II and Sturmabzeichen.

Gefreiter Wilfried Gantner volunteered to serve with the Luftwaffe in March 1941 and was found to be suitable for aircrew or paratrooper duties in May when he joined (A.) Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 24 in Moravia. He remained with aircrew training units until September when he was assigned to the staff of the pilot school in Wiener Neustadt. By November 1942, the Luftwaffe was combing out units to raise regiments for the field divisions needed to cover the growing manpower shortages on the Eastern front. Gantner was transferred to Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 27 as it was forming at Truppenübungsplatz Gross-Born in November 1942. After being briefly assigned to Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 21, he transferred to Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 25, 13. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division as it was forming at Truppenübungsplatz Fallingbostel in December 1942. At the beginning of January 1943, he was sent to the Eastern front. In February the division was assigned to the I. Army Corps of Army Group North and replaced 121. I.D. in its positions on the Wolchow in the Tschudowo-Dymno-Spasskaja Polist area where Gantner was killed at the beginning of March. No awards recorded.

Soldbuch collection - all units

Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier divisions

Obergefreiter Gerhard Rossmann served with 116. Panzer-Division. Awarded Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwarz, Ostmedaille, KVK II mit Schwertern, Inf.-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze, KVK II mit Schwertern, Windhund-Abzeichen der 116. Panzer-Division.

Mountain and Jäger divisions

SS-Rottenführer Samuel Krauss served with 4. Fla-Kompanie, Flak-Abteilung 6, 6. SS-Gebirgsdivision "Nord" from 1942. Despite the fact that the Volksbund database indicates that he died in May 1944 and is buried in Narva, his Soldbuch suggests that he was still very much alive until early 1945. It contains entries indicating that he was issued with various items of equipment on different dates, was given an eye test and received pay after this date until at least late January 1945 when the division was fighting with 1. Armee on the Western front. No awards recorded.

Luftwaffe units

Pionier Konrad Schmidt did his basic training with Ersatz-Regiment Division Hermann Göring 8./Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie in Utrecht, Netherlands from July to August 1943 and then served with 3./Fallschirm-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon Hermann Göring (in Germany until November 1943) until the end of May 1944. Awarded Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwarz after he suffered shell splinter wounds to his back and thigh on 16 February 1944. He went missing in action in Valmossfora, Italy, on 29 May 1944.

Unteroffizier Frank Wiese learned to drive with Fallschirmjäger-Kraftfahr-Ausbildungs-Abteilung, an airborne driver training unit, in Helmstedt in January 1945. He transferred to Stabsbatterie III./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 11 in February and I./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 9 in March 1945. A mid-war portrait photograph of Wiese suggests that he served with an army unit before joining the Luftwaffe. The Soldbuch contains entries for EK II and EK I awards in the last two weeks of April 1945.

Pre-1945 German awards and other identity documents

Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier units

One promotion and three award documents to SS-Unterscharführer, and later SS-Untersturmführer Joachim Radeke of 14th company, SS-Regiment "Deutschland". The citations are for the SA sports badge, the infantry assault badge in bronze signed by his then regimental commander Heinz Harmel, and the iron cross first class signed by a Generalmajor and commander of the 303rd infantry division. The promotion document gives notification of his promotion from SS-Standardartenoberjunker to SS-Untersturmführer.

Kriegsstammrolle and various papers of SS-Unterscharführer Alois Hanisch who served as a gunner, signaller and tank hunter with 1. Batterie/SS-Artillerie-Regiment 3 in Germany, on the Western Front and on the Eastern Front from November 1939 to June 1944. Awarded the EK II, Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, Ostmedaille, Sturmabzeichen, Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber, Demjanskschild.

EK II award to SS-Panzer-Grenadier Gerhard Wagner who served with Stab/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Ausbildungs- u. Ersatz-Bataillon 16, part of 9./SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstauffen". The citation is dated 2 October 1944 and signed by Walther Harzer, commander of "Hohenstauffen" at the time. The award was almost certainly given for Wagner's involvement in the fighting in the Arnheim area during Operation Market-Garden.

Gebirgsjäger - Mountain troops

Kriegsstammrolle of SS-Sturmmann Franz Grefer who served as a gunner with 9. SS-Infanterie-Regiment (mot) and 3./SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Nord" in the north of Norway and Finnland from November 1940 to the end of May 1942.

Four award documents to Gefreiter, and later Oberjäger Karl Bächtle of 12th company, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13, 4. Gebirgs-Division. The citations are for the iron cross second class, infantry assault badge, close-combat clasp in bronze and wound badge in black.

Fallschirmtruppe - airborne units

Award documents for the wound badge in black and Luftwaffe ground combat badge and a list of days in combat to Fallschirm-Oberfeldwebel Walter Moeck. The wound badge award and combat list relate to dates in September 1944 when Moeck was fighting in France as part of 9./Fallschirm-Jäger-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Regiment 3 (9./Kampfgruppe 3 (Major Kratzert)). The ground combat badge was awarded to Moeck while a member Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 58 and was signed by divisional commander and Generalmajor Barenthin on 5 May 1945. The unit stamp on the ground combat badge document is for the Fallschirmjäger-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Division.

Various single award documents:

Copyright © 2002 David Gregory

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Last modified: 09 October 2003

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