my little collection of one of my favorite divisions (with another half dozen) on the Gothic line of Rimini ....
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and I begin (in chronological order, about) with a simple and "empty" wehrpasss but interesting for the date and place where this young panzer grenadier was killed in action...
Wehrpass released to Horb an Neckar in July 1942 -
Oskar Möhrle born in January 31, 1925
Service in HJComment
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pre-military in France until the end of August 1943
enlisted in September 1943 in the Res. Gren. Ersatz Batl 35 in Pforzheim (in the Buckenberg-Kaserne)Comment
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He comes in Italy at the end of March 1944 and on 1 May 1944 he was assigned to the Grenadier-Regiment 1027 on the Anzio Nettuno front, then on Tuscany. On July 14, his regiment is absorbed by 26 Panz. DivisionLast edited by mufasa; 07-02-2017, 03:52 AM.Comment
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His training on weapons, stretcher, his promotionsComment
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He was injured in his hand (we see later) the 9th August 1944....Comment
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His regiment the first day of august 1944 was on the Arno river, around Santa Croce sull'Arno (photo) , and a few days later the 26 Panzer Division was transferred to the Adriatic front….Comment
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And Oskar arrives (and falls the day after) on the Gothic line the 30 August
1944: the 31th August 1944 the Canadian breakthrough the fortifications of the Gothic line in Montecchio.
The Kampfgruppe Schmal (formed by the departments of the 67 Pz Gren Oskar Regiment and some Tigers wagons of 508) it is just arrived in Montecchio line, to relieve the surviving units of the 71 ID overwhelmed by the Canadian, but the confusion and above all the overwhelming superiority of Tank and Artillery of the British, the destruction of the mined fields due to the allied bombings, can not stop the Canadians who conquer the 204 point, that is, the breakthrough and crossing of the fortification of the Gothic lineComment
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Oskar fell (red triangle) just above Montecchio towards Monte Marrone... the second it is a german map.....
In yellow the Canadian finish: point 204....Comment
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The German defense line of the Panzer Grenadier Regiment 67 of Oskar was just over the present Canadia War Cemetery of Montecchio (we are about 5/6 km North of Pesaro)...Comment
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and Point 204 form Montecchio-Monte MarroneComment
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The Canadian monument at quote 204Comment
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the inscriprion onn the plate placed in the monument area :
PERTH REGIMENT CRACKS OPEN THE GOTHIC LINE
August 30 – September 1, 1944
Initial discoveries of lightly manned defences and an intact roadway an anti-tack ditch led to a decision by Major General BM Offmeister, OC 5th Canadian Armoured Division (5 CAD) an Allied staff to cancel the set piece attack and to immediately "gate-crash" the forward defences of the Gothic Line.
On the evening of August 30, the Perth Regiment, 11th Canadian Infantry Brigate (5CAD) became the first unit to pierce the Gothic Line when D Company captured Point 111 with a bayonet charge followed by "A coy outflanking and seizing Point 147.
These initial gains were exploited on August 31 by units of the two Canadian divisions, 1st Infantry and 5th Armoured. Although intense artillery fire prevented the Perths fron joining the British Columbia Dragoons (BCD) of 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade (5CAB) the tank regiment boldly adavanced and seizing Point 204 the Gothic Line's lynch pin positon. That evening, the Perth's and Lord Strathcona's (5CAB) tanks releived the BCD and held Point 204 against three determined counterattacks by 4 th Parachute (Fallschirmjager) Regiment supported by 26th Panzer Regiment's tanks.
Three Perths were recognized for their valour at Point 204: LT-Col. W.W. Reid was awarded the Distinguished Service Order Sergent K.M. "Blackie " Rowe, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and Private Roy D. Saunders, the Military Medal.Comment
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and another photo towards Montecchio, where was Oskar, from the Monument of 204 quoteComment
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