My 212. Infanterie-Division - Volksgrenadier-Division Collection

[HouweTrouwe]

A small grouping I have from the logistics of the Division (and the only one currently), Fahrkolonne 212. Although much underrated, these guys had a pretty important task. If logistics can't follow its army, problems arise pretty quickly (I serve in the Army and not it in the logistics but dare to say it). It is also the sole Erkennungsmarke I have from a soldier of the Division and the earliest Award document I have for the Division. Can't add much else history other than to say these soldiers kept on driving, sometimes on impossible roads or with vehicles that barely still drive, during severe (winter) temperatures and being easy targets for partisans or aircraft.. Each day of the war.. So all the soldiers on the front line receive their food, letters from home and everything else they need and may desire.

[HouweTrouwe]

Artillerie-Regiment 212, pure terror and one of the main reasons for soldiers to get wounded, missing or die on the front. I currently have only a death card and a Wehrpass to this unit. Wehrpass is nothing special only that he was a Hauptwachtmeister and served a small period in the regiment (he started on the creation date of the Regiment, that's why it is a little interesting) however he afterwards joined the reserves. The Death Card is from Major Kurt Köhler, Führer of the I. Abteilung/ Artillerie-Regiment 212 who was awarded the DKiG.

[HouweTrouwe]

For those that don't know what Artillery can do with a human and the reason why I stated that artillerie is 'terror' earlier.. Meet the fate of Grenadier Johann Kernspecht of the 10. Kompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 423. As of today, he is still listed as Missing. Simple fact because his body was never recovered. What 99,9% happened is shown below taken from the Divisions' Dairy:



In other words, he was hit by a Artillerievolltreffer and blown to pieces. They were only able to find his bloodstained buckle.

[Lutfen]

You've got an impressive collection focused around this Division! Amazing!

Michael

[HouweTrouwe]

Have two Soldbücher of the Pionier-Bataillon 212, one that also came with his Award documents and a few other documents. He (Rossmark) was captured by US Forces on February 17, 1945 and served with the 2. Kompanie. The other one (Reichl) earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse during the Battle of the Bulge while serving with the 3. Kompanie.

Just a side note: I am seeking the estate of Walter Wohnhas that was sold by Butscheq earlier. All tips are appreciated!

[HouweTrouwe]

Two Soldbücher from Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 212 (actually have 3 but I keep the Soldbuch of Baudrexl with Infanterie-Regiment 316 since he earned all his awards there and served with that unit for years). They both participated in the Battle of the Bulge and were captured by US Forces.

For those interested, veteran Friedrich Gürge who served with this unit has a website with his memories: http://www.friedrich-guerge.de/fried...dennen1944.htm

[HouweTrouwe]

I'll be ending with the Wehrpass of Stabsfeldwebel Josef Kagleder, he started his service in 1935 and ended ... May 10, 1945! On this date he was discharged by the 212. Volksgrenadier-Division, he was until then with the Stab/ Panzerjäger-Abteilung 212. Reason why I like this one a lot is because he served with the Division from the beginning until the end.. Going through various units! Earning the KVK 1. Klasse on January 30, 1945 for his efforts and service.

[Admiraal]

Nice collection!

[HouweTrouwe]

Thanks 'Simon H', 'Lutfen' and 'Rick Admiraal' for your kind comments! Today, my 19th Wehrpass / Soldbuch arrived. The Soldbuch belonged to Gefreiter Josef Seidl, he served with the 3. Batterie/ Artillerie-Regiment 212 (still didn't have something from this battery). Nothing special, it is pretty beat up and few entries. Only interesting part is that he took part in the Battle of the Bulge.

I'm happy with the period book that arrived, Von der Saar bis an die Mosel, which describes some of the actions of the 212. Infanterie-Division during 1939-1940. Note on the front of the book the divisional symbol which depicts the "Frauenkirche" in München.

[Angel Farré]

Such wonderful and dedicated collection, I wish I have as much pieces from the 1 Panzer Division as you have from the 212. You know you can access my 212 pieces for research when you want, just email me and I will provide you with scans of what you need.

Keep going and show us the groups with Soldbuch and citations as are something special to me.

Cheers

Angel

[Reichsword]

Thank you for posting this amazing documentation. Can't imagine how many hours of time was involved in tracing these soldiers .

[HouweTrouwe]

Thanks Angel and Reichsword for your positive comments, always nice to hear. Another interesting purchase this month. A period, self-published (small) literature item of the Infanterie-Regiment 423 called "Nikolaus bei Stab I.R. 423" (Russland 1941). I don't know if there are any more editions for the other years. All information is welcome. This item once belonged to the estate of Leitpold Lemmer, sadly most was broken up. I know his Soldbuch is somewhere out there, I am looking for all tips to acquire it.

This is the second self-published literature booklet I know of from the 212. Infanterie-Division. The second I know of is "Fünf Jahre zwischen West u. Ost - 212. Inf. Division", again all tips to find this is welcome.

[HouweTrouwe]

I was able to add a second Photoalbum to my collection and archive. I sadly don't know yet to which unit he belonged, most likely the Infanterie-Regiment 316 because of a grave photo with statement "Mein Kamerad" - so I guess he may have belonged to the same unit. Some nice photographs are to be found within the album showing the "Frauenkirche" (Division symbol) on vehicles, some landscape photographs of battlefield (excellent for research) and a few photographs taken on the battlefield.

Thanks for watching

[HouweTrouwe]

I was able to acquire more this month. I was able to add a third Photoalbum, which belonged to Hauptmann Josef Baumetz of Infanterie-/ Grenadier-Regiment 423. I only did found this out after looking through the newspapers that came with the photoalbum and looking through the photographs (matching all information I have), concluding that it belonged to Hptm. Baumetz. Finally I am able to give him a face as well as a few other officers! I also traced - from images I saved from the internet - that Historical-Media did sell two other photoalbums of Josef Baumetz (it was not marked as his - only 212. I.D. - however I identified him several times and the photographs and the writing in the albums are his. He made a few albums depicting various time frames it seems). If anyone has a photoalbum of the 212. Infanterie-Division feel free to let me know. 

I also was able to add another Wehrpass to my collection. Franz Heim belonged to Bataillonsstab der II./ Infanterie-Regiment 423 before being transferred to the 12. (MG) Kompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 423. I didn't have anything from the Kompanie yet so finally now I do. For me it's an interesting Wehrpass with nice entries. More to that later.

Finally I added two more (single) photographs to my archive.. One which I can't show if ever for publication purposes and is a photograph that was taken during the Ardennes Offensive at Echternach. The second was is a small portrait of soldier wearing Uberschühe "423" (white), indicating Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 423 which was stationed at Neuburg a/d Donau (which is stamped on the back). Many of soldiers of the Divisions came from this Ersatz unit. 

[HouweTrouwe]

Hauptmann Josef Baumetz died of his wounds on January 7, 1943 which he suffered during the Wolchow fightings in March 1942. When he died he was Kommandeur of the II. Bataillon/ Infanterie-Regiment 423.