EpicArtifacts

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Veteran back at Kinderheimhöhe 68 years after the battle

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Veteran back at Kinderheimhöhe 68 years after the battle

    I want to share my trip back with Narva with you.

    I will start with the beginning. I came in contact with the veteran in 2010 when i were looking in some old newspapers.
    I contacted him, and he said yes to give me his whole story, on that promis that his name newer came out.
    He had newer told his story to anybody except me.
    The only persons who knew it is him(ofcause) his wite who died in 1982 and so me.

    Wednesday 12 september 2012. After 3 1/2 hours in train i finally could knock at his door.
    The time was about 22.00 evening, i we were going up very early next day to go with the plain to Tallinn.
    When the time was 2.00 ! we still were talking, he talked about his time in russian POW.
    and the first bottle of Jägermeister was enpty..

    13 September: With the plain to Tallinn and get the rented Car we were going to Narva to find the Hotel.
    We found the hotel and went a a trip inside Narva, we found the old regimental headquarter from Rgt danmark at Kreenholm.
    He talked about the time he were at the HQ. he were a sanitäter and talked about some of the bombings at Narva and some of the wounded who came in.
    In the evening we were had a good dinner and again when we were back at the hotel he talked about the time with the Frikorps and Rgt24. Again the time were 1-2 in the night before it was sleep time.

    14 september: At the breackfast he did not talked alot. It were the day we were going to the 3 hills (Tannenberg)
    We came out and and at the first time he did not want to came out of the car. But some time after he came out.
    It was the first time in 68 years that he stood at the Kinderheimhöhe..
    He beging to talked about the massive fights and how it was to be a part of the battle.
    We drove down of the Kinderheimhöhe parked the car and went out to the positions were the 11. kp were in massive fighting(He was a part of that group) we sat down with a cup of coffee, and he talked how it was and what he were thinking about back in july/august 1944.
    He were one of about 10 who managed to survived and cross the Narva-Tallinn road to came in secure at 49 De Ruyter.
    Wounded 2 times at fighting at the Tannenberg(wounded 3 times total during the war).
    Again my paper block were full with notes.

    Later we drowe at the Grenadierhöhe, and the Vaivara area, visited the museum before we finnally drowe back to the positions of 11. kp so he could say a final goodbye to the hills.

    Late afternoon we visited the German cemetery at Narva, he went keep saying and looked at the cross it could be me who lay there..
    Afternoon were got a meal inside Narva and just relaxed.

    15 September: it was time to go back to Denmark.
    For me a fantastic piece of history and closer do you not come to the war.


    What i have writing here is just very little from the trip.
    I have papers from german, danish, Russian archiv about him. And many many papers with notes at his story.
    Ang recording about 5 hours with him.

    At the moment i'm writing his story, it will be released in december 2013.

    He joined Frikorps Danmark in september 1942.
    He were in action at Welikie Luki, later in autunn 1943 with Rgt Danmark in Croatia.
    Awarded EKII at the Kurland battles and Panzervernichtungsabz. (Medals during the war, Infanteri abz, Wound badge in Silver, EKII, Panzervernichtungsabz)
    His last rang were Rottenführer, promoted to Rottenführer, when he received the EKII, Panz.abz.

    March 1945 taken by the russians at Arnswalde spent 18 month in Sibiria.
    Came out in 1947, he found a girl(later married, no children) told her that he were been in SS and that they never should talk about it.
    She died in 1982.

    Now after 3 years, i have visited him severial times, talk in phone with him 2-3 times during a week.

    Photos:

    First: Regiment Danmark HQ, inside Narva

    Second: From the observer tower at the Kinderheimhöhe in front the positions from 11. Kp
    Attached Files

    #2
    Hi Larsen

    I am looking forward to read his story

    Doc

    Comment


      #3
      Glad to hear.

      Just finished a day at the Archive and a visit at the veteran

      Comment

      Users Viewing this Thread

      Collapse

      There is currently 1 user online. 0 members and 1 guests.

      Most users ever online was 10,032 at 08:13 PM on 09-28-2024.

      Working...
      X