A little research opens up a completely different view on a group

[Ian Jewison]

Here's a group I have had a long time which was filed until I had the time to look into it.....seeing as it is a cold rainy day thought I would take a look at it.

There are not many entries in 1942 at all and no indication of what happened to this soldier.

The Soldbuch has no photo and never had one as is according to regulations at the time. To the top of page one written is "Spli. Bauch", I will come back to that. The Soldbuch was issued 27.8.1939 to Unteroffizier Otto Papin who was born 17.6.1917 in Sensburg as a member of Stab/Reiter Regiment 1.

Page 2 bears signature Oberleutnant und Führer des Stabes Bechtold Graf von Bernstorff DKiG. He died from severe wounds on 4.9.1942 in Krutenkiy as Rittmeister und Abteilung Kommandeur I/Panzer Grenadier Regiment 21.

1.10.1941 he was promoted to Wachtmeister with the Nachrichten Zug.

Page 3 bears signature Leutnant und Führer des Nachrichten Zuges Dieter Bömcke. He was killed as an Oberleutnant on 3.9.1942 near Alexeyevka with Stab/Panzer Grenadier Regiment 21.

Otto would serve with the same unit throughout his career, Nachrichten Zug, Reiter Regiment 1, 1 Kavallerie Brigade/Division. Then to Stabs Schwadron, Schützen Regiment 21 on 3.12.1941 when the Division was reformed as 24 Panzer Division. On 5.7.1941 the Regiment was renamed Panzer Grenadier Regiment 21.

Page 6 and 7 shows normal kit issue, however he did get a clean uniform without combat kit on 21.11.1942 from Reserve Lazarett XXIIc Wien.

Page 8a shows he was issued a Rifle 42 and a Dutch? bayonet.

Page 12 and 13 shows he was hospitalised with tonsillitis and had a tonsillectomy.

For some reason, pages 17-20 were removed and folded for some reason and page 21-22 unfortunately are missing.

Page 18 confirms his promotion to Unteroffizier on 1.9.1939 and to Wachtmeister on 1.10.1941. Also the he received peacetime pay as an active member of the Army from 1.11.1938.

Page 20 confirms he received service and front pay. Interestingly for September 1942 from Feldlazarett 1/522 and issued soaps from Reserve Lazarett XXIIc Wien.

Page 23 and 24 confirms his leaves and are authorised by:
Oberleutnant und Führer des Stabes Valentin von Dietmann. He died of wounds 26.7.1942 near Solonovski as Rittmeister und Schwadron Chef, 7/Panzer Grenadier Regiment 21.
Leutnant und Führer des Nachrichten Zuges Dieter Bömcke.
Leutnant Dr. Theodor Penners. Served as I Abteilung Adjutant, Regiment and Abteilung Ordonanzoffizer, and Schwadron Chef, Panzer Grenadier Regiment 21. He was wounded 27.9.1942 and survived the war.
Rittmeister und Schwadron Chef Ernst Schmidt. Captured at Stalingrad and died in captivity.

Also an insert recording the issue of a pistol 08, bayonet and gas mask.

FP Nr. 03927:
(Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) Regimentsstab Reiter-Regiment 1,
(27.1.1942-14.7.1942) Regimentsstab u. Stabskompanie Schützen-Regiment 21
(15.7.1942-24.1.1943) Regimentsstab u. Stabskompanie Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21.

[Ian Jewison]

Although nothing is mentioned in the Soldbuch he was heavily wounded on 26.8.1942 the same time when Oberst von Lengerke, Regiments Kommandeur was hit by shell splinters from a Russian barrage.

See extract from Jason Mark's book "Death of the Leaping Horseman: The 24th Panzer Division in Stalingrad".

He died 6.2.1943 in Reserve Lazarett VI Stettin. He was buried at the mill in Schiewenau, Tapiau/Ostpreußen in the village where his parents lived. His father owned the mill.

The death notification shows what was written on page 1, "Splitter Bauch", in full Granatesplitter verletzung Bauchhöhle - Grenade splinter injury abdominal cavity. It also confirms he was heavily wounded and died of his wounds.

Also of interest is the dog tag is that of the replacement unit and not that in his Soldbuch. I wonder if he was issued a new Soldbuch?

See death notification from Ancestry.com

From the German War Graves site:

Surname: Papin
Forename: Otto
Rank: Wachtmeister
Date of birth: 17.06.1917
Place of birth: Sensburg
Date of death: 06.02.1943
Place of death: Res.Laz. VI Stettin

Otto Papin has not yet been transferred to a militarycemetery set up by the Volksbund.According to the information available to us, his grave is currently in the following place: Gwardejsk, Russia.

[Ian Jewison]

His driving license showing him as a Gefreiter for class 3 vehicles, later updated with 1 and 2. It is signed by Oberstleutnant und Regiments Kommandeur Helmuth Wachsen.

[Ian Jewison]

A few photos from the album, interestingly regarding his Regiments Kommandeur who was killed in the same barrage.

[Ian Jewison]

Lastly his father's Militärpaß and Soldbuch

[M3A1Mats]

Amazing unsuspecting SB Ian! Thanks for sharing,

Mats

[TWS]

Fantastic discovery Ian. Anything related to 24. PD is interesting to me.