Information request by author.

[Ian Jewison]

Gents,

A friend of mine, author Jason Mark has started a new research project for assualt on Stalingrad post 11 November 1942 and he would like contact with anyone who has documents relating to the units listed below.

Here is his message:
I've started a new book project. This one's about the final German assault in Stalingrad on 11 November. You know, the one that involved all those pioneer battalions. I am hoping you can and help me with some things. Or at least point me in the right direction.

Do you have any documentation relating to the following units: Pi.Btl.45 (Heeres Einheit) Pz.Pi.Btl.50 (22.Pz.Div.) Pi.Btl.162 (162.ID) Pi.Btl.294 (294.ID) Pi.Btl.305 (305.ID) Pi.Btl.336 (336.ID) Pi.Btl.389 (389.ID)

Information about these units during 1942 is very difficult to find, so I'm hoping you or your fellow collectors can help me. There must be Soldbuchs out there that belong to soldiers of these units.

Anyone with any info can contact Jason here info@leapinghorseman.com or through his webpage......incidentally any one who has not bought his first book I suggest have a look....an excellent day by day account of the 24 Panzer Division at Stalingrad.

http://www.leapinghorseman.com/

Regards, Ian

[FCG]

I think books for members of these units, who actually took part in the assaults, must be extremely rare. They suffered terrible casualties, then 6th Army was surrounded only days later.

I do have the Soldbuch of the officer who commanded all these units during the last assaults on the factories. He was Pionier Major Joseph Linden. He remained in Stalingrad until the end, survived captivity, and appears in the book "Enemy at the Gates" by Wm. Craig.

I will attempt to post a few photos of the Soldbuch and some documents found in his personnel file in the U.S. National Archives. Maybe you will see more in Jason's book, if he is interested.

[FCG]

Oops, that didn't work too well.

I will try to post more photos (in smaller size) later.

[Ian Jewison]

Shrunk Herr Linden down a little bit!

/Ian

[FCG]

As promised, some photos from Major Linden's Soldbuch.

[FCG]

His last assignment was Heeres Pionier Bat. 672.

[FCG]

His decorations. . .

[FCG]

He received the Wound Badge on January 24, 1943, near the end of the battle.

[FCG]

Finally, from his personnel file, an excerpt from a letter written by then Oberst Steinmetz, attesting to Linden's good performance in support of the 305 I.D. in Stalingrad.

Steinmetz was evacuated; Linden was not.