This grouping recently came out of Köln, directly from the Vet’s widow. It consists of his Soldbuch, Erkennungsmarke, shoulder straps, EKI, EKII, Ostmed, IAB in silver, black wound badge, silver wound badge, and close combat clasp in bronze as well as all of the accompanying award documents.
The Soldbuch was issued to Bernhard Schwindt in September of 1939 through I.R.484 (254.I.D.) His first combat experience was in the invasion of the Western countries with I.R.484 traveling through Holland and then into France. In November of 1940 he was transferred to I.R.587 (320.I.D.) and until December of 1941 was stationed on the northern coast of France on occupational and security duty. In January of 1942, Schwindt was transferred to the 112.I.D. and began what would be 3 and a half years of hell on the eastern front. From January 1942 Schwindt fought with Gren.Rgt.258 (112.Infanterie-Division) in central Russia and by November of 1943, the Division had been almost annihilated. In an effort to maintain effective fighting units while also addressing the increasing demand for German combat units on a growing number of fronts, the German High Command created what were called Korpsabteilungen, or Korps Detachments – smaller Divisional size units consisting of 3 regiments of two battalions each. On paper these were division-sized units but in real life they were not much more than destroyed divisions that had been consolidated in a desperate attempt to maintain some sort of effective fighting force. Korps-Abteilung-B was created by using the remainder of the 112.Infanterie-Division to form the Stab, and the remainder of Divisionsgruppes 112., 225.,and 332 were used to form the 3 regiments that would make up the fighting force.
In January of 1944, Korps-Abteilung B - engaged in ferocious combat - was caught in the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket. It was here – in the field, and cut off from any sort of re-supply - that Schwindt was awarded his EKI. Shortly after he was wounded for a third and then a fourth time - grenade splinters and a gunshot wound – and had to be evacuated out of the field.
Schwindt spent the next several months recovering in various hospitals. When he was deemed fit to fight again in October of 1944 he was assigned to Grenadier-Regiment.110 which was formed in June of 1944 from the remainder of Divisionsgruppe 112. In Feb. of 1945, shortly after returning to combat, Schwindt developed severe muscle and joint disorder (no doubt a result of his previous 4 wounds) was admitted to Hospital where he ended the war.
The Soldbuch was issued to Bernhard Schwindt in September of 1939 through I.R.484 (254.I.D.) His first combat experience was in the invasion of the Western countries with I.R.484 traveling through Holland and then into France. In November of 1940 he was transferred to I.R.587 (320.I.D.) and until December of 1941 was stationed on the northern coast of France on occupational and security duty. In January of 1942, Schwindt was transferred to the 112.I.D. and began what would be 3 and a half years of hell on the eastern front. From January 1942 Schwindt fought with Gren.Rgt.258 (112.Infanterie-Division) in central Russia and by November of 1943, the Division had been almost annihilated. In an effort to maintain effective fighting units while also addressing the increasing demand for German combat units on a growing number of fronts, the German High Command created what were called Korpsabteilungen, or Korps Detachments – smaller Divisional size units consisting of 3 regiments of two battalions each. On paper these were division-sized units but in real life they were not much more than destroyed divisions that had been consolidated in a desperate attempt to maintain some sort of effective fighting force. Korps-Abteilung-B was created by using the remainder of the 112.Infanterie-Division to form the Stab, and the remainder of Divisionsgruppes 112., 225.,and 332 were used to form the 3 regiments that would make up the fighting force.
In January of 1944, Korps-Abteilung B - engaged in ferocious combat - was caught in the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket. It was here – in the field, and cut off from any sort of re-supply - that Schwindt was awarded his EKI. Shortly after he was wounded for a third and then a fourth time - grenade splinters and a gunshot wound – and had to be evacuated out of the field.
Schwindt spent the next several months recovering in various hospitals. When he was deemed fit to fight again in October of 1944 he was assigned to Grenadier-Regiment.110 which was formed in June of 1944 from the remainder of Divisionsgruppe 112. In Feb. of 1945, shortly after returning to combat, Schwindt developed severe muscle and joint disorder (no doubt a result of his previous 4 wounds) was admitted to Hospital where he ended the war.
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