19. & 20. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division Wehrpass KIA Italy

[JYN]

Hello,

Here is an example of a Wehrpass from a Luftwaffe Field-Division
who fought in Italy.

The owner was at first belonging to the 19.Feld.Div. which was
on garrison in Holland from June 1943 to January 1944. Note the
Walcheren entry.

Then the Division moved to Italy as the 20.Feld.Div. that he joined
later in 1944.

He was KIA near ST.MARTINO/MONT-L'ABATE.
on 17 September 1944.

JYN

[JYN]

02

[JYN]

Units

[JYN]

Training

[JYN]

ranks and awards

[JYN]

Campaigns

[JYN]

KIA entry

[Paul Giva]

Hi JYN,

Thank you for sharing. We see so many Ost front wehrpaesse, but rarely much of anything else. Refreshing to see something different. Thanks again.

[Daniele C]

Nice Italy KIA WP Jean Yves!

[Larry deZeng]

Identifying this guy's place of death on 17 September 1944 is no easy task. One thing is for sure: it wasn't in the autonomous region of Abruzzi (capital in Aquila), which was way, way behind the lines on that date and firmly in Allied hands.

The Division's records state that in "mid-September" it was in movement from around Massa, located halfway between La Spezia and Viareggio on the west coast, to a few kilometers north of San Marino, located 15 km south-west of Rimini on the east coast. There it was attached to 29. Pz.Gren.Div. and came under 10. Armee. While it was on the west coast, there was little fighting, but it was exposed to very heavy combat as soon as it arrived in the line south-west of Rimini. The time frame 12-20 September seems to be exactly when the Division was in movement from the west coast to the east coast.

Further complicating all of this is the fact that there are more than 40 "San Martino" place names in Italy, but none of them seem to be in the vicinity of Massa or Rimini. Secondly, what is the word following "Monte" that ends in "abate" or "bate"? The first letter or two are illegible, at least to me. In Italy, there are literally thousands of place names that begin with "Monte", so until that second word is figured out, further searching is fruitless.

--Larry

[Daniele C]

Larry s right,

The guy is not dead in the Region of ABRUZZO probably but maybe in SAN MARTINO MONTE L'ABATE which is near Rimini( few KMs South west of Rimini as the WP says)

[Larry deZeng]

I am sure you are right, D.C., but I still can't find a Monte L'Abate or a San Martino Monte L'Abate. But I did find a San Martino Montenevoso, but that is way up in north-east Italy 45 km south of Innsbruck/Austria.

--L.

[Daniele C]

Larry

Go on google maps and look closely just straight south of Rimini,you cant miss it

[Larry deZeng]

I've never used Google Maps because I have Vector Globe, but I guess in this case Vector Globe has let me down!

--Larry

[JYN]

I definitely went wrong in locating St.Martino in the Abruzzes as
I already searched the exact location and that September 1944 is
a bit too far in the war to be in the Abruzzes. It is just under RIMINI
as Daniel mentioned it.

I am adding to my thread the Stebeurkunde which is indicate again.
the place is was KIA.