Soldbuch to a true Normandy combat veteran, 344.I.D., Battle of Brest 1944

[Panzer Rob]

Last for now...

[Panzer Rob]

That's it for now... An interesting detail I'd like to point out; notice that the black wound badge entry was entered 'after' a repair had been made to the Soldbuch (in this case it looks as if the last page had come loose.) This shows that these books took quite a beating while carried and were often repaired, this one in August of 1943.

Rob

[Hundestaffel]

Man, I just can't compete with the likes of you !!!

I might as well give up and collect Marbles and Teaspoons !!!

Once again (and as always), a great piece Robert...

"Hundestaffel"

[Panzer Rob]

Man, I just can't compete with the likes of you !!!

I might as well give up and collect Marbles and Teaspoons !!!

Once again (and as always), a great piece Robert...

"Hundestaffel"

Ha! Hey, I heard that Beanie Babies are making a strong comeback

Seriously though, I know what you've got tucked away up there in your little bunker, you're not fooling anybody

Thanks for the complements my friend
Rob

[Hundestaffel]

Ha! Hey, I heard that Beanie Babies are making a strong comeback

Seriously though, I know what you've got tucked away up there in your little bunker, you're not fooling anybody

Thanks for the complements my friend
Rob

Actually Robert, all the stuff I've sent you scans of in the past are actually from other peoples collections !!!

I just "Cut and Paste" (and then lie to you !!), and WELLA - Instant "High End" cyber collection !!!

"Hundestaffel"

[Luft 76]

It is a very nice Soldbuch. But you must know that Brest is not in Normandy but in Brittany. And 344. ID never fought in Brest area, but only in Normandy, at the end of the campaign...and later in north France

[Panzer Rob]

And 344. ID never fought in Brest area, but only in Normandy, at the end of the campaign...and later in north France

Are you sure? When I was researching the Soldbuch I read multiple online accounts that the 344.I.D. fought during the Battle of Brest and was then destroyed fighting in Normandy in 1944. Actually, I couldn't find much into on the Division but I know that it was reported to have fought during the battle for Brest. If the 344.I.D. did not fight at Brest, then the sources I read are incorrect and I will have to amend that portion of my writeup. Can you please supply me with proof that the 344.I.D. did not fight at Brest?

And yes, I am aware that the 344.I.D. fought in Normandy, that is why this is a Normandy veteran Soldbuch, as stated in the header and text The division was reformed in the Netherlands in the autumn of 1944 and went on to fight during the Battle of the Bulge. Judging from the lack of entries from August 1944 onwards, I believe Pickl went into captivity before what was left of the division made it out of France in late summer 1944.



Rob

[CWP]

That is a great Soldbuch, lots of history thare. Thanks for sharing the detailed scans.

[REDVIPER]

Hello Rob

A very nice soldbook from a Normandy fighter and after my recherche I can say yes the 344 ID fought in Brest by the battle see here the link and if you want look by other websides you will find a many about this battle and the 344 ID

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Brest

Regards Thomas

[REDVIPER]

Rob I think we make a mistake the most sides tell that the 344 ID fight by Brest , but if you see behind the links you will find that the 343 ID was the Division on Brest and not the 344 ID

Maybe luft76 was wright Rob

Regards Thomas

[Panzer Rob]

Thomas,

I researched this one almost a year ago, so I can't remember exactly which sites I referenced when I did the writeup, but the wikipedia page you linked to does look familiar. And yes, when you click on the 344.I.D. link, the 343 comes up (broken link) but notice this site does list the 344 in the write-up, too...

A quick google search does turn up info on the 344.I.D. and Brest, but several of those sites seem to have got their info from the wikipedia page (and we all know to take wikipedia with a grain of salt!)

I hope Luft_76 can help shed some light on this as he appears to be the expert on which divisions fought where in France during the Allied invasion of Normandy.

All I know is that even if the 344.I.D. did not fight at the Battle of Brest, this is still a true Normandy combatant Soldbuch, and that's what I originally bought it for (the Brest connection came after the fact, while I was researching it).

Rob

[dennisb]

Hello Rob,

I hope I don't make you to angry by telling you this, but the 344.Infanterie-Division was part of the 5. Panzerarmee in August 1944.

In August 1944 the 5. Panzerarmee took indeed part in the Normandy battles and later in the Falaise Pocket.

Here some links:

http://www.feldgrau.com/5pzarmee.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzergruppe_West
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2056


Beside this, still a very interesting piece!
Hope it helps!

[Panzer Rob]

Hello Rob,

I hope I don't make you to angry by telling you this, but the 344.Infanterie-Division was part of the 5. Panzerarmee in August 1944.

In August 1944 the 5. Panzerarmee took indeed part in the Normandy battles and later in the Falaise Pocket.

Here some links:

http://www.feldgrau.com/5pzarmee.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzergruppe_West
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2056

Dennis-

Angry? No, not at all! To the contrary, I'm actually happy, as I'd much rather know the real story behind the book as opposed to thinking that it's something it is not. I'm just a bit upset I didn't verify the information when I originally researched the Soldbuch (although I do have to say, I remember not being able to find much info on the division.) I should have dug deeper before stopping... I'm usually very thorough with my research.

As I said in my last post, I bought this one as a 344.I.D. Normandy vet Soldbuch, and when I researched it I found information stating that the 344.I.D. participated in the Battle for Brest. I was surprised by this info, but that wasn't why I bought the book and so it was just a little added bonus so to speak.

The links you posted above I have found myself in the last hour or so, trying to verify if the 344.I.D. was at Brest. I can see now that I had the info wrong and that the 344.I.D. was in fact attached to the 5.Pz.Armee and - as you stated - involved in the Normandy battles and just managed to escape from the Falaise pocket! Someone needs to update that wikipedia page, and a host of other pages that must have used it, too

Beside this, still a very interesting piece!
Hope it helps!

Yes, it is, and I am just as happy with it. Like I said, I bought this for the Normandy Invasion connection; the Brest connection was just a bonus which, to be honest while interesting, didn't really matter much to me

And yes, you did help. Thanks for that

Rob

[Luft 76]

Rob and Redviper

Wikipedia is not a exact source about many subjects... And, indeed, it is not 344. but 343.ID (parts in fact) who fought in Brest area, with parts of 266. ID and 2. FJD.
344. ID is a very interesting but near unknown unit who arrived in mid august (first elements) in east Normandy, subordinated to 81. Armee Korps (see KTB Pz Armee OK 5), Tagesmeldung von 15.08.44). With the 17. FD (L), the 344. ID where ordered to contain the american offensiv through west, in order to "stop" a new Kessel on the Seine. At that time, 344. ID were in front between L'Aigle and Verneuil sur Avre, also with parts of 331. ID (Anlage 30, KTB AOK 5). On 21 - 22 august, the division fought in Le Neubourg and Evreux sector with 17. FD (L). The 25. 08. the division was subordinated to 74. AK. The days later, the units fought heavily south of the Seine river, south of Rouen. This city were one of the main point of river crossing for german army.
I try to give you others informations later.

[christof]

I agree 100% with Luft 76, 343. ID fought in Brittany and 344. ID in Normandy.