Gren. Ers. Batl. 437 Soldbuch Normandy Invasion

[EMSMIT2]

Here is a soldbuch belonging to a member of Grenadier Ersatz Battalion 437. I know this outfit suffered heavy casualties and was virtually wiped out in Caen during the Normandy Invasion. The owner of this soldbuch was wounded on July 26, 1944 and taken to the field hospital at Harlingen. Harlingen was later liberated by Canadian soldiers. Does anyone have any more information on Battalion 437?

Thanks,
Eddie

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Wound badge, EKII, IAB in silver, Russian Front Medal

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Harlingen July 26, 1944

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[Eric JB]

Interesting to see that the name is spelled in Frisian.

Harlinghen instead of the Dutch written version Harlingen.

Marinelazarett Harlinghen.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[Paulus_Gun]

Interesting to see that the name is spelled in Frisian.

Harlinghen instead of the Dutch written version Harlingen.

Marinelazarett Harlinghen.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

How do you mean? Isn't the Frisian version of Harlingen 'Harns'? Harlinghen looks more like the normal way they wrote it back then.

[Gary T]

According to Tessin units of 182. Reserve-Division were used to form combat battalions from 30th July onwards. The wound code in the soldbuch seems to say 16 something or other - glandular disease not a wound.

[Eric JB]

How do you mean? Isn't the Frisian version of Harlingen 'Harns'? Harlinghen looks more like the normal way they wrote it back then.

Hoi Paul,

Voorouders komen uit Workum en ik haal hier wat zaken door elkaar.
Harlinghen is de oude Nederlandse spelling uit die tijd.

Paul je hebt volkomen gelijk.

Paul is right, old dutch writing is Harlinghen for that period.

In Frisian it is Harns.


Harns (stêd)
Harns is it haadplak fan de gemeente Harns. It is de belangrykste havenstêd fan de provinsje. Yn de haven fan Harns lizze, neist de Harnzer skippen, ek dy fan de grutte Urker fleat. Harns heart ta de Fryske Alve stêden en hat ûngefear 15.000 ynwenners. Hjirmei is it it fyfde plak fan Fryslân. It Harnzers is in eigen dialekt.




yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[EMSMIT2]

I believe this man was probably captured by Canadian troops in Harlingen or not far from there.