A 'humble' Zweitschrift SB.....

[Nico C]

I just wanted to show you a Zweitschrift SB from my collection.
A Zweitschrift SB is for most collectors not comparable to a first issue, but better a Zweitschrift than not having a specific first issue

[Nico C]

No picture

[Nico C]

the man

[Nico C]

Like you can see, it was issued very late in the war, April 1945.

[Nico C]

.

[Nico C]

On 21.01.1945, he is appointed commander of 'Festung Marienburg'.

He manages to hold the city against the Russians untill 09.03.1945 with a KG, consisting out of "2 kompanien der Heeres-Unteroffiziers-Schule Mewe, die Bootsmaatschule Gotenhafen, die Reste der Grenadier-ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillone 492 und 494, 2 Kompanien des Füsilier-Ausbildungs-Bataillons "Feldherrnhalle", das Luftwaffen-Offiziersanwärter-Bataillon Rahmel, die Besatzung des Linienschiffes "SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN", 4 Artillerie-Batterien, 1 Flak-Abteilung, 1 Polizeieinheit, Alarmeinheiten und Volkssturm."

In total 2500 men.

[Nico C]

As you can see in the pictures, they gave the russians a hell of a beating with their ad-hoc force.

[Nico C]

Another destroyed Russian Sherman in the streets of Marienburg.

[Nico C]

And another.

[Nico C]

A view on the city.....

[Nico C]

the defenders.....

[Nico C]

The last stronghold in the city was the medieval fortress.

[Nico C]

With this heroic defense, thousands of german refugees were possible to flee for the 'Barbarians of the East' .

In this picture we see his award ceremony.
He is pictured left, already wearing a DKiG, which he earned already in 1942.

[Nico C]

His Ritterkreuz was awarded on 10 February 1945, during the defence of the city.

[Nico C]

He was wounded on 29.03.1945, when commanding the Grenadier-Regiment 62.


This brave soldier, a veteran of 2 World Wars, died peacefully in February 1976.