12th SS Soldbuch Bussmann grouping

[Bill Hughes]

image#16

[Bill Hughes]

image#17

[Bill Hughes]

image#18

[Bill Hughes]

image#19

[Gran Sasso]

image#17

The top-left foto was taken in the courtyard of the famous abbey "Ardenne" north-west of Caen, then the headquarter of the 12th SS-Panzer (same goes for lower left foto of post 16).

[Gran Sasso]

image#15

Bussmann's EK II signed by Kurt Meyer

Are you sure its "Panzer-Meyer´s" (Kurt Meyer) signature? Just ask as Hubert Meyer was the IA of the HJ-divison, and I have seen a lot of docs signed by him - dont have either signaure here at the moment to compare.

[Bobbe]

Great group Bill!!!! ...It's an enviable one!

Thank you for sharing this true beauty!!

Cheers,
Roberto

[Daniele C]

great group!a pity it was denazified

[Hundestaffel]

Kurt Meyer was still an SS-Standartenfuhrer at the time in which this document was signed (Kurt Meyer was promoted to SS-Oberführer August 1, 1944). Hubert Meyer, if I remember correctly, never acheived the rank of SS-Standartenfuhrer (but definitely do correct me if I'm wrong here). The document is clearly marked "Der Kommandeur" with no "i.A." provision for / on the signature.

The letter to his parents where Bussmann writes about his EK II award is dated "10.VII.44" reads:

Today is the most beautiful day of my life as a soldier. Some comrades and I received today at noon the EK II, handed out by the Regiment's Commander. I hope I can bring it home in good health. It was hard and we had to suffer a lot.

Fantastik little 12 SS "HJ" Panther grouping here, Doktor....


"Hundestaffel"

[Mark Bakker]

Congratulations for this superb grouping!

[Bill Hughes]

Great group Bill!!!! ...It's an enviable one!

Thank you for sharing this true beauty!!

Cheers,
Roberto

Thanks Roberto!

I consider this set the high light of my small collection.

Cheers
Bill

[Bill Hughes]

Kurt Meyer was still an SS-Standartenfuhrer at the time in which this document was signed (Kurt Meyer was promoted to SS-Oberführer August 1, 1944). Hubert Meyer, if I remember correctly, never acheived the rank of SS-Standartenfuhrer (but definitely do correct me if I'm wrong here). The document is clearly marked "Der Kommandeur" with no "i.A." provision for / on the signature.

The letter to his parents where Bussmann writes about his EK II award is dated "10.VII.44" reads:

Today is the most beautiful day of my life as a soldier. Some comrades and I received today at noon the EK II, handed out by the Regiment's Commander. I hope I can bring it home in good health. It was hard and we had to suffer a lot.

Fantastik little 12 SS "HJ" Panther grouping here, Doktor....


"Hundestaffel"

I believe that this is the letter that you referred to Herr Hundestaffel

[Bill Hughes]

great group!a pity it was denazified

Hi Daniele,

Yes unfortunate that it has been denazified , but this was quite a common occurrence when SS POW's were allowed to keep thier books for ID purposes. Bussmann was without a doubt a POW (see POW cards) in image #19

[Panzer Rob]

Hi Daniele,

Yes unfortunate that it has been denazified , but this was quite a common occurrence when SS POW's were allowed to keep thier books for ID purposes. Bussmann was without a doubt a POW (see POW cards) in image #19

Absolutely correct, Bill. This "unfortunate" de-nazification does NOT in any way detract from this spectacular and stunning piece of 12.SS Panzer-Division history! It's an incredible Soldbuch to a SS Panther crew member who no doubt saw quite a bit of tank combat on the Normandy invasion front.

I have a Soldbuch and doc grouping to a Panzer crew member who fought in Normandy (won his PAB in silver there) then went on to fight in downtown Berlin during the last weeks and days of the war where on 28.April he was wounded on a Panzer IV, spent a night at the Zoobunker, tried to break out, was captured on 03 May, and after a short internment in Spandau returned to Germany to convalesce from his wound. Included with the group was a document from the Entnazifizerungsausschuss dated 28.March 1947 stating that he was being sent a packet specifically outlining the Entnazifizierung process for his possessions (to include his Soldbuch, which he did.) For many of these POWs, their Soldbücher were the only forms of identity they had - the de-nazification process is simply part of the history behind the documents.

Again, a wonderful Soldbuch, doc and photo grouping you have there, but then I've told you this before

Rob

[Bill Hughes]

Absolutely correct, Bill. This "unfortunate" de-nazification does NOT in any way detract from this spectacular and stunning piece of 12.SS Panzer-Division history! It's an incredible Soldbuch to a SS Panther crew member who no doubt saw quite a bit of tank combat on the Normandy invasion front.

I have a Soldbuch and doc grouping to a Panzer crew member who fought in Normandy (won his PAB in silver there) then went on to fight in downtown Berlin during the last weeks and days of the war where on 28.April he was wounded on a Panzer IV, spent a night at the Zoobunker, tried to break out, was captured on 03 May, and after a short internment in Spandau returned to Germany to convalesce from his wound. Included with the group was a document from the Entnazifizerungsausschuss dated 28.March 1947 stating that he was being sent a packet specifically outlining the Entnazifizierung process for his possessions (to include his Soldbuch, which he did.) For many of these POWs, their Soldbücher were the only forms of identity they had - the de-nazification process is simply part of the history behind the documents.

Again, a wonderful Soldbuch, doc and photo grouping you have there, but then I've told you this before

Rob

Thanks for the comment Rob. I have seen some of the material you have posted and it is staggering, this is the only true Panzer item that I have.

I would love to see the grouping to the man you spoke of, Battle of Berlin material is of great interest to me

Cheers
Bill