299. Infanterie-Division Soldbuch

[bsmith56]

Hi all. Here's a book I picked up a little while back... Since our recent discussion on wounds, I thought I would post one of my favorite wound books!

Enjoy.

Issued to Alfred Müller on October 22nd 1942 at the age of 17.

[bsmith56]

He was placed into a transfer battalion of the 299. Division, and soon placed into 5kp./Grenadier-Regiment 530.

Grenadier-Regiment 530 was active in Russia (modern day Belarus and Russia) throughout 1943. Here is also a nice little map I found that shows the route of the regiment.

[bsmith56]

He was injured by shrapnel on September 30th 1943. Most likely in the Bryansk region of Russia. He was released on October 14th and sent home on leave until November 6th and given a new rifle on November 20th. So he might not have been sent back to the front til around the 20th. Either way he was wounded again on the 25th in the Gomel region of modern day Belarus. But this time it was much more serve. It appears he was 31a 'Hinterkopf', or shot in the back of the head? I can't make out the first entry from December 1943 very well though.

As you can see the wound must have been very severe as he was never sent back into a unit and spent the remainder of the war in hospitals.

[bsmith56]

He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on October 8th 1943 while he was in the Hospital for is shrapnel wound.

His wounds were severe enough to warrant the Wound Badge in Silver in March of 1944, and eventually he was 'upgraded' in August and given then Gold Badge also.

Interestingly enough, he earned 7 days of close combat from July-September 1943 but was never even awarded the Infantry Assault badge... If I am not mistaken you only needed 3 for that, and he was about half way to a Close Combat Clasp.

[bsmith56]

Sad that he was so wounded at such a young age, but luckily it appears he survived the war, unlike so many others his age! I have more scans if anyone would like to see a particular page.

[Eric JB]

Hi Brandon,

So that booklet ended-up at your place.

Yes a special one with such a wound.

The December entry shows :

17.12.43 Hinterkopfdurchschuß.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[Admiraal]

He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on October 8th 1943 while he was in the Hospital for is shrapnel wound.

His wounds were severe enough to warrant the Wound Badge in Silver in March of 1944, and eventually he was 'upgraded' in August and given then Gold Badge also.

Interestingly enough, he earned 7 days of close combat from July-September 1943 but was never even awarded the Infantry Assault badge... If I am not mistaken you only needed 3 for that, and he was about half way to a Close Combat Clasp.

You need sturmtage for an Infanterie assault badge (so actual direct (counter) attacks on the enemy).
Nahkampftage are for the nahkampfspange (close combat battle days, most of the time received while defending).

I got a soldbuch myself with a nahkampfspange but no IAB.

[bsmith56]

Ah, thanks for the clarification on the close combat days!

This book is a prime example of how the 31a entry can mean a lot of different things. One would never know where he was shot if they didn't decided to write the wound out in the hospital.

Another interesting thing is if you look at the date he left Reserve Lazarett IV, the year written was 1943, even though it was 1944. Probably pretty hectic around there and clerk didn't realize that the year was wrong.

[Panzer Rob]

I remember seeing this offered for sale on either Janssen-Militaria or Weitze's site some years ago. Gruesome wound to say the least

Rob

[Eric JB]

Rob,

I thought that - that Soldbuch was for sale here on the e-stand - long time ago.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[bsmith56]

I got it off E-Stand a while back. A REAL hassle to actually physically 'get' it though (but that's another story).

Sounds like this book has been around!