This is a Soldbuch with a story that turns out with an interesting ending.
Heinz Thies was an East Prussian from the town of Goldap. A career Army Officer Thies was serving with Infantry Regiment 22 of the 1 Infantry Division at the outbreak of war. For his service in Poland he was awarded the EK II. Thies then went onto the French and Barbarossa Campaigns. While in Russia during 1941 he earned the EK I and ISA. It was also during Barbarossa that Heinz developed intestinal disorders that were to remain with him through the war.
In late 1942 Heinz was found fit and sent back to Russia. Now a Hauptmann he was posted to Grenadier Regiment 531 of the 383 Infantry Division. It was during July, 1943 he was awarded the DKiG. At the time the 383<SUP>rd</SUP> division was part of the 9<SUP>th</SUP> Army and heavily involved in defensive fighting against Soviet attacks in the Orel Bulge. It was also at the end of July that Heinz was severely wounded for which he received the Silver Wound Badge. Evacuated to Germany again he was to remain on the staff of various Officer training units until the Fall of 1944.
In September, 1944 it was noted in his Soldbuch that he was feigning illness! Imo, this was likely due to concern for his families welfare in Goldap. At the time the Soviets had pressed very close to the East Prussian border. In October Heinz was allowed emergency leave for a last return to his hometown. Luckily for the Thies family Goldap was part of the East Prussian frontier defensive belt and was one of the few places in East Prussia where the population was allowed to leave in time. This was fortunate for Heinz as it meant his family was able to be evacuated West. Like many towns in East Prussia Goldap was largely destroyed after being heavily and repeatedly fought over.
It is not known exactly what locations Heinz ended up in prior to being admitted to a lazarette in Elbing on 12 Dec, 1944. Up until that time he was serving with the Unterführer Lehrgang Lehrstab for Wehrkries I. From Elbing Heinz was evacuated to Danzig on 1.25.45 and then Germany.
In Feb, 45 Heinz is moved to the lazarette in Zwickau until 31.3.45. During that time Heinz is given leave to help his family evacuated from Goldap re-settle in Northern Germany. With the war almost over it would seem that Heinz's time in uniform was about to end, but the war was not finished with Hauptmann Thies as we shall see…
Thanks to information assistance from forum member Gerdan on a medical entry I am able to piece together the mystery of how Heinz went from Zwickau at the end of 3.45 and later in Berlin.
The last field unit entered in the Soldbuch has Heinz assigned to II/GR. 302 Stab. For some reason the seller of the Soldbuch from whom it was purchased had assumed that Heinz went back to the front and was assigned to GR 302 of the 206th Infantry Division until June, 1944 until it was destroyed at Bobruisk. I knew this to be incorrect as a check of the Soldbuch entries showed that Heinz never returned to the front during that time after his severe wounding with the 383<SUP>rd</SUP> ID in July, 43. Checking further I found that a new late-war Grenadier Regiment 302 was created. This unit was part of Infantry Division Döberitz (303rd Infantry Division). During early April it was located at the Seelöw Heights. The divisional commander at the time was Oberst Wolfgang Scheunemann. As were all regiments in the division Grenadier Regiment 302 fought with only two battalions. As a new arrival to the battalion Stab and just days away from the April 16 opening of the Battle of Seelöw Heights to say Heinz was busy is probably an understatement. It is not known when, but at some point Heinz was wounded by grenade splinters and bullet shards to the left hip (thanks Gerdan!). He was moved first to Berlin Reservelazarette 140 on 23.4.45. The following day to the Reservelazarette 108. I do not know if he survived the war.
K-1380 Thies2.jpg
K-1380 Thies4.jpg
Heinz Thies was an East Prussian from the town of Goldap. A career Army Officer Thies was serving with Infantry Regiment 22 of the 1 Infantry Division at the outbreak of war. For his service in Poland he was awarded the EK II. Thies then went onto the French and Barbarossa Campaigns. While in Russia during 1941 he earned the EK I and ISA. It was also during Barbarossa that Heinz developed intestinal disorders that were to remain with him through the war.
In late 1942 Heinz was found fit and sent back to Russia. Now a Hauptmann he was posted to Grenadier Regiment 531 of the 383 Infantry Division. It was during July, 1943 he was awarded the DKiG. At the time the 383<SUP>rd</SUP> division was part of the 9<SUP>th</SUP> Army and heavily involved in defensive fighting against Soviet attacks in the Orel Bulge. It was also at the end of July that Heinz was severely wounded for which he received the Silver Wound Badge. Evacuated to Germany again he was to remain on the staff of various Officer training units until the Fall of 1944.
In September, 1944 it was noted in his Soldbuch that he was feigning illness! Imo, this was likely due to concern for his families welfare in Goldap. At the time the Soviets had pressed very close to the East Prussian border. In October Heinz was allowed emergency leave for a last return to his hometown. Luckily for the Thies family Goldap was part of the East Prussian frontier defensive belt and was one of the few places in East Prussia where the population was allowed to leave in time. This was fortunate for Heinz as it meant his family was able to be evacuated West. Like many towns in East Prussia Goldap was largely destroyed after being heavily and repeatedly fought over.
It is not known exactly what locations Heinz ended up in prior to being admitted to a lazarette in Elbing on 12 Dec, 1944. Up until that time he was serving with the Unterführer Lehrgang Lehrstab for Wehrkries I. From Elbing Heinz was evacuated to Danzig on 1.25.45 and then Germany.
In Feb, 45 Heinz is moved to the lazarette in Zwickau until 31.3.45. During that time Heinz is given leave to help his family evacuated from Goldap re-settle in Northern Germany. With the war almost over it would seem that Heinz's time in uniform was about to end, but the war was not finished with Hauptmann Thies as we shall see…
Thanks to information assistance from forum member Gerdan on a medical entry I am able to piece together the mystery of how Heinz went from Zwickau at the end of 3.45 and later in Berlin.
The last field unit entered in the Soldbuch has Heinz assigned to II/GR. 302 Stab. For some reason the seller of the Soldbuch from whom it was purchased had assumed that Heinz went back to the front and was assigned to GR 302 of the 206th Infantry Division until June, 1944 until it was destroyed at Bobruisk. I knew this to be incorrect as a check of the Soldbuch entries showed that Heinz never returned to the front during that time after his severe wounding with the 383<SUP>rd</SUP> ID in July, 43. Checking further I found that a new late-war Grenadier Regiment 302 was created. This unit was part of Infantry Division Döberitz (303rd Infantry Division). During early April it was located at the Seelöw Heights. The divisional commander at the time was Oberst Wolfgang Scheunemann. As were all regiments in the division Grenadier Regiment 302 fought with only two battalions. As a new arrival to the battalion Stab and just days away from the April 16 opening of the Battle of Seelöw Heights to say Heinz was busy is probably an understatement. It is not known when, but at some point Heinz was wounded by grenade splinters and bullet shards to the left hip (thanks Gerdan!). He was moved first to Berlin Reservelazarette 140 on 23.4.45. The following day to the Reservelazarette 108. I do not know if he survived the war.
K-1380 Thies2.jpg
K-1380 Thies4.jpg
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