Pioner Btl 46 Soldbuch -Warsaw Uprising

[Bcarver]

I bought this sb on the estand some time back and never really took the time to go over it. When I bought it the photo was loose so I restapled it with old staples to hold the photo in place. From what I can tell this young pioner was in some heavy action, and was involved in house clearing during the Warsaw uprising where he won the ASA. The last active unit listed is Heeres sturm pi btl 46. I could be wrong in this so I wanted some other opinions. Thanks for any info you can offer.

[Bcarver]

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any comments???

[Ian Jewison]

Hi Brian,

Very interesting Soldbuch! I was not aware where or what the unit was doing, however looks like you are correct and Lexikon has an in depth description of what the unit was doing!

Pionier-Bataillon 46

Looks like the unit was sent to Warsaw to reorganise from Pionier-Bataillon 46 into Heeres-Sturm-Pionier-Bataillon 46 and got roped into the Warsaw uprising!!!

In mid-June 1944 the unit was transferred to Troop Training Area Wahn. The soldiers received three weeks geneal leave. Then the battalion moved to a barracks to Bonn-Duisdorf. Major Wollenberg took over the leadership of the battalion on 1.7.1944. Here begins the refreshing and reorganizing to Heeres-Sturmpionier-Bataillon 46. This designation was submitted to the Chief of General Staff of the Army on 5.10.1944 and on was awarded 15.10.1944.
On 14.8.1944 the battalion was transported to Warsaw. Here it was used in combat and on 1.8.1944 the uprising erupted. The battalion has to survive heavy urban warfare and suffered heavy losses. In early October 1944, the Poles surrendered. Then the battalion was used in position to expand and lock down Warsaw. On 7.10.1944 renamed Heeres-Sturmpionier-Bataillon 46.

Appears that he got the 3 weeks general leave from 31.5.1844 until 17.6.1944 and is marked as Einsatzurlaub. Also looks like he ASA could have been awarded for actions in Warsaw!!!

I have a book upstairs on the Warsaw Uprising and will take a look in their later and see what is mentioned on this unit.

/Ian

[Bcarver]

Thanks Ian, that is what I understood when looking over the Lexicon. I thought the ASA was awarded for the uprising.

[Ian Jewison]

Initially I have not found much reference in the "Warsaw 1944" book that I have.
There are two main lists for orders of battle. Those that were there prior to 1 August 1944 and those that arrived during August.

Pionier Bataillon 46 is in the OOB of those that arrived during August.

Interestingly I found three units that I have documents to whilst flicking through the book......one I know for sure was there during this time, the other two I need to check dates to see if they were still with these units around August 1944!

/Ian

[Bcarver]

Thanks for your input Ian. I never knew this unit was so heavily involved in combat. Brian

[Ian Jewison]

I went to check one with excitement that I knew he was with the unit during August of 1944, only to find out it was a different unit

I remembered he was injured August 1944 though!

I thought one I bought some years ago was to Inf.Btl. z.b.V 550 as they saw combat in Warsaw, only to find out it was Inf.Btl. z.b.V 540....which I can not find much info on during 1944.

/Ian

[Bcarver]

I hate it when that happens.