D-Day Soldbuch Omaha Beach - St. Laurent sur Mer, GR. 916 - 352 Inf. Div.

[mtdr]

Thanks for your comments Dennis and Bjorn!

Bjorn, when I have time I will put more stories on the forum.

[butschekantiques]

[mtdr]

Just some new additions:

- I was able to buy a Wehrpass grouping of a soldier of the Stabskompanie./ Grenadier-Regiment 916 who died in Formigny near Omaha Beach on 07.06.1944

- The letter from the Kp. to his family was written by Oberveterinär(Oberleutnant) Graf, he replaced Hauptmann Steneck(gefallenen Kompanieführer) who died in combat. Interesting to see that I also own his Soldbuch.

I think they both need an own thread, but I think it is interesting to see all these faces who fought with the same unit, in the same heavy battles.

I'm sure both knew Hermann Hinze.

Aram

[Luft 76]

Great Aram !

[jo21]

Hello, very beautiful SB in this post.

The whole history of D-Day on Omaha.

Regards

[schneifelquelle]

superb pictures - many thanks for sharing

[mtdr]

Thanks guys, happy people still appreciate this thread!

The research about the Wehrpass and the Soldbuch showed on 05-06-2017 still continuous, but more of them will come for sure!

Probably it is interesting to show this small, but sad piece of KIA Omaha Beach related memorabilia! The collection of 352 ID related material is slowly growing through the years!

Heinrich Kissling was born on 19.11.1911 in Mettmann. He married Else Kissling and they moved to a house in Holzminden, Weser. He served in the Pionier-Bataillon 352, 352. Infanterie-Division. In June 1944 he had the rank Oberfeldwebel. The Bataillon set up their headquarter at Saint-Martin-de-Blagny, 20 kilometers behind a beach that would be called "Omaha Beach". During D-Day the Bataillon participated in the fightings around Omaha Beach. He died in Vierville-sur-Mer on 07.06.1944 when the 352. Infanterie-Division did the last desperate counterattack(under command of Oberst Ernst Goth) to recapture Vierville-sur-mer / Omaha Beach!

He wrote this letter on 30.05.1944(sadly I have only the envelope)! Only a week before D-Day and a week before his death! Probably this is the last sign his relatives received of Heinrich Kissling!

He is buried these days on the German Military Cemetery La Cambe! Endgrablage: Block 7 Reihe 9 Grab 319

It are these little pieces that makes collecting interesting(and it can be even as interesting as a SS Soldbuch or so) with their own stories. Hope you "like" it in the same way as I did!

Aram

[mtdr]

Hi all,

Last year I also picked up some more Soldbücher of the 352. Infanterie-Division for into the collection. This man was with the Artillerie-Regiment 352. The II./ Artillerie-Regiment 352 was stationed inland and the guns covered the Vire estuary. The guns shelled Utah Beach when things get real critical there. The source is the logbook of the 352. Infanterie-Division.

No awards or special entries, just an interesting 352nd Infantry Division Soldbuch.

I also picked up another Soldbuch of the 2./ Grenadier-Regiment 916 at Gold Beach. I will show it in the future in the thread of the other 352 Inf. Div. Gold Beach Soldbuch.

Hope you like it. Research is still continuing.

Aram

[Luft 76]

Nice addition. Do you know where his battery was located exactly ?

[Daniele C]

Well done Aram!

[mtdr]

Thanks guys, I am happy that this thread still enjoys people after some years. The first Soldbuch shown is still one of my favourites.

Y-M, I am not sure where his battery was located exactly. The HQ of the II./ Art. Rgt. 352 was in Saint-Clément, near the Vire Estuary. The guns of the II./ 352 were in the area of Osmanville - Isigny-sur-Mer with the guns directed on the beach that would be known as Utah Beach. I would say this man was with his unit also near Saint-Clément. It seems to be hard to find any information about the II./ 352, especially when we look to the other units of the Artillerie-Regiment 352...

Best,

Aram

[Luft 76]

Stabsbattr. was with HQ of II. Abt. ! So he was in Saint Clément before DD.

[Yubari]

really touching story! Especially, when i saw the envelope..

[brooksbz]

Great group and story!

[mtdr]

@Bill @Jubari, many thanks for the compliments and your reactions, I appreciate them!

@Y-M, The small hamlet of Saint-Clément will be on the list for a next trip to Normandy, just to see where this man lived and walked.

Aram