I just acquired this Soldbuch, which belonged to Obergefreiter Friedrich Himmler, who had a rather unremarkable military career since he served as an electrician with various military and techinical units. His last unit was the Stammkompanie (Cadre Company) of Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 80 (Grenadier-Replacement-Battalion 80), which in January 1945, was used to form Kampfgruppe XII/1 (Battle Group XII/1), a so-called Gneisenau unit. On 16 January 1945, Himmler was issued a rifle and bayonet and on 22 January 1945, a combat clothing issuance. Soon thereafter, according to a stamp on page 1, Himmler was captured and transported to a U.S. Army prisoner of war camp in France. Like Heinrich Himmler, Friedrich Himmler was born in Bayern (Bavaria). Without a doubt, one of the first questions he was asked by his interrogator was "Are you related to Heinrich Himmler?" I'm sure his comrades also asked him this and joked with him about it. In 1945 and thereafter, Himmler wasn't a good name to have. It does make one wonder if Friedrich Himmler was related to Heinrich Himmler.
Barry
Barry
Comment