Sad Story § Int. Soldbuch Disciplinary Unit

[Lionel H.]

Hi Guys.

For sure you will love this Book.... Look First at the Paper it contained, illustrating the sad story from Schützen Heinz Weiss.... <p><img src="http://cdn03.trixum.de/upload2/5/l/5ln8gfz0ucPi137665787917P1683.jpg"></p>
Here is the (bad) translation I made from it : “Here enclosed sent the company an Handbag containing two Soldbooks, Papers and 46 Reichsmark with the ask to transmit it further. This Handbag was given from sergt Dorfmeister (Tankkiller-Coy) to Sergent Wurzel, 9.Kp. Sergent Dorfmeister received these Papers from Civilians from Klein-Gandau, which explained him what happened :
The Russians hided them in the village as a german Patrol (could be from the Lw) went through and shot down 4 Men from this Patrol in a very short range. The dead Soldiers were plundered. As the Russians went back, the civilians took care from the fallen german, took all remaining valuable Things and Soldbooks, and give them to sergent Dorfmeister.”

As I found this document folded in Heinz Weiss's Soldbuch, I assume he was one of the 4 KIA's from Klein Gandau (bei Breslau).... Neverltheless, no trace from Heinz in the German Gravesite..... Where is he buried now ???

[Lionel H.]

The Study of this Book give me the sad Feeling that Heinz Weiss was not a Lucky Child.... It seems first he had not known Parents, just a brother who hat another first Name. Adoptive Child ?? He has probably a longer military career, but as this Soldier was reissued, he served in Italy with the Pz.Gren.Rgt.67 (26.Pz.Div.). During this Time, he probably made something wrong (or supposed to !!) and ws send to a disciplinary Unit, the "Gren.Btl.z.b.V.291" (z.b.V. means in German "Zur besondere Verwendung" (to particular use). According to Tessin, this "Bewährungs-Einheit" had 4 companies (Heinz served within the 4th (M.G.) heavy company", depending from "Lw-Feld-Korps.4" which fought in eastern France (Vosges) Under the LXIV Armeekorps in November 1944. I can confirm it because I am living in this Area, and the 2 Bewährungs Bat.291 and 292 had losses around the little Town I am living in. On Nov.7th 1944, he was WIA and in hospital until Dec.12th.1944. He had his last Permission in Berlin from Jan.5th until Jan.22nd in his native Town Berlin and went back to the Genesenden.Kp./Inf.Ers.Btl.500 in Olmutz. I don't know what happened between this date (Jan.21th.1945) and the date he was KIA in Klein-Gandau. As last sign he was no Lucky, note the little Paper on the last Page : his Unit was not able to furnish him a basical Belt with Buckle !! He was really just cannon-Fodder !!
Feel free to comment the Book, I would really happy to follow my Resarche about this Soldier, but I am actually out of Idea.
Wherever he is, may Heinz rest in Peace. <p><img src="http://cdn03.trixum.de/upload2/Q/U/QU00O2MWuaNi137665843328P1683.jpg"></p>
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[mufasa]

Soldbuch really very interesting (as all the "Zur besondere Verwendung" units!) ... They weew really just cannon fodder .... very nice soldbuch!!

[Luft 76]

Yes, nice doc with very interesting history !

[erichcraciun]

Impressive. That is really a very interesting story!

[Lionel H.]

Thank you Guys for this Comments. As I wrote, if anybody is able to give me more détails about these Fights in Klein-Gandau bei Breslau, I would be more than interested !!

[Pie]

Very interesting and sad story!
Poor guy who knows where he is buried now...


Unfortunately I haven't found any information about the fights in Klein-Gandau.

[Ohlau]

Well, that poor guy couldn't get a more bad place in bad time.

In Gandau was one of two airfields used by Germans during Breslau siege in 1945. On February 24, Breslau Defense Commander appointed Oberst von Friedeburg as commander of airfield defense. It was very important defence point and soviets know that. Via Gandau airfield Germans evacuated almost 6000 heavy wounded and sick soldiers from Breslau garrison. On the opposition direct planes delivered tonnes of supply and 3000 fresh soldiers to support Breslau defenders. In march 1945 soviet forces came on distance 1000 meters to airfield runway. After that fact landings become impossible, so planes dropped supplies over airfield on parachutes. On 1 IV 1945, after desperate defense german FJ troops and 88 mm guns, airfield fell into hands of soviet 359 Infantry Division.

[Lionel H.]

Dziekuje to Ohlau for these extremely valuable Informations ! The doc speaks from german Soldiers "apparently" Luftwaffe, but well, who knows.... when considered that this disciplinary unit was not able to provide a belt to each Soldiers..... they were probably equipped with whatever they found....

I agree when you say it was definitively NOT the place to be at that time, and also NOT the Unit to be, these Guys where probably considered as b...it. The fact that Weiss is not even registrated by the Volksbund could mean that his Death was probably NEVER recorded... Sad Destiny, indeed.

[Stephen Stout]

Wow that is interesting!!

[mufasa]

they are really apealling (and difficult to "open"!) these z.b.V.docuemnts,
for scarce informations a and the tragic stories of these soldiers "to lose"....
really a nice soldbuch!

[Prinz Eugen]

Sad Story, but fantastic what is possible to make trought ours SB: throw out of the dark, one lost soldier...I think that Heinz's memory is in very good hands now!

[Ohlau]

Well, from this Oberleutnant's document, I'm sure that German civilian (who take papers) buried (after russians went back) these killed soldiers including Heinz.
If yes, it is very likely that soldiers were buried in local cemetery- Neuer Friedhof der Gemeinde Klein Gandau. Cemetery survived war, but in 1958 was removed by Polish authorities, God knows why. That could be another reason that you can't find Heinz in the German Gravesite.

Thats what remain from cemetry in Gandau - Gądów:







Cemetry was not far from airfield - here is pre war photo of Gandau airfield and countryside :



Present time Gądów, part of Wrocław (airfield place under apartments...)

[Hank C.]

Well, from this Oberleutnant's document, I'm sure that German civilian (who tak....edit....

Excellent information Ohlau - thanks!

Hank

[Lionel H.]

WOW..... Just fascinated by the Contribution of Ohlau.... Men..... what you do is just remarkable, and remain us how many german Cemeteries in eastern-Europe and in the former Soviet Union have been destroyed under Tank Tracks, and more surely by People's Indifference....

You must be right, Heinz and it's fellow comrades have probably been buried there, and concerning Heinz, there are probably very few People who felt concerned by his Death and the Existence of a decent Grave....

This great Forum gave the Opportunity to share this Story and to more than 500 interested People to see his Face, that's great. Thank you Stephen, Mufasa, Prinz Eugen and Hank !!