Interesting IR / 96 - 32. ID Wehrpass and Documents

[erichcraciun]

Just returned from the Leipziger fleamarket today with 2 Soldbücher and this Wehrpass group (getting up at 4:45 really paid off!)

Here the Wehrpass and docuements to Obergefreiter Anton Möhlig.

Möhlig was conscripted and made his way from Cologne in western Germany to Deutsch Krone, in western Prussia. A Rheinländer in Preußen! He trainded with the MG Kompanie of Infanterie Regiment 96 / 32. Infanterie Division.

Möhlig is described as a unskilled laborer / ungelernter Arbeiter....even more sad when one sees the incapacitating wounds he received duriong the war...

[erichcraciun]

On 1. August 1939 Möhlig's regiment along with the entire 32. ID was mobilized and on 1. September 1939 cross the Polish border around Preußisch Friedland.

He fought in all the major battles in the northern area of the Polish campaign and after the defeat of the Polish he transfers back to the Eifel in western Germany (hopefully he was able to visit his family in Cologne) and to prepare for the campaign in the West.

His brother, Unteroffizier Josef Möhlig, while fighting in Russia, was killed in action on 28. November 1942.

[erichcraciun]

The battle in France continued and so did the advance of the 32. Infanterie Division to Cambrai and then further south to Douhai and still further to La Base and Lille. The second phase of the Battle of France, the 32. ID advanced to the English Channel.

The division prepared for the amphibious invasion of England but then in October 1940 again crossed Germany back to the eastern border with Russia.

On 24. Juni the division crossed the Russian border and fought their way south towards Cholm and Demjansk.

Möhlig was awared the Verwundtenabzeichen in Schwarz on 26.10.1941, the Infanteriesturmabzeichen in Silber on 4.1.1942 and the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 15.4.1942.

[erichcraciun]

What is interesting here is the for the Infanterie Sturmabzeichen as well as the Verwundetenabzeichen, 2 documents each were handed out. For the wound badge, one is signed by the Batl Commander and the later version was signed by a rear area Oberstabsarzt. For the ISA, the earlier document, the vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis was issued on 18.21942 but the Besitzzeugnis was issued earlier on 4.1.1942 (perhaps this was done to correspond with the Wehrpass entry).

[erichcraciun]

Möhlig was then awarded the EK 2 on 26. May 1942 from the Regimental repolacement unit in Schneidemühl.

[erichcraciun]

on 17.10.1941 Möhlig was seriously wounded. His military discharge documents mention broken bones, skull fracture and damaged joints.

[Hank C.]

That's a great grouping Erich. The extra documents along with the war badges really makes it come alive, IMHO. Wonder if he ever received an "official" EK2 doc...

best
Hank

[i.spring]

a piece of fascinating history of one mans life in war...
Really nice Erich ! :-)