Soldbuch Oberleutnant "Grenadier Regiment Danzig"

[erichcraciun]

Here is another small treasure from the fleamarket yesterday:

the very simple Soldbuch to debt collector and later Oberleutnant Erich Ketscher.

Ketscher's initial rank was as a simple Minenwerfer (Mortarman) (in a Baukompanie??) and he quickly moves his way up to the rank Oberleunant on 1.5.1942.

[erichcraciun]

Ketscher was born in 1998...old enough to see some service in the first world war. While it is not listed in the Soldbuch, on the Soldbuch foto you can see the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918.

[erichcraciun]

Ketscher served with the Baukompaine 257 in both the west and in the east. The Baukompanie was under the command of 18. Armee in northern Russia.

On 1. August 1943 an Armenian Baukompanie was attached to the unit.

Sometime in August 1944 the Baukompanie 257 was sent to Kurland and was attached to the 132. Infanterie Division and was involved in batttle south of Dünaburg.

It is at this time that Kertscher was "kommandiert seit 21.1.1945" to 11. Grenadier Regiment Danzig I. I cannot find too much information about this Regiment, but it was attached to the 132. ID in Kurland.

[erichcraciun]

Ketscher was awarded the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwerten on 30.1.1941.

the Ostmedaille on 30.7. 1942,

The Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwerten on 20.4.1944 and most interesting (to me)

the "Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse verliehen am 30.8.1944 durch 132. ID"

[erichcraciun]

Later in 1945 the Baukompanie 257 was fortunately transferred to the Oderfront (back in Germany) where Ketscher eneded the war....

Either on 2.7. or 28.7. 1945, Ketscher was checked into the Reserve Lazerret in Königslutter (close to this home town of Jeßnitz) for a bullet wound...how he received this would be an interesting story.

[Edward]

Nice Soldbuch Erich.

The Morterman rank was probably the one he held during WWI and was duly entered in
1939 as his initial service grade. Bau Kompanies did not have Minenwerfer sections.

Thanks for sharing.

Here is a WAF link with information provided by Ian for Grenadier-Regiment Danzig 2.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=224594

[Ian Jewison]

Interesting Soldbuch Erich!

I can not find anything at the moment of Gren.Rgt. Danzig 1.

I would hazard a guess he was actually wounded (31a) on or around the 5th of March 1945. If he was fighting in Danzig with that Regiment, then Festung Danzig fell on 28 March 1945.

If you check the right column for this first wound you can see "Laz. Schiff" which means he was evacuated by Hospital Ship.

Sanitäts Kompanie 1/158 was part of 58 Inf.Div. and was in Samland area at the time.

Additionally the signature looks like Hptm. Hormann....maybe an avenue of research.

/Ian

[erichcraciun]

Hi Ian,

I saw that enty and was not sure the if the "Schiff" was actually Schiff.....a little sloppy writing.

I really like this book! Small, compact, not spectacular, but interesting. I would have liked to have seen a Verwundetenabzeichen entry dated sometime in June 1945 but that would have been too much asked!

Erich

[Lambert]

Nice Soldbuch! Interesting to see, that he did not follow regulations and placed his Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer ahead of the Kriegsverdienstkreuz and Ostmedaille!!!
Did he own a privately purchased pistol?

[erichcraciun]

Yes, he carried his own 7.65 caliber pistol along with being issued a Taschenlampe.

[Lambert]

Thanks for the additional picture!

[tiziano buttier]

Nice soldbuch. I like so much

[CWP]

I like it too. That's a good one.

[erichcraciun]

Thanks gentlemen. Looking forward to learning more about this man.

I will keep you posted.


Erich