I recently bought this Soldbuch belonging to Oberfeldwebel Anton Groll. Even though it's a Zweitschrift issued on 25 October 1944, I really like it a lot - I'm sure the photo in this Soldbuch is better than the one in his first-issue Soldbuch. Groll was a true warrior. I imagine he was issued a second Soldbuch because the first one was in really bad condition after being in Groll's possession for four years of combat or was damaged or bloodied the third time he was wounded in 1943.
Groll was originally a member of the Stab (Headquarters) of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 85 (IInd Battalion of Infantry Regiment 85) of the 10. Infanterie-Division (10th Infantry Division). Groll fought in Poland in 1939 and in France in 1940. During the French Campaign, he earned the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Black Wound Badge) on 10 June 1940 and the E.K. II (Iron Cross IInd Class) on 23 June 1940.
On 5 October 1940, Infanterie-Regiment 85 was renamed Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85 and was subordinate to the 5. Gebirgs-Division (5th Mountain Division). Serving with the 8. Kompanie (8th Company) of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85, Groll fought in Greece and Crete in 1941. From March 1942 to April 1943, he fought in Russia, earning the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge) on 25 October 1942, the Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (Silver Wound Badge) on 15 November 1942, the E.K. I (Iron Cross Ist Class) on 26 June 1943, and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (Gold Wound Badge) on 13 August 1943.
In December 1943, the 5. Gebirgs-Division was transferred to Italy. Groll continued to show his mettle, fighting near Monte Cassino among other locations in Italy. During his service in Italy, he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold) on 8 July 1944 and the Nahkampfspange I. Stufe (Close Combat Clasp, Ist Level) on 4 August 1944 for participating in fifteen days of close combat (shortly thereafter, he participated in another close combat day on 25 August 1944). An entry on page 4 reveals that he was promoted to Oberfeldwebel on 1 April 1945.
In May 1945, the 5. Gebirgs-Division capitulated to American troops in Fiferoni near Turin, Italy, at which time Oberfeldwebel Groll was taken prisoner. On 6 July 1945, after a relatively short time in captivity, Groll was discharged from military service, returning to his home in Hörmannsdorf in Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria).
Groll's awards clearly show that he was no slacker when it came to combat. As Leutnant Hans Sturm, a Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) recipient told me at his home in Dortmund, he valued his Deutsches Kreuz in Gold more than his Ritterkreuz because he had to do much, much more to earn the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold.
Notice that in the photo in the Soldbuch, Groll is wearing his shooting lanyard (not mentioned in the Soldbuch), numbered shoulderboards (doubtlessly Feldwebel Gebirgsjäger shoulderboards with the number 85 on them), an E.K. II ribbon bar, and the Nahkampfspange in Bronze (Close Combat Clasp in Bronze). Had the photo shown more of Groll's uniform, his Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, E.K. I, Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, and Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold would have been visible.
Groll is an example of where fate can lead you. Rather than being a farmer his whole life, he became a hero in the Wehrmacht. Groll would have been 100 years old this year. I would have loved to have interviewed him about his service. I wonder what he did after the war and when he died.
This is my basic description of Groll's career and Soldbuch. If anyone can add more, I would greatly appreciate it. I am especially interested in the specific locations of his close combat days and the identification of any of the signatures of his company commanders in his Soldbuch.
Barry
Groll was originally a member of the Stab (Headquarters) of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 85 (IInd Battalion of Infantry Regiment 85) of the 10. Infanterie-Division (10th Infantry Division). Groll fought in Poland in 1939 and in France in 1940. During the French Campaign, he earned the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Black Wound Badge) on 10 June 1940 and the E.K. II (Iron Cross IInd Class) on 23 June 1940.
On 5 October 1940, Infanterie-Regiment 85 was renamed Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85 and was subordinate to the 5. Gebirgs-Division (5th Mountain Division). Serving with the 8. Kompanie (8th Company) of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85, Groll fought in Greece and Crete in 1941. From March 1942 to April 1943, he fought in Russia, earning the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge) on 25 October 1942, the Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (Silver Wound Badge) on 15 November 1942, the E.K. I (Iron Cross Ist Class) on 26 June 1943, and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (Gold Wound Badge) on 13 August 1943.
In December 1943, the 5. Gebirgs-Division was transferred to Italy. Groll continued to show his mettle, fighting near Monte Cassino among other locations in Italy. During his service in Italy, he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold) on 8 July 1944 and the Nahkampfspange I. Stufe (Close Combat Clasp, Ist Level) on 4 August 1944 for participating in fifteen days of close combat (shortly thereafter, he participated in another close combat day on 25 August 1944). An entry on page 4 reveals that he was promoted to Oberfeldwebel on 1 April 1945.
In May 1945, the 5. Gebirgs-Division capitulated to American troops in Fiferoni near Turin, Italy, at which time Oberfeldwebel Groll was taken prisoner. On 6 July 1945, after a relatively short time in captivity, Groll was discharged from military service, returning to his home in Hörmannsdorf in Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria).
Groll's awards clearly show that he was no slacker when it came to combat. As Leutnant Hans Sturm, a Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) recipient told me at his home in Dortmund, he valued his Deutsches Kreuz in Gold more than his Ritterkreuz because he had to do much, much more to earn the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold.
Notice that in the photo in the Soldbuch, Groll is wearing his shooting lanyard (not mentioned in the Soldbuch), numbered shoulderboards (doubtlessly Feldwebel Gebirgsjäger shoulderboards with the number 85 on them), an E.K. II ribbon bar, and the Nahkampfspange in Bronze (Close Combat Clasp in Bronze). Had the photo shown more of Groll's uniform, his Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, E.K. I, Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, and Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold would have been visible.
Groll is an example of where fate can lead you. Rather than being a farmer his whole life, he became a hero in the Wehrmacht. Groll would have been 100 years old this year. I would have loved to have interviewed him about his service. I wonder what he did after the war and when he died.
This is my basic description of Groll's career and Soldbuch. If anyone can add more, I would greatly appreciate it. I am especially interested in the specific locations of his close combat days and the identification of any of the signatures of his company commanders in his Soldbuch.
Barry
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