Question about a HJ/LAH Panzer Soldbuch

[Stormfighter]

I recently acquired a fantastic Soldbuch for a member of the "Hitlerjugend" and "Leibstandarte" Panzer regiments. I plan to show more scans of the Soldbuch on this forum in a thread. Because I am not a HJ/LAH expert, before I start my thread, I would like to know if any HJ/LAH experts can tell me more about the soldier's first unit, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 LSSAH 3. A. I know that "Leibstandarte" members were used to form the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend," but I am not clear about exactly what the soldier's first unit was. Was SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 originally a unit of the Leibstandarte, or was the LSSAH 3. A detached from the LAH to help form the HJ Panzer regiment? I am guessing that LSSAH 3. A stands for the 3. Ausbildungs (Training) Company. I would appreciate any details that can be provided about SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 LSSAH 3. A.

Barry

[Notebaert David]

The Feldpostnummer 48477 is from Stab I u. Stabs-Kp. SS-Pz.Rgt.1 LSSAH

[christof]

Can you show us please page 1 ?

[novedvory]

Eager to see more !

[Lee Luke]

Wow

[Stormfighter]

I will post the complete Soldbuch on another thread this week. I haven't received any responses regarding the soldier's first SS unit - SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 LSSAH 3. A -, so I will provide a possible explanation. I don't think SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 was ever an LSSAH unit. I am assuming LSSAH 3. A, which was written after SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, was an SS Ausbildungs (Training) Company of the LSSAH that was detached from the 1. SS-Panzer-Division "LSSAH" to assist in forming SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 "Hitlerjugend" in Mailly-le-Camp. I will post another message on this thread when I start the thread about the Soldbuch grouping.

Barry

[Panzer Rob]

I am guessing that LSSAH 3. A stands for the 3. Ausbildungs (Training) Company. I would appreciate any details that can be provided about SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 LSSAH 3. A.

Barry

My thoughts exactly Barry. I hope you are able to find more info on the unit you've asked about and looking forward to seeing the Soldbuch posted here

Best,
Rob

[Hundestaffel]

Being privy to this Soldbuch (+++), I can assure you that when Onkel Varry does post these goodies, hundes will howl, tails will wag, and certain jealousy meters will Red Line


"Hundestaffel"

[InfanterieSammler]

... I don't think SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 was ever an LSSAH unit. I am assuming LSSAH 3. A, which was written after SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, was an SS Ausbildungs (Training) Company of the LSSAH that was detached from the 1. SS-Panzer-Division "LSSAH" to assist in forming SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 "Hitlerjugend" in Mailly-le-Camp. I will post another message on this thread when I start the thread about the Soldbuch grouping.

Hi Barry,

Very interesting - I spent 10 years collecting and researching the LAH/HJ and have never seen this designation!

I would agree with you that this could be some of transitional unit/designation. SS-Pz. Rgt. 12 was never part of the LAH. This designation preceeds the creation of the 12.SS, which was officially formed in July 1943 and as only a Panzer-Grenadier Division at that. What is also interesting is that this is a 20 year old being transferred from the LAH, not exactly the norm. The cadre for the 12.SS was mostly Offz. and experienced NCO's, with the remaining 15,000 Männer coming from the ranks of the HJ (Class of 1926). An interesting entry all around.

If I may...any chance that entry was for SS-Pz. Rgt. 1 LSSAH and the '2' was added in at a later date? A post-facto change to reflect his new unit. The '2' on the date line above is written in a different style, which would indicate perhaps a different hand writing those...

Regards,
John

[Stormfighter]

I just returned from a two-week visit to <?xml:namespace prefix = "st1" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1Germany</ST1</st1:country-region>. I was able to visit several veterans and a lot of friends I am still recuperating, so to those who have written me emails and PMs, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.<O</O
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I have been collecting German IDs for almost 40 years and acquired this example about three weeks ago. This example is now one of my favorites.<O</O
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Helmut Bellebaum was born on 21 April 1923 in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Bremen</ST1</st1:State> and after passing his secondary school examination, he studied medicine at a university. Bellebaum was presumably drafted in 1942 and initially served with the Luftwaffe from 1 December 1942. He received his basic training at Fliegerhorstkommandantur Crailsheim (Airbase Command Crailsheim) and on 5 April 1943, he transferred to the Waffen SS and held the rank of SS-Mann (SS Private). Already on 20 April 1944, Bellebaum was promoted to SS-Sturmmann (SS-Corporal). The signature of SS-Hauptsturmführer Hermann Lütgert, who was assigned to the Stab (Headquarters) of SS Panzer Regiment 12 “Hitlerjugend” appears at the top of page 26.
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Bellebaum was issued this SS Soldbuch on 25 June 1943 by SS-Panzer-Regiment 12. At the top of this thread, I asked about the designation that followed this unit, that is, LSSAH 3. A. I didn't receive a response, so I am guessing that a company of the LSSAH - the 3. Ausbildungs-Kompanie (3rd Training Company?) - assisted in forming SS-Panzer-Regiment 12. The Feldpost stamp on page 2 shows that Feldpostnummer 48477 was the issuing unit. This number was assigned to the Stab (Headquarters) and the Stabskompanie (Headquarters Company) of the I. Bataillon (Ist Battalion) of SS Panzer-Regiment 1 "LSSAH." The issuing officer of the Soldbuch was SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS Captain) Arnold Jürgensen, who served with the "LSSAH" and "Hitlerjugend" divisions and was killed in action on 23 December 1944.

Prior to the Normandy Invasion, Bellebaum served with the following units of the 12. SS Division "Hitlerjugend":<O</O
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* SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 LSSAH 3. A<O</O
* 4./SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Hitlerjugend" (The division was later redesignated as a Panzer division)
* Panzer-Werkstattkompanie (Tank Repair Company), 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"<O</O
* Regiments-Stabskompanie (Regimental Headquarters Company), 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"<O</O
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Shortly after 30 May 1944, Bellebaum was transferred to the I. Bataillon (Ist Battalion), 3. Kompanie (3rd Company) of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "LSSAH." With this unit he fought at <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Normandy</ST1</st1:State> in a Panther tank. In the three days following the invasion, Bellebaum was issued clothing and equipment, including a Belgian pistol.<O</O
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On the first day of Operation Goodwood (18 - 20 July 1944), Bellebaum's Panther was presumably knocked out and he suffered minor burns (31c). The same day, he was medically evaluated and found dienstfähig (fit for service). At that time, it appears that he was assigned to the 1. Werkstattkompanie of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "LSSAH". Having survived the fighting in <ST1<st1:State w:st="on">Normandy</st1:State></ST1 and the encirclement at Falaise, the 1. SS-Panzer-Division was refitted in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1Germany</ST1</st1:country-region>. During this period, on 20 September 1944, Bellebaum began serving as his company medic (included in the grouping are his medic's ID and armband). What I find very interesting is that Bellebaum used medical adhesive tape to reinforce the edges of his Soldbuch. This embellishment gives the Soldbuch a good sturdy feel. Bellebaum received three awards for his actions in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Normandy.</ST1</st1:State><O</O
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9 November 1944 - Wound Badge in Black<O</O
1 December 1944 - Panzer Assault Badge in Silver<O</O
1 December 1944 - Iron Cross IInd Class<O</O
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Also on 9 November 1944, Bellebaum was named as an Unterführer-Anwärter (NCO Candidate). On 27 November 1944, he was named as an SS-Führer-Bewerber der Reserve (SS Officer Candidate of the Reserve). Bellebaum must have completed some schooling at an SS officer's school since a paper from his POW time having his immunizations listed gives his rank as Oberjunker, the second grade a soldier received on the career path to become an SS officer. <O</O
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The last entries in the Soldbuch are from 1 December 1944; therefore, it is to be assumed that SS-Oberjunker Bellebaum was captured sometime during the <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1Battle</ST1</st1:City> of the Bulge. Included with his Soldbuch are his Luftwaffe dog tag (you can clearly see that he wore this tag on a chain like many Panzer crew members did), four fantastic portrait photos, and three negatives showing Bellebaum and comrades in a POW camp. The prisoners wear <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1U.S. </ST1</st1:country-region>combat boots and Bellebaum wears a leather jacket, which he most likely wore when he served with the "Hitlerjugend" and "LSSAH" divisions. It's also interesting that one soldier wears SS dot pattern pants.<O</O
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After the war, Bellebaum continued his medical studies and became a doctor. Helmut Bellebaum died in 2012.<O</O
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I would appreciate it if anyone could add any additional details regarding Bellebaum’s military service. I am especially interested in knowing if any other signatures can be identified in the Soldbuch, especially the signatures of the officers who certified his awards.<O
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Barry<O</O
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[Stormfighter]

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