Hi all-
This worn, tattered and blood stained Soldbuch was issued through the 3./SS-Flak-Ausb.u.Ers.-Rgt on 1.Sept.1943 to SS-Kannonier Helmut Wenzel.
In early 1944 Helmut Wenzel was transferred to SS-Pz.Art.Rgt.12 and assigned to its Flakzuge which was equipped with four SdKfz.7/1 half tracks (these happened to be the armored cab versions - see photo below).
On 6.June 1944 Wenzel was injured southwest of Caen - more than likely in an allied aerial attack - and on the same day was admitted to a Luftwaffe hospital - Sanitätsbereitschaft (mot.) d.LW. 5/XVII - where he remained for approximately two weeks. After being released from hospital Wenzel re-joined his unit with whom he served throughout the remainder of the fighting in France. In September Wenzel was transferred to the 10./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt.12 and, following the fighting during the Ardennes Offensive, was KIA on 24.January 1944.
The signature on page 3 is that of Wenzel's Batterie Commander, SS-Untersturmführer Heydrich Schwolow who was also killed on the same day as Wenzel.
Both men are buried at the Kriegsgräberstätte in Daleiden, Germany.
I've had this one for a while now but just haven't been able to find the time to research it so if anybody can provide more information on the combat actions for the days Wenzel was wounded and killed, or if anyone can identify the other signatures in the Soldbuch please feel free to contribute.
Thanks,
Rob
This worn, tattered and blood stained Soldbuch was issued through the 3./SS-Flak-Ausb.u.Ers.-Rgt on 1.Sept.1943 to SS-Kannonier Helmut Wenzel.
In early 1944 Helmut Wenzel was transferred to SS-Pz.Art.Rgt.12 and assigned to its Flakzuge which was equipped with four SdKfz.7/1 half tracks (these happened to be the armored cab versions - see photo below).
On 6.June 1944 Wenzel was injured southwest of Caen - more than likely in an allied aerial attack - and on the same day was admitted to a Luftwaffe hospital - Sanitätsbereitschaft (mot.) d.LW. 5/XVII - where he remained for approximately two weeks. After being released from hospital Wenzel re-joined his unit with whom he served throughout the remainder of the fighting in France. In September Wenzel was transferred to the 10./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt.12 and, following the fighting during the Ardennes Offensive, was KIA on 24.January 1944.
The signature on page 3 is that of Wenzel's Batterie Commander, SS-Untersturmführer Heydrich Schwolow who was also killed on the same day as Wenzel.
Both men are buried at the Kriegsgräberstätte in Daleiden, Germany.
I've had this one for a while now but just haven't been able to find the time to research it so if anybody can provide more information on the combat actions for the days Wenzel was wounded and killed, or if anyone can identify the other signatures in the Soldbuch please feel free to contribute.
Thanks,
Rob
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