Hi guys,
Thought I'd share the latest addition to my collection, acquired directly from the family. I don't know how to start describing it because it's such an exciting piece. Apologies in advance, but he must remain anonymous for the time being.
This is an original issue Soldbuch and was with its owner during the French campaign in 1940, from the first day of Barbarossa through the winter until his wounding outside Stalingrad in August 1942, in Normandy-Falaise, Aachen, south of Arnhem, Battle of the Bulge and finally the Ruhr Pocket.
He was already a Feldwebel when this Soldbuch was opened in December 1939, so I don't know if he participated in the Polish campaign. He joined Panzer-Regiment 3 for the final weeks of the French campaign and almost certainly participated in the attack on Boulogne, where a panzer from this regiment knocked out a destroyer. Our soldier – let's call him X – was awarded the PAB on 27th June 1940.
He then transferred to the newly-formed Panzer-Regiment 39 (17. Panzer-Division) in October 1940 and was promoted to Leutnant d.R. in December 1940. He led a platoon in 2./Pz.Rgt.39 from the first day of Barbarossa all the way through the winter without suffering any wounds. Received the EK2 on 19th July 1941 and the EK1 on 1st October 1941.
The I. Abteilung of Pz.Rgt.39 was used to form Panzer-Abteilung 129 in May 1942 and our Leutnant X was in charge of the 2. Kompanie. He must have been a good company leader because my research shows that the other two companies were filled with more senior officers. For example, 1./Pz.Abt.129 was commanded by a Hauptmann, but the 3 platoon leaders were all Oberleutnante. Why wasn't one of these put in charge of 2. Kompanie? Anyway, Leutnant X led his 2. Kompanie throughout the summer campaign. Although his Soldbuch only shows one wound, he in fact suffered three wounds (I obtained information about his wounds from another source). The first was on 2 August 1942 when he was lightly wounded by a shell splinter to the head, but he remained with his men. Five days later, he suffered more fragment injuries, this time to this left forearm and right knee, but once again he remained up front. On 23 August 1942, however, he was severely wounded by a shell fragment to his left arm. The divisional aid station treated him for 3 days before transferring him to Kriegslazarett (mot.) 2./607. He was admitted to a hospital in his home town on 7th September 1942. On 16th September he was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver for his 3 wounds. On 20th November 1942 he received the Ostmedaille.
Promoted to Oberleutnant d.R. in December 1942. After release from hospital and some leave, he joined Pz.Ers.Abt.33 in January 1943 and was transferred to Reserve-Panzer-Abteilung 1 in August 1943. His last home leave was in December 1943 until early January 1944. He remained at the front for the rest of the war. Reserve-Panzer-Abteilung 1 was sent to France and on 27th May 1944 was used to form II./Panzer-Regiment 16 (Windhund-Division). Oberleutnant X was on battalion staff. The unit deployed to Normandy at the end of July and participated in the fierce fighting in early August. Oblt. X was fortunate to escape the Falaise pocket. For the loss of personal effects, he was reimbursed 167 Reichsmarks. He remained with the unit as it retreated through Belgium towards Germany and defended Aachen in September 1944. Operation Market Garden prompted II./Pz.Rgt.16 to be sent into the defence lines south of Arnhem. After the conclusion of this battle, the panzer battalion was pulled back for a rest. Oberleutnant X was awarded the Panzerkampf-Abzeichen II. Stufe (PAB 25) on 26th October 1944. The entry is signed by the battalion commander, Knight's Cross holder Major Friedrich Graf Brühl. The right to wear the Windhundabzeichen was also confirmed at this time.
No rest for the wicked, II./Pz.Rgt.16 fought in the Hürtgen Forest in November and then participated in the Ardennes Offensive in December 44 and January 1945. In March Oberleutnant X left battalion staff, took over a panzer company and led it until the final days of the Ruhr Pocket. On 15th April 1945 he was awarded the Panzerkampf-Abzeichen III. Stufe (PAB 50), the entry is signed by the battalion leader Hauptmann Werner Adam. The next day his unit went into US captivity. An interesting note in his Soldbuch is that his government-issued watch was taken by a GI on 21st April.
There is so much in this Soldbuch that I could research it for weeks straight. This officer was involved in most of the war's most notable battles.
Thanks for reading, here come the pics.
Jason
Thought I'd share the latest addition to my collection, acquired directly from the family. I don't know how to start describing it because it's such an exciting piece. Apologies in advance, but he must remain anonymous for the time being.
This is an original issue Soldbuch and was with its owner during the French campaign in 1940, from the first day of Barbarossa through the winter until his wounding outside Stalingrad in August 1942, in Normandy-Falaise, Aachen, south of Arnhem, Battle of the Bulge and finally the Ruhr Pocket.
He was already a Feldwebel when this Soldbuch was opened in December 1939, so I don't know if he participated in the Polish campaign. He joined Panzer-Regiment 3 for the final weeks of the French campaign and almost certainly participated in the attack on Boulogne, where a panzer from this regiment knocked out a destroyer. Our soldier – let's call him X – was awarded the PAB on 27th June 1940.
He then transferred to the newly-formed Panzer-Regiment 39 (17. Panzer-Division) in October 1940 and was promoted to Leutnant d.R. in December 1940. He led a platoon in 2./Pz.Rgt.39 from the first day of Barbarossa all the way through the winter without suffering any wounds. Received the EK2 on 19th July 1941 and the EK1 on 1st October 1941.
The I. Abteilung of Pz.Rgt.39 was used to form Panzer-Abteilung 129 in May 1942 and our Leutnant X was in charge of the 2. Kompanie. He must have been a good company leader because my research shows that the other two companies were filled with more senior officers. For example, 1./Pz.Abt.129 was commanded by a Hauptmann, but the 3 platoon leaders were all Oberleutnante. Why wasn't one of these put in charge of 2. Kompanie? Anyway, Leutnant X led his 2. Kompanie throughout the summer campaign. Although his Soldbuch only shows one wound, he in fact suffered three wounds (I obtained information about his wounds from another source). The first was on 2 August 1942 when he was lightly wounded by a shell splinter to the head, but he remained with his men. Five days later, he suffered more fragment injuries, this time to this left forearm and right knee, but once again he remained up front. On 23 August 1942, however, he was severely wounded by a shell fragment to his left arm. The divisional aid station treated him for 3 days before transferring him to Kriegslazarett (mot.) 2./607. He was admitted to a hospital in his home town on 7th September 1942. On 16th September he was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver for his 3 wounds. On 20th November 1942 he received the Ostmedaille.
Promoted to Oberleutnant d.R. in December 1942. After release from hospital and some leave, he joined Pz.Ers.Abt.33 in January 1943 and was transferred to Reserve-Panzer-Abteilung 1 in August 1943. His last home leave was in December 1943 until early January 1944. He remained at the front for the rest of the war. Reserve-Panzer-Abteilung 1 was sent to France and on 27th May 1944 was used to form II./Panzer-Regiment 16 (Windhund-Division). Oberleutnant X was on battalion staff. The unit deployed to Normandy at the end of July and participated in the fierce fighting in early August. Oblt. X was fortunate to escape the Falaise pocket. For the loss of personal effects, he was reimbursed 167 Reichsmarks. He remained with the unit as it retreated through Belgium towards Germany and defended Aachen in September 1944. Operation Market Garden prompted II./Pz.Rgt.16 to be sent into the defence lines south of Arnhem. After the conclusion of this battle, the panzer battalion was pulled back for a rest. Oberleutnant X was awarded the Panzerkampf-Abzeichen II. Stufe (PAB 25) on 26th October 1944. The entry is signed by the battalion commander, Knight's Cross holder Major Friedrich Graf Brühl. The right to wear the Windhundabzeichen was also confirmed at this time.
No rest for the wicked, II./Pz.Rgt.16 fought in the Hürtgen Forest in November and then participated in the Ardennes Offensive in December 44 and January 1945. In March Oberleutnant X left battalion staff, took over a panzer company and led it until the final days of the Ruhr Pocket. On 15th April 1945 he was awarded the Panzerkampf-Abzeichen III. Stufe (PAB 50), the entry is signed by the battalion leader Hauptmann Werner Adam. The next day his unit went into US captivity. An interesting note in his Soldbuch is that his government-issued watch was taken by a GI on 21st April.
There is so much in this Soldbuch that I could research it for weeks straight. This officer was involved in most of the war's most notable battles.
Thanks for reading, here come the pics.
Jason
Looking forward to seeing what else you can get from the family - hopefully they will have some info that can shed some light on exactly which grade Panzer badges he received.
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