Thought I'd share this interesting Wehrpass to a Beobachter who saw action in some of the most interesting theatres of war. Andreas Höveler served with Beobachtungs-Abteilung 11 in the early parts of the African campaign, the battles for Tobruk and Gazala, until in June 1942 he was transported back to the Heimat and even temporarily released from service. Interestingly, Ian has posted the Soldbuch and photos of his direct commander, Hauptmann Keerl, in this thread. Another interesting detail is that Höveler was a technical drawer in civilian life and in the military - amongst other functions - was thus deployed as a Gefechtszeichner, drawing the African battlefields in his observer unit.
Höveler's luck was over in March 1943 when he was called up again to serve with Artillerie-Regiment 265, part of the 265. Infanterie-Division in Normandy. There, he would become involved in the fighting following D-Day, but was able to escape with his comrades to the Festung Lorient and ended the war there with the final surrender of the fortress on 10th (!) of May 1945, two days after the official end of the war.
During his service, Höveler was awarded with the deutsch-italienische Erinnerungsmedaille, the Afrikakorps cufftitle, and the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse awarded in the Festung Lorient.
Höveler's luck was over in March 1943 when he was called up again to serve with Artillerie-Regiment 265, part of the 265. Infanterie-Division in Normandy. There, he would become involved in the fighting following D-Day, but was able to escape with his comrades to the Festung Lorient and ended the war there with the final surrender of the fortress on 10th (!) of May 1945, two days after the official end of the war.
During his service, Höveler was awarded with the deutsch-italienische Erinnerungsmedaille, the Afrikakorps cufftitle, and the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse awarded in the Festung Lorient.
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