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    #1

    Wehrpass, KIA, Battle of the Bulge

    On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, I thought I would post this interesting Wehrpass for a soldier who was killed during the first day of the battle. The Wehrpass belonged to Obergefreiter Franz Faltlhansl who after completing his Labor Corps service, served in the German Army. From 1940 to 1944, he served in various units. On 27 November 1944, he was assigned to his last unit, the 11./Füsilier-Regiment 27 (11th Company of Reconnaisance Regiment 27) of the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division (12th Peoples Grenadier Division). On 16 December 1944, the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division was positioned on the extreme right of the 5. Panzerarmee (5th Panzer Army) and protected the flank of the German forces that were to move toward Malmédy. Soon after the start of the battle, at 07:00, the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division reached Losheimergraben, Belgium, paving the way for Kampfgruppe Peiper, which was expected to reach Losheimergraben by 08:00; however, because the roadway was congested with horse-drawn artillery, infantrymen, and numerous other vehicles, Peiper's Kampfgruppe was unable to reach Losheimergraben. For those who are interested, here is more information about the Losheim Gap:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Losheim_Gap

    Obergefreiter Faltlhansl was killed in action during the attack. Although his Wehrpaß states that he was killed at the Bahnhof Losheim (Losheim Railway Station), which was on the German side of the Siegfried Line (the full name of Losheim is Losheim am See), I have a strong feeling that Faltlhansl was actually killed at Bahnhof Losheimergraben (Losheimergraben Railway Station) in Losheimergraben, Belgium. I am not an expert on the Losheim Gap battle, so I'd like to hear from others if you disagree with my take on where Faltlhansl was killed.

    Barry
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    Last edited by Stormfighter; 12-16-2014, 02:02 PM.
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      #3
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        #4
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          #5
          Wehrpass of great interest.....

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            #6
            How appears nowadays the place, reported on the wehrpass, where Franz died exactly, today, 70 years ago.....
            Interesting too the Barry's theory where there could be the possibility that the place was different....

            http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nthal-6736.jpg

            Sorry but picture is too heavy to download and I can't reduce it here....

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              #7
              I might add that Faltlhansl is buried in Lommel, Belgium, which leads me to further believe that he was killed in Belgium, not in Germany. I seriously doubt that any bodies buried in Germany were exhumed and moved to Belgium after the war. Losheim am See is about 300 kilometers from Lommel while Losheimergraben is approximately half this distance from Lommel. To me, it seems to make sense that if he were killed in Belgium, that his body was moved to a German War Graves cemetery in Belgium after the war. Also, I have found no evidence to show that there was any combat in Losheim am See in Germany on 16 December 1944.

              There definitely was a Bahnhof in Losheimergraben as can be seen in this old postcard:
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                #8
                Don't worry Barry.

                Wehrpaß says:
                16.12.1944 Gefallen am Bahnhof Losheim.

                On 16.12.1944 the 12.Volks Grenadier Division did start the attack on Losheimgraben at 6:00 in the morning.

                Bahnhof Losheim in the man's Wehrpaß is the same as Bahnhof Losheimgraben on the old postcard.

                Great to have an old image of the place where your man did see battle, to go with your Wehrpaß.

                Best regards

                Eric-Jan


                For some reading and information.

                Key to the Bulge, The: The Battle for Losheimergraben (Stackpole Military History Series)Paperback<!-- use pre formatted date that complies with legal requirement from media matrix -->– July 23, 2009
                by Stephen M. Rusiecki.

                Battle of the Bulge, The: Vol.1, The Losheim Gap/Holding the Line (Stackpole Military History Series)Paperback<!-- use pre formatted date that complies with legal requirement from media matrix -->– October 21, 2009by Hans Wijers.

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                  #9
                  Thanks Eric!

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                    #10
                    Losheim am See is not the Losheim of 'Losheim Gap'. That Losheim is only 3 kilometres from Losheimgraben albeit just on the other side of the German border.

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by Gary T View Post
                      Losheim am See is not the Losheim of 'Losheim Gap'. That Losheim is only 3 kilometres from Losheimgraben albeit just on the other side of the German border.
                      Thanks Gary. Good to know that there is another Losheim. Do you think there may have been a separate railway station in the Losheim in Belgium or do you think that Faltlhansl fell at the Losheimergraben station?

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                        #12
                        Barry,

                        Great Wehrpass. Below is a modern picture of Bahnhof Losheim, I imagine it was there in 1944 also. Photo is taken from the wikipedia page for Losheim(Hellenthal).


                        Jared
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                          #13
                          Originally posted by JBGracing View Post
                          Barry,

                          Great Wehrpass. Below is a modern picture of Bahnhof Losheim, I imagine it was there in 1944 also. Photo is taken from the wikipedia page for Losheim(Hellenthal).


                          Jared
                          Thanks Jared. So that's the place where Faltlhansl fell. Earlier, I did a Google map search for Losheim, Germany, but it automatically took me to Losheim am See in Germany. After Gary mentioned the Losheim near Losheimergraben, I typed in Losheimergraben and saw the correct Losheim just southeast of Losheimergraben). I'm attaching a screen capture from Google maps (the A is the location of Losheimergraben.
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                            #14
                            A very interesting BotB KIA Wehrpass Barry!

                            Best,
                            Rob

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                              #15
                              Barry, interesting Wehrpaß. Here is a link regarding the battle of Lanzerarth Ridge. Fusilier Rgt. 27 is mentioned.

                              Some years back the Washington Post published a large article on the small US I&R team that held up the initial German advance on December 16, and the recognition they finally received 36 years later in 1981 (also mentioned in the link).

                              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lanzerath_Ridge

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