Afrika 999 Solbuch, Picture, POW Items...

[chris235]

Hi,

Grouping directly from the recently deceased Veteran here in Germany.

I would like to know more about his unit and will post pictures today of the Soldbuch after work...

Regards

[chris235]

Here is some pictures as promised...

I noticed something strange with this soldbuch on the awards page he has neatly cut out the last awards. to hide the fact the page was cut out he tried to stick it down to the other side to make it look as if it was complete.

Why would he try and hide an award? What type of award was worth hiding?

I notice the Lt Col that made his capture forms has wrote that he is a Uffz in 999 ASD, ship number of regiment is 961 Regt. II Btl. STABs -KP

I know who he is in the POW picture and the other picture shows Trp Übs Plt Heuberg.

His feldpost number is - 48 481/7 and 48 481 A

His POW camps were -2228, 96, 689 plus some camps in the USA, Camp Gruber Okla, Fort Lewis Washington, Tonkawa Okla, Camp Mc Lean Texas.

Also a long list of English camps...

He was repatriated to No.97B. Russ. Zone, left Hull camp 23 18.4.47

ANY information on the Units, place of capture etc would be great, or anything regarding his POW time!

Thanks in advance

[chris235]

Pictures

[chris235]

Found this song online...

Lied der Division 999

Wir lagen westlich von Kairouan,
der Tommy deckte uns ein

Da traten wir unseren Rückzug an,
wie sollte es anders sein?

Wir trotteten in der Sonne dahin
und sahen uns oftmals um

Was hat das Marschieren für einen Sinn,
wenn wir nicht wissen, warum?

Immer daran denken, niemals vergessen,
was wir erlebt und geseh'n.

Wir haben in Kerkern und Lagern gesessen,
doch unser Banner blieb steh'n.

Vorwärts, vorwärts! Das Morgen ist unser,
laßt uns're Fahnen weh'n!

Die Stunden gingen der Mittag brennt.
He, Tommy, halte dich ran!

Wir sind das verlorene Regiment,
soll'n sterben bei Kairouan.

Für uns brauchst du deine Panzer nicht,
die Waffen liegen im Sand.

Für Hitler sterben wollen wir nicht
im afrikanischen Land.

[chris235]

Nobody any Idea? I am surprised....

[W Petz]

Your soldier was in a Penal unit in Afrika. This means he was possibly convicted of some crime and sentence to serve in a Penal unit. He was lucky to have survived to become a POW as they were used as canon fodder and got the dirty and most dangerous jobs on the front lines. The page in his soldbuch was probably meant to be that way.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrika-Brigade_999

Nobody any Idea? I am surprised....

[chris235]

Thanks for the link. It sounds like a very interesting Unit thats for sure.