Interesting Gebirgs-Sanitäter Soldbuch and Wallet

[erichcraciun]

Hello,

I just received this and wanted to show it here briefly:

Soldbuch, Wallet, EK 2 Document and misc. documentation to Sanitäts-Obergefreiten Arthuer Grünert.

[erichcraciun]

Grünert fought with the 256. Infanterie Division in France where he won the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 7.7.1940. the Document is signed by Generalmajor Gerhard Kaufmann (RK am 9.7.1941).

He later won the Ostmedaille on 17.10.1942.

Grünert later transferred to the 104. Jäger Divison which took part mainly in anti partisan warfare in Greece, Serbia and later in Croatia.

[erichcraciun]

On 27. January 1943 he was found to the Tropentauglich (fit for service in tropical climates - Africa and Southern Europe)....though he suffered from reoccurring Pyelitis (inflammation of the pelvis and inflamed kidneys).

[erichcraciun]

At one time, this condition became so bad that he was transferred by hospital ship on one leg of the journey back to Germany.

He was issued this wound tag for the Ortslazarett Saloniki (the foto is a little blurry). The tag is printed with the word "HEIMAT" running diagonally on the tag. Never seen one of these before.

Being transferred at the time he did - this probably saved his life / spared his Russian or Jugoslavian captivity.

This is a small note of the first page stating the Grünert handed in his rifle before leaving. Interesting to see that a Sanitäter was issued a rifle.

Another interesting page is glued in page 27: monthly security checks.

[erichcraciun]

Award entries and capture documents.

On the smaller card (Kriegsgefangenen - Ausweis) it states at the very bottom:

"Eingetragen im Lager Nr. 379 am 11 / 11.44"

So I am wondering...was he captured by British forces somewhere in Italy on his way back to Germany?

[Ian Jewison]

Just found this which is interesting on warsailors.com

Following the German evacuation of Greece, the British admiralty had decided on 26.10.1944 to stop the two hospital ships TÜBINGEN and GRADISCA which were at the time in Salonika in case they were contravening to International Law and attempt to evacuate able-bodied soldiers. The two hospital ships sailed probably on 26 or27.10.1944 and proceeded to Trieste.
On 27.10.1944 TÜBINGEN was intercepted by HMS WILTON and brought to Alexandria on 30.10.1944. She had 1053 patients on board.
At 1700/28.10.1944 the submarine VAMPIRE intercepted the GRADISCA off Cape Paluiri and brought her to Khios. They arrived there at 1305/29.10.1944. HMS TEAZER took over the escort and sailed with her her the next day for Alexandria which was reached on 1.11.1944. She had 1940 patients on board. After some talk of making them PoWs (some were landed in Alexandria) the two vessels were released as no irregularaties were found and escorted by HMS STORK left Alexandria on 9.11.1944, TÜBINGEN to later proceed to Trieste while GRADISCA was to make for Algiers to disembark her PoWs.

Also:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BC...chiff,_1922%29
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ettschiffe.htm


/Ian

[erichcraciun]

Thanks Ian!

A very interesting story and the reason why he ended up in British captivity.

Erich

[Lee Luke]

I have a soldbuch to the same San. komp 104. I will dig it out this week and add a couple scans.

[erichcraciun]

Thanks. The Soldbuch should be interesting to see!

Coincidentally like so many things in life, I was researching German military chaplains and found the account of Marinepfarrer Heinrich Vobbe, Chaplain in Marine-Gruppenkommando Süd in Athen.

What he says here is that he along with a Chaplain colleague Professor Meinhold found passage on the hospital ship "Gradiska" along with 2000 wounded and sick soldiers. A short time out of port they were hailed by a British Sub (in this case the Vampire - thanks Ian!) and some 1000 Soldiers were taken from board. Vobbe made it back to Germany.