Small "Endkampf" SB Group - Bamberg to the Alps

[InfanterieSammler]

Also interesting to note, rather sadly, that his boyhood home in Nürnberg was most likely lost on 2 January by the Allied bombing that destroyed approx. 90% of the Altstadt. We can see the address crossed out and new address added.

He received leave on 10 January and later again 27 January. One can assume to go home and tend to his family.

Regards.

[InfanterieSammler]

A little update to this thread.

I travelled to Germany/Austria last month, spending a day in Nürnberg. Here are a couple of photos of Kurt Spindler's boyhood home, the former Adolf Hitler Platz 10, now Hauptmarkt Platz 10. There is a really nice chocolate shop on the ground level that my wife and I have visited in previous years.

Regards,
John

[Archi]

Hello !

An interesting Soldbuch and a well done presentation with very interesting research and background infos.
I must have overlooked it at first time, but discovered it just recently. Thanks for sharing !

I found this very interesting, as it is a good example for those very late drafted, young soldiers.
It also shows how difficult it is, to understand their last actions, because so little is known about
the status of the units involved (here and in general) in the very last stages of the war.

Some remarks and ideas :

1.a) I think, it is very important, that you have his award doc. Without it, the connection to 79. VGD
would be totally lost !

1.b) In addition, this award doc could even help to understand the sequence of Kdr./Fuehrer (COs) of
the 79. VGD. (resp. its remnant HQ unit) :
If you take a look at the links, it seems that even some well informed people are struggling on this topic :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=187383
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=197756

It looks to me, that the award doc is signed by Oberst Reimherr (DKiG) and that would confirm,
that Ob. Reimherr was Fuehrer (=CO) of the 79. VGD in April 45.
A sequence of COs of 79. VGD (from related FMS reports etc., and likely still with some gaps) could then be :
Ob./Gm. Alois Weber - Ob. Hummel (up to 02.03.45 ?!) - ... - Ob. von Hobe (up to 29.03.45) - Ob. Reimherr - ??


2.) Regarding the specific way of this soldier, that you wanted to reconstruct :
As there is so little information, the following facts have to be taken into account :
- there is no entry for a Marsch-Kp./Btl. (regular way of transport to a front line unit)
- there is however a replacement unit, listed as field unit : 3. A.[usbildungs-Kp.] Pz.Ers.- und Ausb.-Abtl. 35
- finally, there must be some connection to 79. VGD

2.a) IMO, the "easiest" explanation would be (many others still possible), that he was called up with "Aktion Leuthen"
late March 45 and became a member of Pz.KGr. XIII (=Pz.Kgr. Massenbach =Pz.KGr. von Hobe).
Best sources for the actions of this KGr. von Hobe are FMS B-772 and the following link by Martin Block :
http://www.panther1944.de/de/sdkfz-1...ipzrgt-22.html

At its formation, Pz.Ausb.Abt. 35 fielded 9 Pz. III, 3 Pz. IV and 7 Pz. V and had a strength of about 1000 men (see scan).
According to the FMS report by Oberst von Hobe, Pz.KGr. XIII had also a battalion formed from (dismounted) soldiers,
for which no tanks/PzJg. 38 etc. were available. To which group Karl Spindler belonged, will likely remain unclear.

2.b) The main question would still be : What could explain the connection to "79. VGD" ?!
During the 1st half of April 45, Pz.KGr. von Hobe and 79. VGD (HQ and remnants) fougth close to each other under XIII SS-AK.
(See maps from Spiwoks/Stoeber).
One could easily imagine, that Kurt Spindler became either scattered or was transferred to elements of HQ 79. VGD. at this time.

2.c) The last mentioning of 79. VGD (remnants) I found, is that it assembled at Vohburg, 10 km W of Ingolstadt, on 25.4.45.
Of course, there are too many ways, how he could have ended up near Innsbruck ...

I am aware, a lot of: could have, would have, should have ... but to be more shure will be difficult, without further infos ...

Best regards,

Archi

[InfanterieSammler]

Hi Archi,

Thank you (once again!) for your very informative and well thought out post.

I was surprised that more didn't comment on this one. I understand it's not as "glamorous" as some of the more decorated groups. However, I find that small kind of groups which tell a story to be very interesting still.

I enjoy collecting SB's, but they can be very limited as a source. As you pointed out, this is a perfect example of how important supporting documents can be. The 79. VGD EKII document was key in this respect. Thank for confirming the CO as Reimherr. I think you are spot on

Thank you also for your information on Pz.KGr. von Hobe, this is definitely a possibility which I need to explore in more depth. We can add this to my list of never-ending research projects. I try to research every SB/WP/Group which comes in and right now, I'm working through a heavy backlog.

All the Best,
John

[Brian R]

John - I remember when this was posted. It’s an excellent set accompanied by great research and a nice presentation. In some ways the mystery of this group makes it attractive especially in the context of wondering about his thoughts. He surely did grow up in the shadow of the party in Nuremberg and it is, indeed, interesting to think of his mindset in early 1945. Even if he was excited to “do his part” I’m sure he felt fear once in the face of the enemy’s guns.

[Lambert]

Very nice late war Soldbuch with interesting research, thanks for showing!!

[KLMKsunbunny]

Thanks for pushing this back up, great thread..!

Just to add, I have a soldbuch to a young guy born 1924, drafted in 1942, also from Nurnberg. His home address at his parents is also crossed out with a new one added. I drew the same conclusion as you...