I just picked up the Luftwaffe Soldbuch of Flieger Johann Kijas, who served with paratrooper units and lastly, with an Army unit with which he was killed. This Soldbuch was brought back as a souvenir by an American veteran. On 22 February 1944, Kijas was assigned to the 11. Kompanie (11th Company) of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 8 (Paratrooper Regiment 8) of the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division (3rd Paratrooper Division). On 27 May 1944, he was assigned to the 1. Kompanie (1st Company) of the Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon (Paratrooper Replacement Battalion). On or shortly before 21 July 1944, Kijas was wounded by shrapnel and was hospitalized in a Luftwaffe hospital in Paris. The fact that Kijas was wounded makes me believe that he may have returned to Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 8 briefly and fought at Normandy; however, the transfer was not entered in his Soldbuch. If, in fact, he were transferred back to Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 8, he most likely was wounded during the Battle of St. Lo. I think this is the most likely explanation, especially because the Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon was not deployed as a field unit as far as I know. I welcome anyone else's thoughts on this.
As Allied forces approached Paris, Kijas was transferred to Kriegslazarett 11/528 (Military Hospital 11/528) on 6 August 1944, where he had a brief stay. On 18 August 1944, he was transferred to Reserve-Lazarett II in Kremsier, which I believe is in Czechoslovakia. On 7 September 1944, Kijas was finally released from the hospital and returned to the Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon in Stendal I think this unit may have been renamed as Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-und-Ausbildungs Bataillon (Paratrooper Replacement and Training Battalion). Sometime in November or December 1944, Kijas was assigned to the the 4. Kompanie (4th Company) of Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 416 (Field Replacemnet Battalion 416), which was assigned to the 416. Infanterie-Division (416th Infantry Division), which fought in the Saarpfalz on the Western Front. On 22 December 1944, Kijas, now a Grenadier, was killed in action. I know there is a good report about the 416. Infanterie-Division covering October 1944 to March 1945 I believe. I am wondering if anyone can tell me where the 416. Infanterie-Division was fighting on 22 December 1944.
Barry
As Allied forces approached Paris, Kijas was transferred to Kriegslazarett 11/528 (Military Hospital 11/528) on 6 August 1944, where he had a brief stay. On 18 August 1944, he was transferred to Reserve-Lazarett II in Kremsier, which I believe is in Czechoslovakia. On 7 September 1944, Kijas was finally released from the hospital and returned to the Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon in Stendal I think this unit may have been renamed as Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-und-Ausbildungs Bataillon (Paratrooper Replacement and Training Battalion). Sometime in November or December 1944, Kijas was assigned to the the 4. Kompanie (4th Company) of Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 416 (Field Replacemnet Battalion 416), which was assigned to the 416. Infanterie-Division (416th Infantry Division), which fought in the Saarpfalz on the Western Front. On 22 December 1944, Kijas, now a Grenadier, was killed in action. I know there is a good report about the 416. Infanterie-Division covering October 1944 to March 1945 I believe. I am wondering if anyone can tell me where the 416. Infanterie-Division was fighting on 22 December 1944.
Barry
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