Wehrpass aufkl. Schwadron 195, gren. Rgt. 1060, kia 1944 italy

[Orso_Bruno]

Hello everyone
the info I have is: Wehrpass to Bernard (Berni) Giebeler, member of several Radfahr Schwadrons saw action in Russia and Italy. With Radf. Schw. 195 as part of the 95. Infanterie Division he saw his first action in Russia, Kursk, upper Don, Woronesh. Giebeler was wounded at the start of 1943 because of a grenade shrapnel and received for this wound the wound badge in black. He returned from Russia in July 1943 because of an other wound and was awarded there with the infantry assault badge and the Iron cross. At the start of 1944 he was promoted to NCO and send to the front in Italy. He joined the Grenadier Regiment 1060 that fought under the 92. Infanterie-Division in Rome and from June on with the 362. Infanterie-Division. Giebeler was KIA on 14.7.1944 in Palaia, near Pisa in Italy. A letter written to his mother comes with the group, as well as a death card.

A very good and tragic grouping of a front NCO who saw both the Russian and Italian campaign.

Can you give me more info about this soldier?
I'm not good at rebuilding the story

[mufasa]

Some notices (included a nice photo of General Clark in Palaia)


2 day later.... 16.7.44 Villa Saletta (2 in north of Palaia)....




http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=Palaia

[Orso_Bruno]

Thanks a lot!

[Archi]

Hello !

A very interesting Wehrpass. Thanks for showing !
I think you already did a very good job on tracking the major steps of the career of this soldier .

A few things I found interesting with this soldier/Wehrpass :
At the time of formation, 95. ID only had 1 bicycle Schwadron (=company), instead of a full Aufkl.Abteilung.
For the attack on Russia, this unit was formally put under the HQ of the Pz.Jäg.Abt. 195 and later on, the organization changed several times.
So, during all his time with 95. ID, he stayed with/returned to the same unit/company, which only had to face different subordinations.

E.g., in the very early days of Barbarossa, a Voraus-Abteilung (advanced detachment) was formed (4.7.-7.8.41 , entry on p. 12),
where this soldier was part of. This was a makeshift unit, which many Inf. divisions formed in 1940/41 from their most mobile/motorized units.
Another example (VA Baacke, 72. ID) and some more details on the typical composition here :
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...6&postcount=21

At the beginning of Barbarossa, 95. ID acted as OKH reserve, assembled in Southern Poland by 4. July, 1941 and then marched to the front via
Luck, Rowno, Zwiahel.
The first major combat started on 15.7. in the area of Nesolon (~60km NW of Shytomyr). During the next month, the division marched and fought
its way for another 400km and faced heavy combat S of Kiew since end of July.
During the time from 18. July, to 21. August, it had losses of 87 Officers and ~2300 NCos and men, (from a combat strength of 12655 in early July).
[Knoblauch, p. 104].
(I cite that details, because the Lexikon der Wehrmacht/Tessin entries might give the impression, the division had little to do).
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ionen/95ID.htm

From August to mid September, the division held defensive position S of Kiev, then (since 22.Sept.) marched to the East via Neshin (4.10.),
Gluchow (10.10.), Ssewsk (15.10.-22.10).
Since 25.10.41, the division was involved in heavy combat NW of Kursk (Faresh) and then during the capture of Kursk itself (2.11.41).
For those battles described above, he must have received his EK 2 and the Sturm-Abzeichen.
(Its interesting, that the Inf. part of the Sturmabz. was crossed out !)

From mid 1942 onward the 95. ID fought SW of Liwny (100km NW Woronesh), in August-Sept. became Armee/HGr. reserve, before it was sent
to the area of Subzoff, close to the northern tip of the Rshew salient.
Here it took part in the many fierce battles for Rshev from Sept. 42 - Feb. 43, often overlooked because of Stalingrad, but of similar importance.
(At that time, he fought in close connection to 72. ID and 342. ID, units I am very interested in).
During this time, this soldier was wounded (on Christmas Eve !), but stayed with his unit.

95. ID then took part in the Operation Büffel in March 1943, (withdrawal from the Rshew salient) and took up positions 20km E of Jarzewo along
the "Rollbahn" between Wjasma and Smolensk until late July.
Starting on 21.7., the 95. ID was transferred from Jarzewo to the Orel area, to fight the breakthrough NW of Orel.
It finally arrived there step by step and had taken position on noon, 24.7.44. The first mission that day, was to take back the village of Griva
(3km SE of Kolodyassy, green arrow on map) and then drive back the enemy across the rivers Resseta and Dudna.
By 15:15 p.m. Griva was recaptured by Radfahrschwadron 1./195, but it could only be held for about 3 hours, and then the unit had to retreat,
to avoid beeing cut off.
In the course of these actions, this soldier must have been wounded again and then had to spent some time in hospital, before finally beeing
sent to Italy.

I hope this gives some more details on an interesting division beyond the very general entries in the Lexicon.
If you are interested in much more details, there is a very good history on 95. Inf.Div.,
written by Karl Knoblauch (in German).

Best regards,

Archi

[Orso_Bruno]

WOW! Thanks a lot!

[JUNGCO]

Archi,
I always like your extra input. It's always vert helpful.
Jefff