SB grouping related to : Magen-Btl., fighting at Metz 1944 and Westwall 1945

[Archi]

Hello !

I would like to show you a small, but interesting SB grouping. Research is not finished, but it is a good example,
for what I'm interested in. In addition, I am currently stuck at several points of research and hope to get additional infos.

This is a small SB grouping, which covers several of my main topics of interest :
- I am interested in SBs, WPs and other documents connected to the battles at Metz in autumn 1944 (especially the replacement units of Div.Nr. 462)

- EuA.Btl. 282 (M) was subordinated to Div.Nr. 462, a replacement Division, that was converted into a field division in autumn 1944 (exactly what I'm looking for in general)

- In addition, the (M) means, that this soldier was in a "Magen-unit", consisting of soldiers with stomach ailments.
=> A very peculiar type of units, on which I'd like to find further infos/examples in general.

I am posting this, in the hope that someone can provide additional informations on the actions of this battalion at Metz, but also what happened to it,
in the time from mid Oct. 1944 - March 1945. I am also searching for detailed infos on the battles from 15.-18. March 1945,
when the attack of XV Corps destroyed the battalion. (by then it had been reorganized to Fest.-Inf.-Btl. 1462(M),
and was holding positions in the Westwall, W of Saarbrücken.)
Any comments and other input are very welcome !

------
SB grouping to Obergefreiter Heinrich Frank :

I'll start with SB cover, his photo and the first page :

[Archi]

As the Soldbuch is an "Ersatzausfertigung" / Zweitschrift, a lot of the info on his career is lost.
(I have some "technical" questions regarding this, but I'll post those in a separate thread.)

Here is what I could make up so far, regarding the early stages of his career :
Heinrich Frank was likely drafted on 29.8.39 to Grenz-Infanterie-Ersatz-Btl. 129 [see p. 18].
His EKM is numbered : 3. Grz.Inf.Ers.Btl. 129 - 155
EKM of Heinz Kirchhart : 2./Grz.Inf.Ers.Btl. 129 - 125,
(The 2nd EKM (same btl. !) is part of another grouping I own, which has many photos of the training, at Idar-Oberstein
and later in Warthelager, and I would assume, that both were always very close to each other until spring 1940 :
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ighlight=Heinz

Here are some photos of Warthelager from the Kirchhart group, I haven't shown before :

[Archi]

After his training, Heinrich Frank was transferred to I./Grz.-Inf.Rgt. 128 (subordinated to Grz.Inf.Rgt. 127),
with which he must have seen some action in the attack against France under XXIV. A.K. The only hint on this,
is from an award doc for the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen. (sadly the award doc was severely cut, probably to fit into the Soldbuch ?!).

I assume, the signature is that of Gen. d. Kav. Geyr von Schweppenburg (and is original ?!)

[Archi]

In Oct.- Dec. 1940 and again in May-June 1941, he was in hospital, because of stomach issues and
in 1941 - 43 he received several immunizations (these are the only dated entries prior to 1944.
Any hint on frontline service in 1941-1943 ?!) :

[Archi]

Affiliation with EuA-Btl. (M) 282 at Metz, August 1944 :

Now the the really interesting part starts, related to Div.Nr. 462 and the battles for Metz :
On August, 17th, he was issued the Zweitschrift of his Soldbuch, and also he was granted Einsatz-Urlaub until 3.9.44,
all this, while affiliated to 2. Kp./Gren.EuA-Btl.(M) 282.
When the Allied advance was coming close in late August, Div.Nr. 462 and its subordinated units, became activated as field units.
Note the EuA-Btl. 282(M) listed as field unit on p. 4 !

Perhaps someone can read the 2nd signature on p. 15 ?! That would be a great help !

[Archi]

Combat at Metz, Sept. 1944

Last pictures from Soldbuch, showing the award page and the leave entries.

When Heinrich Frank returned from leave in early September, EuA-Btl. 282(M) held positions at Corny, SW of Metz.
Exactly in this area, forces of the US 5th Infantry Division started forming two bridgeheads and EuA-Btl. 282(M)
was involved in counterattacks against both :
The first one near Dornot (at the border between EuA-Btl. 282 (M) (at that time also designated as "Btl. Voss")
and "Btl. Berg" (an Alarm-unit formed from the SS Signal School at Metz), beginning on Sept. 8th.
A second one, at Arnaville beginning to form on Sept. 10th, just at the corps borders between XIII. SS-AK and XXXXVII. Pz.K.

While the bridgehead at Dornot could be contained and was finally withdrawn on late Sept. 10th,
the bridgehead at Arnaville could finally be secured by the US troops after heavy fighting, that lasted over a week.
Around mid September, EuA-Btl. 282(M) was withdrawn from the area at Corny and replaced by EuA-Btl. 208.
(The Magen-Btl. 282 of Heinrich Frank remained in the area of Metz at least until mid October.)

[Archi]

Reorganization into Festungs-Infanterie-Bataillon(M) 1462 :

From mid Oct. to end Nov., I have no infos on the whereabouts of EuA-Btl.(M) 282. It must have escaped the encirclement of Metz,
as it shows up again on Dec. 1st, in a Kriegsgliederung of HGr. G under LXXXII. AK (N of Saarbrücken).
It was then shifted around N and East of Saarbrücken.

On 25.1.45 (see scan) , it was decided, that EuA-Btl. 282(M) should be merged together with Btl. Wesel-Düsseldorf
(often abbreviated to : We-Dü.), another Magen unit.

This Btl. Wesel-Düsseldorf had been sent to 1. Armee from Korps Feldt, together with the HQ of Div.Nr. 526
and some other units in mid December, to fill some gaps. Their task was to form a permanent
(and immobile) security force in the Westwall/later Hilgenbach-Stellung (2nd line of the Westwall).
This Btl. might also be mentioned as Btl.Klein (named after the Kdr. of Btl. Wesel-Düsseldorf: Hptm. Klein).

In February, 1945, the new unit was reorganized as Festungs-Infanterie-Btl. 1462(M), again : (M) = Magen-Bataillon.
(the new unit designation given out of sequence and certainly pointing to the former connection with Div.Nr. 462).

It consisted of 3 companies, ea./w. 2 heavy and 9 light MGs and with 18 Panzerschreck. The 4th company of Heinrich Frank
was equipped with 6 hy. MGs and 12 medium Mortars (total strength ~500 men).
This unit was in mid March 1945 located East of Saarbrücken.

[Lionel H.]

Salut Archi !

I lived in Metz for a long time some 2 decades ago, and I of course collected Stuff related to the different Units impicated in this important Battle. If you have the 2 Books written by "Editions Heimdal" about the 17.SS-Pz.Gren.Div.GvB, a good part of the Paperstuff schown there is (or was ;-) mine... You know it, talking from the two major and well known Forces implicated there (17.GvB and Schule VI for Fahnenjunker d. Inf. under von Siegroth) would have been much more easier , but you also consider more obscure Units, that is indeed the honour and the mission of a true historian ! Bat."Berg", Btl."Voss", A.u.E.208.... they all suffered heavy casualties.... For the Moment, here is one Item from my collection in relation with Yours..... I know that the I./Grz.128 had important losses at HEMING (Moselle - Maginot sector) during the Battle for France in June 1940.

Anyway, I confirm that ID's relating to the Div.462, and the "Magen" bataillon are very scarce, don't remember when I saw another one.... Thanks for sharing Uwe !!

[mufasa]

Very nice and interesting group and research.
Oriano

[Archi]

Final actions at the Westwall, near Saarbruecken :

On its final days, I only have the account of Generalmajor Britzelmayr, Kdr. 19. VGD :
According to him, the Magen-Bataillon held a sector immediately East of Saarbrücken and was the first to face the Allied attack on 16.3.45.
A first break-in into the Westwall positions was accomplished in that area.

On 17.3., 19.VGD sent a battalion in for a counterattack, to regain positions. However, the lack of artillery support
and well aimed artillery fire from the enemy held back the counterattacks at two times and the efforts
only sufficed to help the Magen-Bataillon to hold its postions on this day.

On the 18.3., 19. VGD had to retreat to the Hilgenbachstellung, and from this day onward I could not find
any further reference to Fest.Inf.Btl.(M) 1462.
It is likely that Ob.-Gefr. Frank was captured around this time and that the war did end for him at this point.

[Any further infos on these battles (from both sides) would be very appreciated !]

[Archi]

Captivity :
Obergefreiter Heinrich survived the war, as I have also his discharge doc, and some POW notices.
If somone could explain, how these POW notices worked, I would be thankful
[POW => home; home => POW ??! ]
(there seems to be a signature of his mother at the bottom ?!).

That's it for the moment, thanks for looking !

Best regards,

Archi

[Floris]

Nice presentattion

[Archi]

Hello Lionel, Oriano and Floris !

Many thanks to all of you for your feedback !

@Lionel :
Many thanks in addition, for sharing that nice document and the additional info on I./Grz.Inf.Rgt. 128 !

Regarding finding more docs related to Metz :
Thanks for the info, although it is not exactly "good news".
However, if you say, that you have seen those rarely, that explains a lot of my difficulties !

Best regards,

Archi

[mtdr]

Thanks for showing this interesting research and presentation!

[Thomas Bendixen]

Very nice thread, a lot of work put into it

Br, Thomas