Hello fellow collectors,
I would like to show you one my newest additions. In first sight this soldbuch belongs to a normal, maybe a bit boring, landeschutzen soldier. For me as a Dutch May 1940 collector this Soldbuch has something special….
Edmund Niehsen, was born (04-12-191) and raised as a catholic boy in the village Rollesbroich (Kreis Aken) near the Belgium/Dutch Border. He must be skillful because of his many professions: construction worker, peasant and forestry worker. He entered the Heer in the end of August 1939 (4 wave) . In his first year he served in Grenzwacht-Regiment 66 (Grenzwacht-Abschnitt 66) as part of the 3. Machinegun company. According to Lexicon der Wehrmacht, GW 66 was active in the area Nederrhein during 1940. There duty seems more passive than active during the May days of 1940.
The weird and rare thing regarding this soldbuch is the Iron Cross second Class Edmund deserves. Niehsen earned his medal for his bravery during combat in Holland mei 1940, but his unit is not known as one of the units how participated in the battle. And if the unit was active by border combat this must have been under command of the XXVI Armee Korps, under there command was the area of the Nederrhein. Against all the logic Niehsen won his medal as part of the X Armee Korps. This Korps was active above the river Rhijn. So I’m a bit confused…. To solve this question mark I contacted a study group how knows a lot of the X Armee Korps and there campaign in The Netherlands. Also they do not know how Niehsen and as part of what he earned his ek2. They give me two most likely options:
He could have been part of the 526ID how was more known as an occupation division of the X Armee Korps than as a conquer division. How he could win in this division an Iron Cross is not clear at all. Generalmajor of the 526ID Hans von Sommerfeld was from Aachen and the same Kreis as Elmund
The second option was an interesting one. There where during May 1940 Brandenburgers units active in the X Armee Korps. Those units where mostly from units how where familiar with the area, there targets where to conquer bridges for a quick conquest of the Netherlands. There is known that persons form grenzabschitt regiments participated in Brandenburger units how where active in The Netherlands.
I’m really curious for your opinions! Within the Soldbuch only the pages 2 and 4 make notice of his duty by 66 Grenzwacht-Regiment (MG sperr Btl.only noticed p.4)
I would like to show you one my newest additions. In first sight this soldbuch belongs to a normal, maybe a bit boring, landeschutzen soldier. For me as a Dutch May 1940 collector this Soldbuch has something special….
Edmund Niehsen, was born (04-12-191) and raised as a catholic boy in the village Rollesbroich (Kreis Aken) near the Belgium/Dutch Border. He must be skillful because of his many professions: construction worker, peasant and forestry worker. He entered the Heer in the end of August 1939 (4 wave) . In his first year he served in Grenzwacht-Regiment 66 (Grenzwacht-Abschnitt 66) as part of the 3. Machinegun company. According to Lexicon der Wehrmacht, GW 66 was active in the area Nederrhein during 1940. There duty seems more passive than active during the May days of 1940.
The weird and rare thing regarding this soldbuch is the Iron Cross second Class Edmund deserves. Niehsen earned his medal for his bravery during combat in Holland mei 1940, but his unit is not known as one of the units how participated in the battle. And if the unit was active by border combat this must have been under command of the XXVI Armee Korps, under there command was the area of the Nederrhein. Against all the logic Niehsen won his medal as part of the X Armee Korps. This Korps was active above the river Rhijn. So I’m a bit confused…. To solve this question mark I contacted a study group how knows a lot of the X Armee Korps and there campaign in The Netherlands. Also they do not know how Niehsen and as part of what he earned his ek2. They give me two most likely options:
He could have been part of the 526ID how was more known as an occupation division of the X Armee Korps than as a conquer division. How he could win in this division an Iron Cross is not clear at all. Generalmajor of the 526ID Hans von Sommerfeld was from Aachen and the same Kreis as Elmund
The second option was an interesting one. There where during May 1940 Brandenburgers units active in the X Armee Korps. Those units where mostly from units how where familiar with the area, there targets where to conquer bridges for a quick conquest of the Netherlands. There is known that persons form grenzabschitt regiments participated in Brandenburger units how where active in The Netherlands.
I’m really curious for your opinions! Within the Soldbuch only the pages 2 and 4 make notice of his duty by 66 Grenzwacht-Regiment (MG sperr Btl.only noticed p.4)
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