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**mufasa** · 01-29-2019, 03:18 PM

first a undated synthesis

Employment in Italy
Heeres-Sturmgeschützbrigade 242

... The main director of the allied attack was towards Cassino, where the Oblt, KobruckOblt was employed in action. (on the outskirts of Cassino). Lieutenant Kobruck was valued battery commander.

Between 9 and 10 January 1944 I received the following order:
"Oblt. Kobruk fallen - take the lead and deploy the entire battery in defense of Cassino. Cassino must be kept at any cost - -it is not expected to go back. Order of the Commander of the . Hptm. Benz ".

Together with two comrades I went to our first aid point (Hauptverbandsblatz), where in the cellars lay the body of our commander together with another 10/15 comrades who fell in combat. His face was clearly recognized, which had not been disfigured by the splinters. The three of us gave our last farewell to the young, dynamic and enterprising battery commander. After a license for Christmas / New Year's 1943/44 he was granted only a few days of life.

**mufasa** · 01-29-2019, 03:23 PM

while this (I think) is the basis of the article on Sturmartillerie ..... really complete on the last two days of the Oberleutnant Kohbruk commander the 2nd Comp.

Testimony of the veteran Otto Zirm (tank driver) on the death of the Obt. Kobruck In the year 1994

On January 7, 1944, we set off from the Scario-Gaeta-Formia area towards Cassino.
The transfer took place without problems and around 20 hours we arrived near Naples with our self-propelled gun.

The collection point was in the mountain village of Sass-Pietro Jofine (I look in vain, this village, probably a very small point of houses on a map). The same night (7th Jannuary) we had to continue to the area of operation assigned to us, overcoming a heavy bombardment by the American artillery (the date combines perfectly with the diary of the 753rd Tank Battalion posted above)

Our orders did not include an attack but a defense action to stop a possible attack. Our position was located about 12 kilometers from Cassino, in a valley that led to Naples and through which the Americans were going to push forward

We took a position on the left and right side of the road (Via Casilina).
The Oblt. Kohbrok was in the position of a self-propelled boy. We were under heavy artillery bombardment. The Infantry protection and was assigned to 44 Inf.Div., Who which had serious losses

The second night of combat (8th Jannuary) we was heavily bombed again. Shortly after midnight a grenade disintegrated the roof of the house and the Oblt. Kohbrok, who was behind the house, on his self-propelled, was seriously injured in the head by a grenade shrapnel..
By radio message we have been informed of the incident and my tank commander Wachtmeister, Hermann Schumann, gave immediately the order to transfer Oblt Kobrock to the Abteilung Infirmary . The crew in the meantime had given first aid and an emergency medication. After a short time, a new radio message came to me: "Support is required. We are stuck (with the tank) ".
We immediately went to the place with the self-propelled gun of Wacht. Schaumann and we saw that the commander's vehicle was blocked after being slipped into a grenade crater.

Unable to unlock the vehicle, we transhipped the commander Kobrock (severely injured) we started at maximum speed that could be obtained from the engine to reach the military doctor (Stabsarzt), facilitated by our experience as veteran tankers.

The doctor, after examining our good commander, exclaimed: "There's nothing left to do!"
We immediately returned to our defense post and a few hours later we learned that our good commander was dead.

With the aid of an 18-tonne half-track, tank commander was then recovered from the artillery crater. The next day we had to abandon the position and fall back near Cassino.

The Oblt. Kohbrok and many comrades and friends have found the eternal rest in the Roccasecca war cemetery. The Germanic war cemetery at Cassino-Caira was inaugurated on May 4, 1965. All the fallen comrades in the Cassino area lie there, including many unknown.

The crew of the self-propelled command were:
Wachmeister Schmid (of Monaco)
Wachmeister Birkner (formerly the German Democratic Republic)
The Gefreiter, Hofmann fell later.

I hope my testimony has been useful.

Signed
Otto Zirm

**mufasa** · 01-29-2019, 03:29 PM

............the commander's vehicle was blocked after being slipped into a grenade crater........

........tank commander was then recovered from the artillery crater.........

the muddy Crawler Track ..... who knows ... but there are many chances.

Attached Files

**Luft 76** · 01-29-2019, 03:51 PM

Very detailled informations about the context of his dead.

**Pie** · 01-29-2019, 03:54 PM

This is what you can do with passion and dedication. A wonderful topic, dear Oriano! Really good.

Tragic read the last moments of "our" soldier.

Thanks!

Pietro

**Archi** · 01-29-2019, 04:34 PM

Hello !

Fully agree with Luft 76 and Pie !
Excellent work digging out this info on the last days of Oblt. Kohfeld

!

Best regards,

Archi

**mufasa** · 01-30-2019, 12:56 AM

Archi, Pie, Luft 76

many thanks for your nice words

Ciao Oriano

**mufasa** · 02-14-2019, 02:25 PM

and as I had promised I went to see Gunther in Cassino

Attached Files

**mufasa** · 02-14-2019, 02:29 PM

Hauptmann Gunther Kohbrok is in the upper part of the cemetery, in the Block 30, practically under the big memorial iron cross.....

Attached Files

**mufasa** · 02-14-2019, 02:36 PM

and the thrill of discovering that from his first cemetery of Roccasecca, Gunther, he returned where he was KIAl: the red point in today's photo and the yellow arrow in the American photo of January 1944; the red arrow is Montecassino Abbey , while the green arrow is place of the German War Cemetery of Cassino...

R.I.P. Gunther.

Attached Files

**Ironcrown** · 02-15-2019, 11:46 AM

Great job Oriano!
I've already congratulated for the first part of the research work more than one month ago, but have read only now the updates... Really amazing!
So congrats again !

**mufasa** · 02-15-2019, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by Ironcrown View Post

Great job Oriano!
I've already congratulated for the first part of the research work more than one month ago, but have read only now the updates... Really amazing!
So congrats again !

Thank my friend

Ciao Oriano

**Archi** · 02-19-2019, 08:25 PM

Hello Oriano !

A really worthy addition to this already excellent thread.
Very impressive to see those pictures.

Thanks and best regards,

Archi

**Admiraal** · 02-20-2019, 07:39 AM

Very impressive story

Its so nice when you find detailed information!

**mufasa** · 02-20-2019, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Archi View Post

Hello Oriano !

A really worthy addition to this already excellent thread.
Very impressive to see those pictures.

Thanks and best regards,

Archi

Manu thanks my friend! To the next!

Ciao Oriano

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WP Oberleutnant Sturm.Gesh.Abt.242 Kia in Cassino

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