Hello guys,
having more free time because of the lockdown, i will show you some papers in the next weeks. Today, a simple but interesting Wehrpass, as it's related to heavy fights for Paris liberation.
Edmund Holper entered the military service in 1942 in the Luftgau-Nachriten Ersatz Abteilung III in Vienna.
He will then passed through many Luftgau-Nachriten units before being sent, in Mars 1944 to the Flak-Ersarz-Abteilung.19 in Gotha in Germany.
It seems that he was then transfered to France to fight against the allies, but his new unit isn't noticed of the unit's page.
On page 21, the stamp of his new unit is given, as he is promoted to Obergefreiter on the 1.7.1944 as part of the 4.Bttr of the Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11.
Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11 became part of the 1. Flak-Brigade on the same day under the command of Oberst Karl Meise.
This unit is often seen as being on the Italian front at that time, but in fact it's a mistake, they were fighting against American and French forces advancing to the Gross-Paris front.
Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11 was formed of 3 battalions used to protect airbases at Villacoublay, Bretigny and Villaroche in the southern suburbs of "Gross-Paris".
Edmund and his comrades fought as soon as allies approached from the Suburbs of Versailles and had to retreat through Paris. Losses were huge during the first days of battle for each side. Allies lost a lot of tanks and men because of these Flak units which were equipped with all sorts of flak guns (20mm/37mm or even 88mm).
Hopler was probably part of a 88mm gun crew.
Arriving near the airbase of Toussus le Nobles on the 24th of August, Colonel Massu of the 2nd French Armored Division is attacked by Major Scheloske and his II.Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11.
Firing from the farm "du Trou Salé sur Buc" across the plain, these Flak guns hit two tanks named "Dauphiné" and "Barfleur". One more French tank, the sherman tank "Ardennes" is knoched out.
The French offensive is broken, but a second one will come later.
Major Scheloske changed his defensive positions around the hilltops of Jouy but was surprised by Massu's attack and had to retreat.
Scheloske organised new positions on RN 186 crossroad and takes the hit of the new attack of the French tanks. the tank "Zagrodski" was knocked out (see pictures) and the attack stopped. Many men were killed, guns and vehicles destroyed, german had to retreat near Versailles.
Later, Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11 had to fight in the North area of Gross-Paris, in order to defend the airbase of "Le Bourget". The battle here was hard too, but germans finally surrendered.
I can't determine when Hopler was made POW, but he took part for sure at some of these fights around Paris. Unfortunately the portrait is missing, maybe one day i'll have the chance to find one.
I hope you guy have enjoyed this thread. It's not complete as we don't know a lot about this battle even in French's testimonies.
having more free time because of the lockdown, i will show you some papers in the next weeks. Today, a simple but interesting Wehrpass, as it's related to heavy fights for Paris liberation.
Edmund Holper entered the military service in 1942 in the Luftgau-Nachriten Ersatz Abteilung III in Vienna.
He will then passed through many Luftgau-Nachriten units before being sent, in Mars 1944 to the Flak-Ersarz-Abteilung.19 in Gotha in Germany.
It seems that he was then transfered to France to fight against the allies, but his new unit isn't noticed of the unit's page.
On page 21, the stamp of his new unit is given, as he is promoted to Obergefreiter on the 1.7.1944 as part of the 4.Bttr of the Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11.
Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11 became part of the 1. Flak-Brigade on the same day under the command of Oberst Karl Meise.
This unit is often seen as being on the Italian front at that time, but in fact it's a mistake, they were fighting against American and French forces advancing to the Gross-Paris front.
Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11 was formed of 3 battalions used to protect airbases at Villacoublay, Bretigny and Villaroche in the southern suburbs of "Gross-Paris".
Edmund and his comrades fought as soon as allies approached from the Suburbs of Versailles and had to retreat through Paris. Losses were huge during the first days of battle for each side. Allies lost a lot of tanks and men because of these Flak units which were equipped with all sorts of flak guns (20mm/37mm or even 88mm).
Hopler was probably part of a 88mm gun crew.
Arriving near the airbase of Toussus le Nobles on the 24th of August, Colonel Massu of the 2nd French Armored Division is attacked by Major Scheloske and his II.Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11.
Firing from the farm "du Trou Salé sur Buc" across the plain, these Flak guns hit two tanks named "Dauphiné" and "Barfleur". One more French tank, the sherman tank "Ardennes" is knoched out.
The French offensive is broken, but a second one will come later.
Major Scheloske changed his defensive positions around the hilltops of Jouy but was surprised by Massu's attack and had to retreat.
Scheloske organised new positions on RN 186 crossroad and takes the hit of the new attack of the French tanks. the tank "Zagrodski" was knocked out (see pictures) and the attack stopped. Many men were killed, guns and vehicles destroyed, german had to retreat near Versailles.
Later, Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment.11 had to fight in the North area of Gross-Paris, in order to defend the airbase of "Le Bourget". The battle here was hard too, but germans finally surrendered.
I can't determine when Hopler was made POW, but he took part for sure at some of these fights around Paris. Unfortunately the portrait is missing, maybe one day i'll have the chance to find one.
I hope you guy have enjoyed this thread. It's not complete as we don't know a lot about this battle even in French's testimonies.
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