Interesting Brandenburg Rgt. FJ grouping

[djpool]

I have to say that I am somewhat astonished about what little attention this grouping got.
I personally thought it would generate some more interest, specially from the ones that collect these as well, since it is probably one of the rarest FJ documents that's out there, never mind the grouping by itself. Guess it's not that rare than after all.
Oh well. Please forgive my rant.

Hi Ben,

Its a superb and rare grouping.Actually I thought I posted a reply before but I don't see it. I had asked if the vet was ever issued the Brandenburg Division Cufftitle and if so was it black or dark green? Regards Jim

[Ben]

Hi Jim,

I will visit the vet in late January/early February to go through some more items he has left. Included are more pictures, I will let you know and naturally show any pictures which might show the CT. There is one more solid piece that remains with him at the moment. It has been promised to me that I will receive this during the visit. I will show it here and I'm very sure it will blow some minds, trust me.

[Willi Z.]

Ben, is that the piece that I have photos of that was not included here? Or something even more unique?

I too am surprised at the lack of comments. But, I am sure many have viewed your find with utter fascination.

[Ben]

Hi Willi,

yes that's the piece. I don't want to post it just yet as I don't really own it yet.
I was also told that the APB and the Wounded Badge might still be lingering somewhere as well as other odds and ends. Months can't fly by fast enough.

[Eric Queen]

Ben,

Sorry that I have not responded. I have been in Asia since last Monday, and it has not been easy to get internet access.

It goes without saying that this is a wonderful grouping of mind blowing rarity. The fact that the combination of items is unusual ( you don't often see attributed boots within these types of groupings ), makes it even more interesting in my opinion. Would love to hear more about the history of this man, and how you obtained the items.

Just super material.

That being said, it has been my experience that the rarer the item, the less response you are going to get. Don't be discouraged by it, its just the reality. I have posted a number of items here that were, if not one of a kind, very close to being so, with little or no response. A beat up helmet shell or EK2 without the riboon will get 50 reponses, that's just the way it is.

Looking forward to hearing more about the history of this superb grouping.

Thank you for sharing it.

Eric

[Hank C.]

I'm not a FJ guy, but that's a darn impressive grouping. Double !!!

[Don D.]

Great grouping! I don't normally look at FJ but happened to see this thread. I'll have to stop in more often.
Don

[Jean-Loup]

The more rare the stuff is, the less people know what it is, so the less responses there are. I remember I got almost no responses when I posted my US 517th helmet, although only a couple of thousand were made.
I cant wait to see the mind boggling piece you are suposed to get soon. You got the suspense going.
JL

[WalterB]

Ben, awesome items. I am amazed that the veteran even saved his wounded tags. What a pack rat!!

[Ben]

Thanks for the comments and remarks guys!

The man was born in 1922.
He was called up on 6th. October 1941 and was send to the 1/Inf. Ers. Btl.476 in Theresienstadt.
After his training he was send to Stab/Inf. Rgt. 687 and was further trained as Assualt Pioneer.
He was send to Russia in Mai of 1942. In June of 1942 the unit went to the Charkov front where in August he participated in a main offensive around Oskol; Don to Kovolojak (sp.?). There he was wounded by schrapnel though his right ankle, his right hand middle finger, and through three ribs (which subsequently broke outward). He also makes the note that he gave up blood through nose mouth and ears. He states, somewhat amused, that it wasn't serious enough for him to be treated in the Heimat but instead went to a local Hauptverbandplatz after which he gets some home-leave.
In Nov. '42 his leave is ended and the unit was placed on the "outer" ring of Stalingrad. Complains about the fact that they don't receive the appropriate winter protective clothing. There, on the Kalmukensteppe on 8th of Jan. '43 at 1930hrs. he gets shot through the right elbow and arm. On the 10th of January, with bulit wounds and frozen toes, he is transported to the Kriegslazerett at Stalino. On the 16th. he is transported, via hospital train, to Germany.
On the 26th. he arrives at the Reservelazerett at Mullhausen.
On the 6th. of July '43 he is released from hospital and is moved to the Genesenden Komp. Gren. Ers. Btl. 514 where his wounds start to give him trouble yet again. On the 28th of January '44 he gets moved to the Reservelazerett I at Dresden where they remove the bulit from his arm and give him further treatment for his toes. In March he gets released and goes to the Marschkompanie Gren. Ers. Btl. 514, Freudlichkaserne (sp?) in Dresden.

During the month of March there were FJ officers from Stendal holding a recruitment drive for front experienced Infantry soldiers to go to the Falschirmjagerschule.
1000 man go into the course which was concluded in July '44.

His unit is than moved to East Prussia and alerted because of trouble with Sweden which was supposedly resolved at diplomatic level.

He is than moved to the Balka region, Albania, Mazedonia and Kroatia.
He was most active in the mountains of Montenegro.

On 21st. August '44 his section's LKW comes under fire at Gjeuiga (sp?), Montenegro, and drops 35 meters in a gully. He was unconsius for 6,5 days und woke up in a Hospital in Italy where they concluded that he had a fractured skull, compressed fracture of G.BW (?) and severely bruised vertebrea at 5.LW.

After home leave and more hospital he is ordered back to his unit, in Soldau East Prussia, late December '44.
From 6th of January onwards the unit foes a fighting retreat from Pommern, Oderhaft,and Oderbrück. It is here where his close buddy Häusler is killed next to him by a sniper's headshot on 16th. of April 1945.
Note: Hans Häusler is still missing in action to this day.

NW of Berlin they are encircled in a small area, somewhere around Siebenwalde, but they are able to break out to go further West.

He calls his own run for the West, Fahnenflucht!

They succeed to reach the Allied lines at Gadebusch.
In early July '45 he is handed over to the British. He makes two attempts to escape but both fail. He is finally released on 1st. of February, 1946.

Hope you enjoyed his adventures!

[Hank C.]

Great story! Looking forward to seeing the "missing pieces" when you get them.

[SMP]

Ben,
You "Jammy sod " as we say in England !!

Congratulations. Superb

Regards,
Steve


P.S 12 eyelets this time !

[J.von Canon]

Extremely interesting...

This is one of the most fascinating groups of things I've seen yet.
Did he only get the black wound badge-with so many varied injuries?
Maybe I missed something,or you are yet to receive it?
Great...
J.V.C.

[Yannis]

Knowing the people and the history behind the items makes this hobby so much more special!!!

Ben, you must be very proud of this super group!!!

All the best
Yannis

[Ben]

Thanks guys,

I felt this grouping was worth looking at just because of the history behind it, never mind the actual items.
JvC, my bet is that there must be some more paperwork concerning his wounds received. The document pictured deals with the one received at Stalingrad. I don't know what the qualifications are for a Silver or Gold Wound badge though although I think he must be getting close for one.
I know that he had other awards and documents as well but some items were lost in the past 60 years.

BTW, part of the letter in the picture deals with his jump qualification. In it he actually tells his parents, after the fact, that he is now a qualified Fallschirmjäger. Talks about the 1000 man training and nobody getting injured and that it is perfectly safe. Seems he didn't want them to worry whilst he was doing the actual course