18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier

[Stefan M]

Hello.
I'm researching a person very close to me. this is purely for personal resons & research only.
I believe he served in the
18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel.

this is what i have

14 jnf.Jnf.Panz.Jag.Komp. Gren.Reg.260 18 Panz.Gren.Division.

I'm quite new to this researching. I have come over the most obvious websites which tell me a little about this unit. I've also found some books. Which i'll be getting.
but can somone confirm I'm going in the right direction or have it completely wrong.

if someone does know of some more websites deatiling of thier whereabouts as well as maps would be wonderful.

i'm particulary interested to the whereabouts of this unit around November 1943.
as well as july 1944.

thanks in advance

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Stefan, first of all, welcome to the forum!

I realise you have most likely found this site but just in case you have not here is a link:


http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...Gliederung.htm

Cheers, Ade.

[Stefan M]

Thank you Adrian

the thing which confuses me to no end is that this particular site it states that this particular unit was founded in jan 1944.....

this is something else i have.

Einsatz ab August 1943 im mittleabshnitt. (Raum Smolensk)

which tell me this Gentleman started seing action on the eastern front from August 1943.

so i'm thinking ....maybe i have the wrong unit.
are you able to shed any light on this?

Thanks again

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Stefan, I wondered if you had the wrong unit, as the units you mentioned are not within it's order of battle.

In fact, I am struggling to find out any info on Gren Regt 260?

Are you getting your info from memories or documents?

Cheers, Ade.

[Stefan M]

i have a photocopy of a letter he wrote some time back to find out abbout the fate of some of his comrade's
It says

Die Feldpostnummer war 47 845
Einsatz ab august 1943.....as above
Einheit: 14 jnf.Jnf.Panz.Jag.Komp. Gren.Reg.260 18 Panz.Gren.Division.

I also have some photopcopies of some awards

Photocopy of medal award
Das Eiserne Kreutz 2. Klasse
14./Gr.Rgt.260
Im Felde, den 19. November 1943
singed by Generalmajor und Kommmandeur der 18.Pz.Gren.Div.

Photocopy of medal award
Das Eiserne Kreutz 1. Klasse
14./Gr.Rgt.260
Im Felde, den 19. November 1943
singed by Generalmajor und Kommmandeur der 18.Pz.Gren.Div

Infanterie Sturmabzeichen in silber
Truppenteil : Pz.jg.kp./div.-Gruppe 113
Ort und Datum: den 10.1.44
singed by Major und Rgt.-Fuhrer

note don't know how to get the umlaut on my keyboard


amongs some other personal notes which i cant read as they are written in quite old german. But i have a colegue at work whose mother will be able to help me there.


thanks again

Stefan

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Stefan, now we are getting somewhere The Feldpost number 47845 is for:

47845

(30.7.1941-28.2.1942) Sonderbeauftragter f******252;r Bergbau Wehrmacht-Wirtschafts-Inspektion S******252;d,
(1.3.1942-7.9.1942) gestrichen,
(12.3.1943-7.9.1943) 14. Kompanie Grenadier-Regiment 260,
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 18.5.1944 14.Kompanie Divisionsgruppe 113,
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 3.10.1944 14. Kompanie Divisionsgruppe 337,
am 31.10.1944 14. Kompanie Grenadier-Regiment 530,

Which fits correctly with what you have got. I think you can forget the SS connection. It would appear your man was Heer.

Here is some info on Gren Regt. 260

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...nter/GR260.htm



Cheers, Ade.

[Stefan M]

fantastic.......


so am'i prodding in the right direction here?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Stefan, yes you are now going in the right direction

I added a link after I wrote my last post. Check this out. You can see how this unit evolved. Your man was in this unit for sure

Cheers, Ade.

[Stefan M]

interesting

i've been told lot of things. various versions of how he got his awards. but the one thing everyone seems to say is that he was Waffen SS

but when looking at the ranks of waffen SS on some of the sites it is different to the rank he held which seems to agree with what you are saying

his rank was Obergefreiten.



cheers

Stefan

[Adrian Stevenson]

He was not Waffen SS. They are all Army units and the rank is Army too. He could have transferred after getting these awards but there is nothing there to show that.

He could have been a member of the SS, but served within the Army.

He was certainly a well decorated NCO.

Cheers, Ade.

[Stefan M]

he gained his iron cross's in a battle around Orsha.while on the retreat in Nov. 1943. he destroyed 13 tanks in this battle .

not sure if this is correct. but this was his personal contribution ( along with fellow soldiers) to gain a corridor to allow a large no. of soldiers to escape out of a pocket.

my interest is if there is any literature or websites about this battle

I have not ben able to find the location of Orscha . i have looked at modern maps but the name may have been changed


he was also woundet in july 1944 somewhere around Kowo- grondo-augustowo.

i also know that he escaped from a POW camp somewhere in france.
but was caught around Metz. not sure of dates or locations other than that.

Stefan

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Stefan, Orscha is in White Russia. See here:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orscha

There is an Augustowo in Poland I think?

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Info on Augustowo can be found here on a German map of the area:

http://www.landkartenarchiv.de/

Cheers, Ade.

[Stefan M]

You've been great help

thanks again.


nothing comes up in a search Battle of Orscha 1943

any other suggestions?