Research advice

[jacquesf]

What is the the best place or individual to approach for some research on an ordinary infantry soldier.

I have this soldbuch with very interesting pictures in the sleeve of a soldier which served with the 12/ 15th inf. regiment, 29 inf. division. The division was destroyed at Stalingrad, but be missed the battle because of serious wounds sustainded middle 1942.

I would like to get some background on this guy, Schnorbus. Any assistance would be appretiated. jacques

[F L Clemens]

You are the winner of today's "Frequently Asked Question" Award!!!!

Just check out the FAQs thread at the top of this section of the forum. That should give you a lot of places to start.

[AndreM]

..

Jacques I asked the same question on the Staudegger grouping and got this answer:

http://militariaresearch.com/

Robert E. McDivitt
205 San Juan Court
Williamstown, NJ 08094-3021
USA

I was told he is very good.

Andre

[F L Clemens]

Yes, Robert McDivittt is a very serious researcher. I have seen him in action at the archives many times. You can look at his website and see his quality. He tends to do research of SS items most commonly, though. Your Army Soldbuch of a common soldier is a more difficult subject in some ways. If you hit any roadblocks on particular details, feel free to post more questions.

[TMurray]

Yes, Robert McDivittt is a very serious researcher. I have seen him in action at the archives many times. You can look at his website and see his quality. He tends to do research of SS items most commonly, though. Your Army Soldbuch of a common soldier is a more difficult subject in some ways. If you hit any roadblocks on particular details, feel free to post more questions.

I found him useless. Unresponsive, never kept me updated with progress. In the end he told me to conduct my own research by contacting a list of bureaucratic organisations in Germany, waste of 3 months time IMO. I do not recommend his services.

[Mark Mac]

Jacques,

That may be a little tough. I look for anything I can on the 29th Mot. Inf. Division and it is difficult to find anything. This is a little maddening as this Division was considered by Guderian to be one of the premier divisions of the German Army at the time of Barbarossa. Being destroyed at Stalingrad probably did not help.

The survivors of the division, ie. wounded returning, those away at special training/officer or nco schools and those that were not flown back into the pocket - and I assume your fellow - were sent to France and combined with another Infantry Division (cannot remember the number). They were redesignated as a Panzergrenadier Division and sent to Italy. I am pretty sure they fought in the battles around Anzio and ended the war in northern Italy. I do not think the division ever regained it's quality after Stalingrad.

The division was known as "Die Falke" Division and had a Falcon for a mascot/emblem.

I have a waffenrock from the 6th Company 71st Infantry Rgt. of this division. If you ever sell the book or photos, please let me know!

Thank You,

Mark