Tunic 225 INF DIV with KRIM SHIELD?

[CIANO]

Dear All,

I came across to a tunic belonging to a regiment that was part of the 225th Inf.Division.The tunic has in the arm the Krim Shield.
After have checked I noticed that this Infantry Division 225th, fought in Russia, but taking part in the battles around Leningrad Area-ARMY GROUP NORTH.
My question is :Was it possible or was common practice to transfer soldiers from Army Group South (Krim) to the Army group Center, or in this case to the Army Group North?.
I may think that the former soldier could take part in the battles for Crimea around 1941/1942, and for some reason transfered later to the North of Russia and incorporated in this new Inf.Division 225Th.

Thanks for your input.

cheers

Ciano

[Larry deZeng]

That was not the usual practice, but in this case it evidently happened. There must have been a good reason for this, such as he had a particular skill. Right after the siege of Sevastopol ended, Manstein's AOK 11 was ordered to the Leningrad front for Operation "Nordlicht" and a lot of the heavy siege guns used at Sevastopol were transferred by a very long train trip to the perimeter around that city. I wonder if your man had something to do with siege craft that brought about his move from Crimea to North Russia? There would have been an increased demand for heavy artillery specialists, forward observers, engineers trained in breeching fortifications, and the like.

--Larry

[CIANO]

Hi Larry,

Thank you very much for your input.
The tunic belonged to an Infantry Leutnant assigned to Regiment 333, which was part of the 225TH Infantry Division.
In fact I didn´t know that the heavy siege guns used at Sevastopol were transferred to the Leningrad Front! Very interesting history!
I got amazed with all the Kilometres that those big guns made to arrive to the Leningrad Front!


Cheers

Ciano

[Simon O.]

One possibility was if he was an ex-ranker, quite normal to be transferred upon comissioning, in fact it was more normal for officers to move between units than non-comissioned men.

[CIANO]

Hi,

Thank you Simon, for your input.
In fact the tunic in question is the other ranks type/quality without cuffs, with three frontal holes.
So your theory is also very plausible.

cheers

Ciano

[Gary T]

When you say he served with IR 333 - is this from documentation or numbered epaulettes?

[CIANO]

Hi,

Tks Gary for your input.
I am saying that is numbered epaulettes.

cheers

[Gary T]

With nearly all wartime uniform photos I have seen (and owned the WPs) the numbered epaulettes usually refer to an ersatz unit.

In this case it would be Infanterie-Ersatz-Batallion 333 which of course did supply replacements to IR 333. However, from 1944 onwards the unit also supplied replacements to 170 ID. This division fought in the Krimea in 1941/42.

[CIANO]

With nearly all wartime uniform photos I have seen (and owned the WPs) the numbered epaulettes usually refer to an ersatz unit.

In this case it would be Infanterie-Ersatz-Batallion 333 which of course did supply replacements to IR 333. However, from 1944 onwards the unit also supplied replacements to 170 ID. This division fought in the Krimea in 1941/42.

Hi,

Thanks Gary for your great help.


cheers

Ciano