Any Info? Feldersatz Btl 171

[JUNGCO]

I have a Soldbuch to a man who was with Feld-Ers.-Btl 171. Tessin says that this unit supplied troops to Inf. Div. 71. The man was with the unit at least since Sept.44. The problem is, he has several Nahkampftagen listed in the book form December 1944 with the following towns: Marcali and Uejtelop. The 71st was in Italy at this time and the only place I could find Marcali was in Hungary.
Any ideas?
Jeff

[Larry deZeng]

I just checked Vector Globe (3,000,000+ place names in its data base) and the only "Marcali" in in Hungary (3 of them). The other abortion is not listed at all. I think we all know that the WW II German clerks spelled like I dance: poorly if at all.

Larry

[JUNGCO]

It really has me stumped, as the combat days have the FPN for the 171 and the city is a little far from Italy.
Jeff

[WARNACH]

Hello,
Tessin gives "general" location info. There are other sources.
The 71 Inf Div was in 1944 in Italy in the "Grünstellung" west of Rimini.
In September '44 it was refreshed (still in Italy) and in OKTOBER 1944 it was transported to Hongary.
There it was put directly into action from 10/44 until 03/45 in the area of Pécs-Szigetvar whereafter it pulled back to the line Nagyatad-Nagybajom.
In March '45 it attacked again and advanced by Jako to Kaposvar.
So the nachkampftage in Hongary make sense.

[Ian Jewison]

Jeff,

As pointed out that was when the Division was actually in Hungary.

I think the other village/town of Uejtelop could be Újtelep, of which there appears to be 15 in Hungary!

I checked one of my 71 Inf.Div. Wehrpaß transaltions but unfortunately for that period all it said was:

12.5.44-9.5.45: With the 71 Infantry Division in Italy and Hungary

I do have the Division history at home and will check it when I return.....can you post the exact dates?

/Ian

[JUNGCO]

Ian,
Well I guess I have to go back to grade school and learn how to read again. Must be all the drugs! Anyway, the dates are 17, 18, 19 December 1944.
Warnach. Thanks. Your information made me re-read mine and although mine was not as precise as yours, I now see the Hungary reference. Duh!
Jeff

[mufasa]

The 71 ID left Italy for Hungary exactly the 28th november 1944..... j send you same tabel from " Die 71 Infanterie Division 1939 - 1945" by Dorfler

[Larry deZeng]

Marcali: 34.7 km ENE of Nagykanizsa and about 13 km south of Lake Balaton. The village lies on a railway track.

Unfortunately, as Ian pointed out, Újtelep has to be the favorite name for tiny Hungarian villages. Vector Globe lists 70+ before I got bored and stopped counting. There were at least 6 or more in Nagykanizsa - Lake Balaton area alone.

Anyone familiar with the fighting in Hungary in the first half of December 1944 will immediately know why Jeff's division was pulled out of Italy and sent there.

[mufasa]

the losses in actions of the Feldersatz Batt. 171 from march 1943 to may 1945 are 39 soldiers....

the principal area-battle in Hungary against Russin are south of Platten-See : Kaposvar, Nagytad, FunfKirken....

.. from 11 to 18 decembre 1944 strong battle against Russian Army on the line Nagydad - Otvoskonji - Beleg - Kutas - Nagybajon.... very actives the G.R. 191 e 211 and all the regiment of the Division...

[JUNGCO]

Thanks everyone. That help alot!
Jeff