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**Larry deZeng** · 09-15-2008, 08:52 AM

II./Flak-Rgt. 4 during 1945 is an unknown. It was removed from Kurland in early February 1945 and redeployed in the Danzig - Königsberg area. The DRK still shows about 28 Vermissten for February – April 1945 in the following locations: 2.45 (Fischhausen, Goldap, Königsberg, Konitz); 3.45 (Danzig, Gdingen, Gross-Katz); 4.45 (Fischhausen, Mossin, Pillau). The best place to look for details on the war in that area is:

http://www.panzer-archiv.de/

Jan-Hendrik, owner of the site, is the best authority on the internet on the fighting in that area. Furthermore, I know that he personally has an interest in the Lw.-Flakartillerie deployed in that area. His specialty is die Kampf um Ostpreussen - Westpreussen - Pommern 1945. Recognizing how poorly the war is documented for 1945 in Prussia and Pomerania, J-H has devoted extra attention to it on his web site.

If you get some information, please let me know as I, too, have a special interest in the Flakwaffe d.Lw.

Larry

**keifer kahn** · 09-15-2008, 09:48 AM

Thanks for the reply and the reference,

I picked up 38 document set from a deceased german vets family.Most of it are school documents,pre war work related letters and sports badge docs,including some photos.
Included were 3 award documents.
An ek2 doc plus a black wound badge doc and one for a gold wound badge.
Ive researched the docs as far as i can.The EK2 doc appears straightforward .
Award date of 12/11/1944
Kanonier Heinz Ruckner
7./flakregt.4
Signed Kommandeur of 18. Flak division.Including 18 flak division stamp.

Things get interesting in regards to the wound badge docs.

Black was awarded the 17th of February 1945.
Gold was awarded the 3rd March 1945.

All cool so far,

Units for Heinz on both docs are ,

7 Battr. II./Flaksturmregiment 4 (mot)

Awarding officer= Major ,(signature) ,II./Flaksturmregiment 4 (mot)
The major also has M.d.W.d.G.b. typed above it.
(Temporary in charge abbreviation,i believe)

The weird thing for me is the validating unit stamp on both docs are,

II/Flak-Regt 4.

The problem is with no or little info for 1945 in regards to this unit i have no idea if they were connected at any stage.

Thanks

**Larry deZeng** · 09-15-2008, 10:09 AM

Strange. I. - IV./Flak-Sturm-Rgt. 4 were all in the West in 1945 (Eifel and then the Ruhr). So which unit was he in? II./Flak-Rgt. 4 or II./Flak-Sturm-Rgt. 4? They were entirely different units that existed at the same time, the first one in the East, and the second one in the West.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/sturm4.html

What do you think?

**keifer kahn** · 09-15-2008, 10:44 AM

Hi Larry,
Thanks for continuing this with me.
I dont know exactly what units he was with apart from the information on the documents.

I had just finished doing the unit locations with the info i got from the 1933-45 luftwaffe site and came up with the same equation.

I dont know if the validation stamp for II/ flaksturmregiment 4 should say the whole unit title or on the stamp it was titled and shortened to II/flak-regt 4.
I have seen the unit stamp for flak- regiment 4(not the flak-sturm-regiment) and it differs in the fact that it has no Abteilung distinctions on the front such as "I" or "II".it also says the entire title "flak regiment 4, and has a "4" beneath the wreath and swastika on the eagle.

So the stamp on the documents may be correct.

Perhaps the man go transferred from 7/flak-regt 4(as it says on the ek2 document) to 7 Battr. II/ Flaksturmregiment 4 as it says on the black and gold wound badge docs.The stamp is what is throwing me.If the stamp is in fact correct then there is no problem

If i can get to see another example of an award document for II/flaksturmregiment 4 , ill be able to gauge the stamp.

Regards and i really appreciate your help.

regards K

**Larry deZeng** · 09-15-2008, 11:00 AM

If you can determine the signatures of any of the Abteilungkommandeure, then I may be able to help further.

The Kdr. of II./Flak-Rgt. 4 from 26.09.44 to 04.45 was Major Helmut Haber. The Kdr. of II./Flak-Sturm-Rgt. 4 may have been Major Martin Wittkowsky during the 1944-45 period.

Do those appear on your documents?

**keifer kahn** · 09-15-2008, 11:13 AM

Hi Larry,
The signatures looks like Haber.
Sig on the gold doc is in indelible purple pencil.The other one is fountain pen.
After my bit of research and your extremely valuable input i believe the unit on the woundbadge docs is mistitled.
For some reason the clerk put "sturm" in the middle of flak and regt.

.Late war confusion perhaps????????????????

Weird but clerical errors did happen.

Im happy to email you some scans

**Larry deZeng** · 09-15-2008, 11:34 AM

Excellent! We are making great progress. The only addition I might add is that the four Flak-Sturm-Regimenter (1., 2., 3. and 4.) were set up about 24 April 1944 in Normandy as part of measures being taken in preparation for the expected invasion. There were no more "Flak-Sturm-Regimenter" created after that. However, beginning in late 1944/early 1945, the term "Sturm" was bestowed on some Flak-Abteilungen as an honorific to reward their distinguished performance at the front directly in support of Panzer and Infanterie units. I believe this is probably what happened with II./Flak-Rgt. 4.

Larry

**keifer kahn** · 09-15-2008, 11:45 AM

Excellent,

Makes sense now.

I couldnt fault the docs but that "sturm' reference really threw me.
Any document i get,im out with the books and onto any websites but this one had me confused and all it was,was one simple word, which sent me off on whole different tangent.Plus the fact that there isnt much info on the unit just didnt help.

If you want any scans for research or reference purposes ,please just ask.

Truly appreciate you taking time out to help.

Regards K

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Unit history II/flak-regiment 4 for 1945?

Unit history II/flak-regiment 4 for 1945?

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