Stab Pi 57 engraved on dress bayonet

[Rick C]

I'm hoping someone may know something of the designation Pi 57. Had posted this bayonet here http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...70732#poststop in the hope of learning anything I could about the unit but haven't had any responses.

Hoping I may have better luck here.

Thanx in advance. RC

[Simon O.]

Surprised no one answered. It's the stab or staff\HQ of pionier batallion 57 (ie. engineers)

based at Hoexter it came under the 1 Leichte Brigade.

As it's purely a peacetime item the owner probably had nothing to do with the unit or what it subsequently became during the war.

[Rick C]

Simon, Thanx for the response!!!

If I may - what was "1 Leichte Brigade"?

Also you mention "what it subsequently became during the war." - What was it's war time activity or attachment or history? I only found a 57 Pioneer Battalion mentioned as a panzer formation. Can you give me any detail?

Finally, is there any way to get information on the guy mentioned? Stegemann...

Thanx again, Rick C.

[Simon O.]

here you go

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=969


Unless he was an officer, then it's quite difficult and to be honest with the info you've got i don't think it's enough for an enlisted man

[Johnny R]

There are 51 matches on the KIA/MIA for W. Stegemann, you may get lucky and find a unit photo or roster etc. If he was an Staff NCO he may have been commisioned early in the War. As Simon noted it is not really easy but sometimes you will find something. Althoguh he may have been sent ot another unit, often they were reassigned from the reserves to their pre-War units.

Here is the unit History-

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...at/PiBat57.htm

[Rick C]

Thanx very much Johnny. Would be great to find reference to the guy but as you imply, it's probably very unlikely.

All the best,

RC

[Johnny R]

Thanx very much Johnny. Would be great to find reference to the guy but as you imply, it's probably very unlikely.

All the best,

RC

That does not mean it is not worth it to try, you may be rewarded. I have found some traces of people and the last name is not that common. I would look through the KIA lists first for an NCO then try to match the units location to the location of the death. If you are lucky you can get a first name and date of birth that may be his etc.

If you can figure that out there probably are records for him in WaSt but they are not very helpful usually to people that are not related to the person.

http://www.dd-wast.de/