Missing Gebirgsjäger.

[Daniel.S]

Hello there!!

started a new job 3 weeks ago and mentioned to an empoyee here that im interested in WWII, he then tells me that he has a grandfather that is MIA. He has tried to find some info about him for the last 5 years, the only thing he got is a picture of him from the war. He showed me the picture and his grandfather is wearing an gebirgsjäger uniform. That is the only thing he know about him exept his name and that he served in Petsamo august 1944. His name was (is??) Heinz Colleselli.

Cmon guys , we must help my friend. The German War commision tells him that they need his grandfathers birthdate and cannot help. His grandmother refused to talk about what happed to him before she died so what can WE do??

I have the picture here, can anyone post it for me???

Regards

Daniel Sagatowski

[Ian Jewison]

The German War commision has 3 people listed on their site with the surname Colleselli, however no Heinz.
Unfortunately that is how they work with a date of birth, however with a surname of Colleselli I would have thought it would have been easier as it is not such a common name!?

What nationalality was Herr Colleselli? Perhaps we should start with a little geneology/family history and find out where he was born etc. first.

Otherwise I don't know were to start!?!

Regards, Ian

[Simon O.]

Daniel

Lets start with a bit of background. If he was in the Petsamo area in August 1944 and was then MIA it means he was killed during the Soviet offensive of October '44. The figures i have of German losses for that offensive show totals of 1844 KIA, 5373 WIA and 3132 MIA. As he was a Gebirgsjäger then the chances are that he was in either the 2 or 6 Gebirgsdivision. Between them these two divisions suffered the bulk of the casualites listed above, 966 KIA, 2823 WIA and 1447 MIA between them.

There is a good chance that he has no known grave. The Germans had no time to bury their dead and their positions were overrun so it would have been left to the soviets to clear the battlefield.

If he is buried in a known location then it will be here http://members.aon.at/hkern110/ The monument to the men who fell on the Litza front at Parkinna in what is now Russia. Your friend may be interested to know that there seems to be plans being made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the monument. Mybe he would like to go? it could be the best chance he has of perhaps talking to some veterans and learning a little about his grandfather.


Hope this helps

Simon

[Daniel.S]

Thatks for the replies guys!!
Here comes some more info from Herr Collesellis Grandson:
We are not 100% surtain about the first namn, Heinz, BUT the surname is definitly Colleselli. We know this because we have a painting that he has painted and gave to my grandmother as a gift. The painting is of a beautiful alpvillage, with huge alps surounding it. On the back of the painting he has written something, it is not clear what, but the name Colleselli stands out very sharp and is readible. Also on the back of the painting, which is made of the cloth from a sack, is the Reichadler. We know from contacts in Austria that he most likely comes from the Village/Area Monte Civetta in the Dolomites alps. We think he fled to Austria from Italy when Mussolini took power in Italy. In Austria we think he changed his first name to a more german-like name, like many others did.

Can someone post the picture for me? He has an german officeruniform on him, perhaps you guys should see it.

Regards Daniel Sagatowski

[Simon O.]

Hi Daniel


He certainly doesn't appear on the Volksbund database. Seeing as he was Austrian it would lead me to think he was more likely to have been in the 6 Geb.Div. rather than the 2 Geb.Div. as the 6th had a very high proportion of Austrians in it's ranks.

[Daniel.S]

hello guys!!

This is Kenneth Hultquist just borrowing Daniels account.

I really would be happy too know more information concerning Ian Jewison's response. He wrote that he found 3 Colleselli in the The German War commision. Is it possible to get more information about these 3 Colleselli's? On the picture I have on my Grandfather one can see the he is an officer. The question is if one of these Collesellis that Ian has found was an officer and was an gebirgsjeager (and served in Petsamo in August of 1944?)

Concerning the geneology/family history part, I have posted some information above.

Finally I would like to thank all of you guys for all the information you already have given me!

Best regards,

Kenneth Hultquist

[Ian Jewison]

For Daniel and Kenneth.

[Ian Jewison]

I really would be happy too know more information concerning Ian Jewison's response. He wrote that he found 3 Colleselli in the The German War commision. Is it possible to get more information about these 3 Colleselli's?

Nachname: Colleselli
Vorname: Anton
Dienstgrad:
Geburtsdatum: 07.06.1906
Geburtsort:
Todes/Vermisstendatum: 01.07.1944
Todesort: Königsberg / Ellakrug / Molchengen / Nautzken

Nachname: Colleselli
Vorname: Karl
Dienstgrad: Obergefreiter
Geburtsdatum: 05.11.1922
Geburtsort: Bolzano
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 29.11.1943
Todesort: Rutschi

Nachname: Colleselli
Vorname: Peter
Dienstgrad: Gefreiter
Geburtsdatum: 15.06.1927
Geburtsort: St Lorenzen
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 13.03.1945
Todesort: Zdeneiwa


Regards, Ian

[Simon O.]

Well unfortunately he isn't one of these Colleselli's. From the casualty totals i gave previously the 2 and 6 Geb. Divisions lost 42 officers KIA and 12 MIA. Perhaps he is one of these. From the picture it seems he was either a leutnant or oberleutnant, two other things stand out. The non-regulation civilian ski boots and the backing behind the edelweiss. I don't know why some soldiers had this dark (black?) backing, anyone else know?

It might also be worth getting in touch with the Gebirgstruppe veterans association. PM me your e-mail and i can put you in touch with a Swedish author friend of mine who has contacts with them. They may well be able to help.



Hilsen fra Norge


Simon

[Daniel.S]

Borrowing my login to Kenneth....

Hi Simon!
Thank you for your respons. I would really like to get in contact with the Swedish author that you have mentioned. My email is: kenneth.hultquist@solnachiefs.com

I also have another picture, one that I belive is taken by my grandfather. The picture show 3 soldiers relaxing on a field. I think these soldiers are my grandfathers men. If you like I can have it posted here. On the back of the photo my grandfather has written some thing in german, we are translating it right now.

Also, my norweigan contact i Austria is on her way to the village in northen Italy were we think my grandfather comes from. She found an old teacher in the village that will help her to see if anybody recognizes the foto of him. (The one posted above). We hope to have more information from her soon.

Regards

Kenneth H

[Simon O.]

Hei Kenneth

I've dropped my friend an e-mail, i'm sure we can help you.


Simon