research of soldier

[MILITARYMAN1000]

hello, i have this group as well named to Rudolf Lackner of the 1 PIONEER BATTALION 657 OR 1./PI.BTL.657. the grouping consists of three award documents and the awards. the awards are the black wound badge, ek2 and ostfront ribbon bar and the three award documents for each. i again am asking for information regarding Rudolf Lackner and the unit he served with.
thanks
john

[MILITARYMAN1000]

re

pictures 3 & 4

[bsmith56]

It appears that Pionier-Bataillon 657 was an independent unit that was subordinated to the 16. Armee (for a short time the 18th) which fought the Soviets on the Eastern front for the majority of the war.

Here is a little snippet and you can trace where he fought:

Pionier-Bataillon 657
19 Jan 40 formed in WK XIII as "bespanntes Heeres-Pionier-Btl."
22 Jun 41 XXVIII Corps, Sixteenth Army, Army Group North
19 Jul 41 XXXVIII Corps, 18th Army, Army Group North
20 Aug 41 XXVIII Corps, Sixteenth Army, Army Group North
Feb 42 Staraya Russa, X Corps, 16th Army, Army Group North
14 Mar, 4 Apr 42 X Corps, 16th Army, Army Group North
15 Jun 42 X Corps, Sixteenth Army, Army Group North
31 Aug 44 XXXVIII Corps, ? Army, Army Group North less 2 companies

[bsmith56]

And from the looks of the EKII document we can see that Pionier-Bataillon 657 was attached to the 81. Infanterie-Division (which was indeed a part of the 16. Armee/18. Armee) based on the stamp and signature. The signature is DKiG and RK winner Generalleutnant Erich Schopper; as he was in command when the award was given.