Sonderführer Alfred Feier - Demjansk KIA?

[landsknechte]

At the moment, this is all that I know about this individual. I'm looking for about anything that is out there...

<table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4"> <tbody><tr><td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Nachname:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">Feier </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Vorname:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">Alfred </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Dienstgrad:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">Sonderführer </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Geburtsdatum:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">16.01.1909 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Geburtsort:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">Lodz </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Todes-/Vermisstendatum:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">18.05.1942 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36%" class="headtabelle">Todesort:</td> <td width="64%" class="bodytabelle">H.V.Pl. San.Kp. 2/8 Bol Gorby </td></tr></tbody> </table>
Also, could someone explain the todesort entry?

Thanks,
--Chris

[Ian Jewison]

Unless he had some high gallantry awards, was famous for a particular action then there perhaps is not a lot more anyone can tell you?

Contacting the Deutsches Dienststelle (WASt) might give you some more info!

Todesort :-
Hauptverbandplatz - Main Dressing Station
Sanitäts Kompanie 2/8 - Medical Company 2/8 Infanterie Division (8 Jäger Division).
Bol Gorby - Place in Russia, between Demjansk and Staraja Russa.

/Ian

[landsknechte]

No idea, of anything regarding his military service beyond that grave entry, I'm afraid. I'm guessing he might have been a translator, given that I know certain members of the family spoke Russian.

The WASt is probably out, since I'm lacking documentation...

It looks like the title Sonderführer was used by Heer and SS units. Given the composition of who was at Demjansk, would either one of these branches be more or less likely?

Thanks,
--Chris

[Ian Jewison]

I would say he was Army.....
To do a trace with the WASt all you need is his name, date and place of birth.....which you have from the war grave entry above...
I would try that if you really want to know more about him!

/Ian

[landsknechte]

I would say he was Army.....
To do a trace with the WASt all you need is his name, date and place of birth.....which you have from the war grave entry above...
I would try that if you really want to know more about him!

/Ian

Will definately try that... I was under the impression that a documented relationship was required, but perhaps I'm thinking of something else.

Alfred was my wife's great-uncle, and documentation on him from the family (i.e. my father-in-law, the only surviving member of the family other than my wife) will be utterly impossible.

Never trust a trained historian with enough information to stumble across the family secret.

--Chris

[landsknechte]

Still haven't heard anything back from the WASt. Patience is a virtue, right?

From the little bit of research that I've done on the side, it looks like that the 8.leichte-Infanterie-Division (apparently the 8.Infanterie-Division became the 8.leichte-Infanterie-Division in 1941, and only bacame the 8.Jäger-Division a month or so after Alfred's death) was made up mostly of Silesians. Given the info that we have on the Germany Army and that battle, how likely is it that being treated by the medical station of the 8.Inf.Div indicate that he was indeed a member of that unit?

Thanks,
--Chris

[Ian Jewison]

Still haven't heard anything back from the WASt. Patience is a virtue, right?

From the little bit of research that I've done on the side, it looks like that the 8.leichte-Infanterie-Division (apparently the 8.Infanterie-Division became the 8.leichte-Infanterie-Division in 1941, and only bacame the 8.Jäger-Division a month or so after Alfred's death) was made up mostly of Silesians. Given the info that we have on the Germany Army and that battle, how likely is it that being treated by the medical station of the 8.Inf.Div indicate that he was indeed a member of that unit?

Thanks,
--Chris

It cane take months!!!!!
It is more than likely that if he was treated by the San.Kp. of 8 Inf./Jäg.Div. that he was a member of that Division, however there is a possibility that he was from another unit and was transferred to this medical area for treatment!

I still would say he was a member of the Division....you will find out soon enough.....

/Ian

[landsknechte]

It cane take months!!!!!
It is more than likely that if he was treated by the San.Kp. of 8 Inf./Jäg.Div. that he was a member of that Division, however there is a possibility that he was from another unit and was transferred to this medical area for treatment!

I still would say he was a member of the Division....you will find out soon enough.....

/Ian

I'll try my best to be patient.

Thanks again for your help.

--Chris

[landsknechte]

It cane take months!!!!!

Ask, and ye shall receive...

This just came in the mail today:

[landsknechte]

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What little German I've studied is a bit on the rusty side, and didn't include much in the way of military terminology. Would someone be willing to help me out a tad and "translate" the military speak into the vernacular?

--Chris

[Ian Jewison]

I told you to be patient Chris!

Interesting, after all that he wasn't 8 Jäger Division but Inf.Rgt. 552 of 329 Inf.Div.! Looks like he was killed on his first day with that unit!!!

Looks like he was a Dolmetscher (Interpretor) and also served initally with the Abwehrstelle!

He was a Sonderführer without designation then appointed Sonderführer (Z) - Zug or platoon, which meant he was a platoon commandor or at least had the same authority and belonge to pay group 10...which is the pay group for Leutnant.

You owe them €24 for their service

/Ian

[landsknechte]

I told you to be patient Chris!

Interesting, after all that he wasn't 8 Jäger Division but Inf.Rgt. 552 of 329 Inf.Div.! Looks like he was killed on his first day with that unit!!!

Looks like he was a Dolmetscher (Interpretor) and also served initally with the Abwehrstelle!

He was a Sonderführer without designation then appointed Sonderführer (Z) - Zug or platoon, which meant he was a platoon commandor or at least had the same authority and belonge to pay group 10...which is the pay group for Leutnant.

You owe them €24 for their service

/Ian

Ooookay. That's a bill. I get it now.

I read that as a solicitation of €24 for further information, but couldn't figure out what info they might have been talking about.

Makes sense now.

--Chris

[landsknechte]

Interesting, after all that he wasn't 8 Jäger Division but Inf.Rgt. 552 of 329 Inf.Div.! Looks like he was killed on his first day with that unit!!!

Looks like he was a Dolmetscher (Interpretor) and also served initally with the Abwehrstelle!

He was a Sonderführer without designation then appointed Sonderführer (Z) - Zug or platoon, which meant he was a platoon commandor or at least had the same authority and belonge to pay group 10...which is the pay group for Leutnant.

Quick follow up question before the dust gets too thick on this thread...

Am I correct in assuming that the -73- St.O.Btl.Dolm.Zug Kbg. reference is to some sort of specialist field translator unit?