Stalingrad survivor

[jacquesf]

I just met the daughter of a man who surrendered at Stalingrad and managed to make his way back to Austria , end of 1947. He was an Austrian , by the name of Friedrich Franz Panzenberger. He was a feldwebel or waffenmeister and was also at the waffenmeisterschule (1940). His surrender to the Russians makes for an interesting story. Who can his daughter (she is german speasking) contact to get info on his service rekord and does anyone have info on this man. Many thanx. Jacques

[desiro]

Good luck trying to find info.Finding which unit he served in would be a good
start.Being Austian its a fair possibility he served in the 44th Infantry Division
which was caught in the battle of Stalingrad and was a Austrian division.

Andy

[jmark]

Hi Jacques,

Her best bet is to contact WASt (Deutsche Dienststelle), and as a family member, she will have no problems, apart from the looooong wait. Here is their website:
http://www.dd-wast.de/

There were a few Austrian units at Stalingrad. Apart from 44. Infanterie-Division, as Andy mentioned, there was also 100. Jäger-Division and 297. Infanterie-Division. In addition, many regiments and battalions from other divisions had Austrian roots.

Does the daughter have anything that may identify the unit? Any Feldpostbriefe (letters) sent from the front? Photos showing vehicles (and possibly unit emblems)? There'll certainly be clues somewhere.

All the best,
Jason

[jacquesf]

Thanx for the replies. Jason, I have asked her to look at the pics and see if their are any identifiable markings or interesting pics. Apperently he and some guys surrendered to the Russians because of the propaganda leaflets promising surrending Germans all kinds of things.He ended up in Siberia for the next five years untill he escaped on his way to Moscow,( After pretending to be a good communist and party member) and making his way to Austria ilate in 1947. Anyway that is how the stroy goes. Jacques

[skvorin]

Interestingly. In december 1942 NKVD on the Donskoy front noted the greatest number of deserters exactly from 44 inf.div. This division was recommended as the least capable for defence.