4th Gebirgs Hrabin (Czech) April 1945

[Mike61NZ]

Hi Guys

I am trying to gather some information regarding the 4th Gebirgsjager fighting in and around Hrabin in Czechoslovakia around 18th - 22nd of April 1945. I am researching a young German soldier who lost his life there on or around these dates.


Does anyone have any information on hand regarding this part of the war or know if there is a local historian in Hrabin or nearby that would be able to help with knowledge of the actual area where the fighting took place or about the actual Gebirgs positions during that time or maybe which 4th Gebirgs Infantry Platoons were present.

I have gone through the Official History of the 4th Gebirgs by Julias Braun - but this doesn't provide much information during the time frame I am seeking.

Many thanks

Mike

[BergführerKiser]

Servus Mike,

Sounds like you need to get one of Roland Kaltenegger's books on the 4. Gebirgs-Division (they are the same book, just different printings):

"Edelweiß und Enzian: Die Kriegschronik der 4. Gebirgs-Division 1940-1945"

"Gebirgssoldaten unter dem Zeichen des Enzian: Schicksalsweg und Kampf der 4. Gebirgs-Division 1940-1945"

As to the main units of the 4. Gebirgs-Division fighting in the Troppau area in April '45, the following were there....GJR 13 and 91, Geb.Aufklärungs-Abt. 91, and Geb.Jäg.Btl. 94 along with the division's artillery, Panzerjäger, Pionier, other support units. Unfortunately, neither books have detailed maps of that battle area.

Hope that helps you out.

Enzian vor!

Patrick

[Mike61NZ]

Hi again Patrick

Thank you for the information regarding the books. You are a star !

I have already looked through a copy of the "Edelweiß und Enzian: Die Kriegschronik der 4. Gebirgs-Division 1940-1945" by J Braun. It mentions a few things relating to the time frame I am looking for (April 20th - 22nd 1945) but unfortunately nothing in depth or detail. However it contained a reasonable map showing the movements of 4th Gebirgs which confirms that the soldier I am researching was definitely in 4th Gebirgs Div which is great. So being in the infantry he would be either in Gebirgs Regiment 13 or 91. Both were fighting in pretty much the same area from what I gather. He was aged 23yrs 9 months when he was shot in combat at/near Hrabin, either 20th or 22nd April 1945

So far I have managed to contact a surviving nephew of the German soldier through some lucky detective work and while I am off on holiday to the UK in June, I will stop off along the way in Munich to meet him in person from New Zealand and using a German friend to translate.

I have a lot of information about his family and siblings, as my German friend has met him and interviewed him the best he can. Other than the photo of him on the Memorial/Death Card, the nephew sent me a photo of him as a teenager when he was at prep school - so I have made some good progress. While in Germany I will be going to see the house that the soldier was born and raised in and will be able to walk the streets in his small rural Bavarian town.

The nephew isn't keen at all to request the military file on him for me which is disappointing, however I am not going to push the issue as I am hoping that perhaps once we have met each other and chatted - he may be more receptive in doing it. Other than that I will have to write to WASt and see what I can get. But I am going one step at a time.

I am not sure what luck I'll have locating a 4th Gebirgs veteran who fought in the same area where my soldier died, since time has claimed most of them as you mentioned in your other message.

Once again I thank you most sincerely for your help and support and maybe things will eventually come together with my research project which has been going for almost 2 years.

Regards and best wishes

Mike

[cojaviem]

Hello Mike,
unfortunately there isn't any official docs from that time frame. But, by my research from 18th-22nd april 4.GD fought on line Háj - Smolkov - Podvihov ( this line is near by Hrabyne where is big museum of Ostava's operation ), and they used old czechoslovak's fortifications. My friend's grandfather died near Háj during artillery attack on their positions in 20th apr 45, and he was member of 4.GD too ( exactly G.J.R. 13). The position of 4.GD was attacked by russian 276 ID, and 11. IC, this is what can I know for now.