Do you all think that the British archives will have anything on this?
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Very cool!! Thanks to Naxos, I was able to add Osnabruck to the Major's retreat into Germany. It all lines up!! He escaped captivity when Osnabruck fell and made it at least a couple of days past the battle of Ahlhorn! The two tanks kills were between the dates of the battles of Ahlhorn and Grossenkneten!!!. I just wish the British achives were more responsive. I'm certain that they have a lot of additional details on him and his unit's fight eastward!
Per Rick's advice, I am going to take a day from work and hit the US National Archives in person very soon.Last edited by PaulR; 05-25-2016, 08:49 PM.Comment
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According to Generalleutnant Haeckel's report the defenders of Osnabrück surrendered on April 04, 1945. Major Reck who was in charge of the defence of the city must have left part of his unit behind.
Fleeing Osnabrück, Reck joined Generalleutnant Haeckel's 471 ID zbV on April 04, 1945. Generalleutnant Haeckel came from Holzminden to Osnabrück.
On April 06, 1945 the 471 ID was in Bramsche north of Osnabrück. On April 10, 1945 the 471 ID zbV left without a fight Bramsche, blowing up the a water tower and a train installation on their way out. The 471 ID was retreating to Neuenkirchen on April 09/10. On April 10 the 471 was in Rieste. On April 11 they were in Neuenkirchen.
Here is a map by Genlt. Haeckel for the movements from April 04 to April 10, 1945Last edited by naxos; 05-25-2016, 11:31 PM.Comment
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Here is the rest of Genlt. Haeckel's 471. ID zbV movements until April 29, 1945Comment
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Major Reck is named as the Garrison commander of Osnabrück by Haeckel in his report for April 04, 1945
The situation around Osnabrück from March 31 to April 04, 1945.Last edited by naxos; 05-26-2016, 12:13 AM.Comment
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On April 25 Regiment Reck is mentioned again. unsuccessfully counter-attacking on the Highway Oldenburg to Delmenhorst.Comment
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English versionComment
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Hardy! Thank you so much! Another big revelation. It looks like he was in action almost until the end! This would mean that he was a POW of the British and they would have his POW records as well. Better the Brits than the Soviets!Originally posted by naxos View Post
Interesting that the German records had no action against the British in the 18th of April... two tanks were destroyed by the Major himself on that day.Comment
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Hardy,
LOOK! This book may have LOTS of information. The bibliography alone may provide another huge pool of source material.
https://www.amazon.de/Das-Kriegsende...=1&*entries*=0Comment
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No justice there. He and Reinefarth should have been handed over to the Polish people to stand trial as war criminals.Originally posted by PaulR View PostComment
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