Pioneer Lehr Batallion 1

[Angel Farré]

Any info on this unit will be highly appreciates.

Mainly where it fought and to which unit it was subordinated from 1.942 till the end of the war.

Also any list of commanders and officers serving with this unit will be welcomed.

Thanks

Ángel

[hucks216]

They get a bit of a mention here with regards to being attached to 23.Pz.Division and Kampfgruppen...

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...on%201&f=false

And some details here...

http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/in...amm-Sprengung/

[Angel Farré]

Thanks a lot Hucks

Angel

[Archi]

Hello !

That were some excellent findings by hucks216 !
The first link confirms, that Pionier-Lehr-Bataillon 1 was always close to 23. Pz.Div. in 1942/early 1943.
The second was even more helpful for the unit's actions in Oct. 1943 and also where it possibly ended up.

Here are some other findings (or at least possibilities), some found by accident.
I'll place some basics on the subordination/organization here, and some more details in the Soldbuch thread related to this :

0.) At the start of the war Pionier-Lehr-Bataillon 1 was commanded by Oberstleutnant Carl Henke (RKT) and took part in the
actions at Westerplatte starting WW II (2nd link has a photo):
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ter/HenkeK.htm
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=de

1.) According to the post in the Forum der Wehrmacht, one soldier while with Pionier-Lehr-Btl. 1 (confirmed by WaST)
was involved in the demolition of the famous dam at Saporoschje in Oct. 1943.
From the divisional history of 16. Pz.Gren.Div. [p. D1806], the whole task was under command of Stab Pi.-Rgt. 520,
Kdr. Oberstlt. Bollmann. (Pi.-Lehr-Btl. 1 might have been attached to this HQ immediately). Other HQs in that area,
were either those of 1. Pz.Armee, XVII. A.K. and XXXX. Pz.K.

2.) ?! August 1944, the btl. very likely fought in close connection to 1. Pz.Div. (perhaps as part of KGr. Warschnauer,
W of Sanok and near Pielnia, ~40km SW of Przemysl (confirmed only by Soldbuch CC-entries from Angel).

3.) In Oct./Nov. 1944, Pionier-Lehr-Btl. 1 became assigned to Heeres-Pionier-Brigade 42 (and redesignated as :
II./H.Pi.Brig. 42), subordination perhaps first to 17. Armee.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...nierBrig42.htm

4.) Already in Dec. 1944, II./H.Pi.Brig. 42 was detached again and became subordinated to Sperr-Brigade 1 (see scan) :
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...rrBrigade1.htm
Sperr-Brigade 1 was under command of Oberst von Unold (RKT 3/45).
Sperr-Brigade 1 held a frontline N of Warschau (subordinated to XXXXVI. Pz.K./9. Armee) until ~ 16.Jan. 1945, when the
Soviet offensive forced it to retreat.

Sperr-Brig. 1 remained under XXXXVI. Pz.K. until ~17.2., was then under XXVII.A.K. (under 227. ID) and since
late Feb. 45 under VII. Pz.K.
By early March, the remnants of Sperr-Brigade 1 were likely dissolved, only II./H.Pi.Brig. 42 is mentioned with VII. Pz.K.
VII. Pz.K. fought heavy battles in March 1945 at Gotenhafen (Gdynia) and the "Oxhöfter Kempe".
Units also involved : 7. Pz.Div., 4. SS-Pol.Div., KGr. 32. ID, KGr. 251. ID, KGr. 215. ID (all down to a few Btls.).

If the eyewitness report in the Forum-der-Wehrmacht link is correct, then it might well be, that the last remnants of
Pi.-Lehr-Btl. 1 ended up on Hela which was held until 8.May 1945. So it ended the war very close to were it saw its first actions in WW II.

It would be nice, if anybody with further info on this unit could add those here, as there are still many gaps !

Best regards,

Archi

P.S.: Thand handwriting under the scan says that the tactical regrouping of different Heerestruppen to form Sperr-Brig. 1,
is now rescinded, Radfahr-MG-Btl. 71 is dissolved and the remainders of Sperr-Brig. 1 are at the disposal of HGr. Weichsel.

[Angel Farré]

Archi, thanks a lot. Mate you make my day, knowing he fought attached to my beloved 1 P.D. is a plus.

Angel