Stug Officer - Aloise Meixlsperger?

[Alan Smith]

I am in possession of some photos from the estate of Aloise Meixlsperger, a German artillery officer in WWII who served in a self-propelled gun unit on the Eastern Front.

Among the photos is one of Herr Meixlsperger wearing his self-propelled gun "wrap around" tunic. This photo (a Christmas present to his family in 1944) shows him wearing the Iron Cross first class, Infantry Assault badge, wound badge (in silver or gold - can't tell from B/W photo), a Tank Destruction strip, and the German Cross.

Of Note: According to the family, Herr Meixlsperger and the Soviet tank he destroyed to earn the Tank Destruction strip were feature briefly in one of the weekly propaganda newsreels shown in Germany during the war.

Does anyone have any information regarding Aloise Meixlsperger? Being a German Cross holder, is there any way to obtain information concerning his earning of this award?

I don't have photo posting rights here, but if someone with such rights will e-mail me I will send photos that can be added to this thread.

asmith@bakerdonelson.com

Thanks,

Alan Smith
Jackson, MS
USA

[harmel]

A Meixlsperger

Can confirm he won the Dkig-20/8/43 as a Hptm and Cmdr of
9/20th(mot) Grenadier Regt of the 10thPz Gdr Division his Div
Cmdr was Gl August Schmidt.
Regards Harmel

[Alan Smith]

Harmel,

Thank you VERY much for the information; this has really-jump started my research project. I am very curious: where did you locate the information that you posted?

When you reference the "9/20th (mot) Grenadier Regt", are you referring to Hptm. Meixlsperger as being the commander of the 9th Batallion of the 20th Motorized Grenadier Regiment?

German Cross award date: What is the significance of the August 20, 1943 award date? Is this merely the date upon which administrative approval was granted for the award, or does this date correspond to specific events (i.e. combat actions) upon which the award was based?

Using the information you provided, I have done some research and discovered that Hptm. Meixlsperger and the 10th Panzer Grenadier Division were engaged in very heavy fighting against the Soviets in the Kursk region in July/August of 1943. Accordingly, would it be fair to assume that the German Cross was likely awarded for Hptm. Meixlsperger's actions in the various Kursk-area battles?

Again, thanks for your assistance!

[Mogdala]

Are there any photos showing some self-propelled guns?

[Alan Smith]

Mogdala,

Yes, I have a very nice photo of a Stug III in winter camo, sitting out in the Russian snow. Several men/officers are present, one of whom I think is Hptm. Meixlsperger (with his back to the camera)

Again, if someone with photo posting rights will e-mail me, I will send you some of the photos for addition to this thread. The photos show some pretty interesting stuff that I think Forum Members would enjoy viewing/commenting on.

asmith@bakerdonelson.com

[harmel]

Hptm Meixlsperger

Hi Alan,the info is taken from DIE TRAGER DES DEUTSCHEN KREUZES

IN GOLD,it looks like he was Cmdr of the Bn. A Regt at the onset was

usually commanded by an Oberst /Obstlt but later in the war due to

high casualty rate a Regt could have a Major or a Bn cmdr could be

an Oblt,I would say he won his award in the Kursk Salient but I will

try to find a photo of him. Regards Harmel.

[Tim W]

Dear Alen: I will post the photos for you if you need. E-mail me at vennawillemsen@sbcglobal.net
Thanks
Tim Willemsen

[Tim W]

Alan asked me to post these 3 photos he sent me! Thanks Alan these are wonderful photographs.Alan would like to hear from anyone with comments on these photos.
Tim willemsen

[Tim W]

Dear Alan: Another one of your photos follows. I had to resize the photos for this forum.
Tim W

[Tim W]

And the last of these photos. Thanks again Alan!
Tim W

[Mogdala]

Uho
Very impressive!!!
The Portrait photo is very nice!!!

[fknorr]

I find it amazing that this individual after obviously seeing a ton of combat (Tank destruction strip, IAB, DKiG, EK1 & Silver Wound Badge?) and at that stage of the war (December 1944) could still smile/look that happy like in the portrait photo.

Nice grouping of photos.

[harmel]

alois meixlsperger

HI Alan ,very impressed with the photos,as an ex-Warrant Officer with 25yrs
service you do feel a lot better when having just been given a high award
or lesser.
Regards Harmel

[Alan Smith]

Deutsches Dienstelle - research request?

I have decided to submit a research request to the Deutsches Dienstelle in Berlin for a full copy of Hptm. Meixlsperger's military service records. Based on the link provided via this forum, it appears that such requests may be submitted electronically.

I have the verbal consent of Hptm. Meixlsperger's two (2) sons for the release of all records held by the Deutsche Dienstelle. I am uncertain, however, as to what documentation they may need to execute so that the Deutsche Dienstelle will honor my request for a full copy of the records.

Would it be better to just have one of Hptm. Meixlsperger's sons submit the request from his own computer, to Deutsche Dienstelle? Would this be the most efficient way to receive a fully copy of the records?

Also, Hptm. Meixlsperger was in the Bundeswehr after the war. Because I am being charged per page for copies of the records found in the Deutsche Dienstelle, I wonder if the Bundeswehr records are worth copying? Thus, should I limit the request to only WWII-era documents?

Any suggestions/comments on how to best facilitate my request would be greatly appreciated, as wold be any observations as to what type (and quantity) of records we might expect to receive via my proposed Deutsche Dienstelle request.