Deathcard Waffen-SS Italy 1944

[matthias_AC]

Guys,

seems to be deathcard week for me.... I picked up another one after the Ritterkreuzträger deathcard. It announces the death of Alfred Fischer who died July 3 1944 in Italy. According to the card, he was a "Scharfschütze in einem SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment" (sniper). The card is pretty large, please compare it to the standard size one I put next to it.

I am not sure if he was killed in action as the card says he suffered a "tragisches Schicksal" (tragic fate). Could mean he died in an accident, maybe a carcrash. According to the Volksbund he is buried at the Futa-Pass in Italy, north of Firenze (Florence).

Is there any chance to identify his unit? The only unit I can think of is 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division, but I am also not familiar with Waffen-SS in Italy. Maybe someone can help. Thanks in advance!


Best,


Matthias

[HetzersGonnaHtz]

I agree, 16th SS most likely. A quick search mentions that their CP was overrun at the end of June, so he was killed a week later in their subsequent fighting. I don't know the history of the 16th SS very well, there might be a good reference site online to pinpoint the action in which his death occurred.

His death came a few months prior to their string of war crimes against Italian civilians. Anything to do with snipers is rare, so this is a really neat deathcard. Congrats man

[matthias_AC]

Thanks. Yes, I know sniper items are rare as hell, and the SS connection probably makes it even scarcer. Having said that, neither snipers nor the Italian campaign nor Waffen-SS really are my cup of tea. But I can´t let a very good offer go, especially because that card might make good trading material in the future. Having said that, researching these cards is good fun, especially if it is a rather rare card.

Assuming he belonged to 16. SS Panzergrenadier, he must have been killed in the Livorno area on the east coast, according to my quick online researches. But as I found too many mistakes in online sources over the time I don´t really trust them, so any reliable information from books (or solid knowledge) would be highly appreciated.

[Mike C]

Hi Matthias,


In my opinion, this soldier could only have served in the 16th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division - in either SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 35 or 36. There were no other W-SS panzer-grenadier formations in Italy at this time.


One source I have has this Division withdrawing/fighting rearguard actions on the west coast (Cecina on 4 July through Livorno to Pisa on 23 July) as the righthand formation of 14th Panzer Korps, 14th Armee.


Cheers,


Mike

[mufasa]

on July 3, 1944 the 16 RFSS Div. fights between Cecina and Rossignano with heavy losses .... here I had posted another young man from the same division, who fell a little further south a couple of weeks earlier



http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=550962&page=3

[HetzersGonnaHtz]

. But I can´t let a very good offer go, especially because that card might make good trading material in the future.

Let's hope you need something from my collection then ....

Brilliant stuff from the guy below, always nice to have a bit of history on these items.

[panzer1432]

great card