Inf. Rgt. KLEMM...???

[Rick White]

Hi.

Does anyone have any information about an Infanterie Regiment "Klemm?" I have acquired a group of Russian Front photos for this unit and cannot find a reference to it. Any help is appreciated.

Regards,
Rick

[Akira Takiguchi]

a Klemm was an Obstlt. in 1939 in IR4, and promoted to Oberst in 1941 in the same unit, but was not a Kdr., I guess that's why you asked? ... sorry, don't have a definite answer...

[Glenn2438]

Generalmajor Klemm

Perhaps Oberst, later Generalmajor Kuno Klemm (05 Mar 1888-24 May 1945) commanding Infanterie-Regiment 374 from 25 Aug 39 - 22 Jan 1942 and Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment 75 from 22 Jan 1942-05 Sep 1943.

Regiment Klemmm could be I.R.374 of Sicherungs-Division 207 which was on the northern sector of the eastern front?

Regards
Glenn

[Kai-Steffen M.]

I cant help in the matter- but i think this photo is interesting since it shows a wehrmacht soldier with a beard- something you dont see so often- at least i dont

KSM

[Rick White]

Thanks for the replies. I will check the locations mentioned on the backs of the photos and see if we can narrow down the Sector the unit fought it.

As an aside, do you think "named" units like this generally reflect more of the soldiers' affection for their leader or the commander's own narcissism?

Rick

[Kai-Steffen M.]

i dont know where this comes from- but up to the day it is quite common in german armies to name units after their respective commander or leader- platoons, battalions, regiment or whole divisions (my platoon is called "Sicherungszug Müller" )- maybe it dates back to the "bauernkrieg" 1525 or something- when leaders formed their own armed groups- its definitely old tradition...

Gruß,
Kai-Steffen Müller
OFR d.R. und ZgFhr

[Akira Takiguchi]

Glenn's 100% correct, only 2 Klemm's in Keilig 44/45 above Obstlt., and I somehow spared a few seconds to look into Keilig General... Not enough homework, no rewards.

We often see "name only" signboards but a signboard "I.R. name" seems to be a bit rare to find. But as U-boote were called by their captain's name, I see no problem calling a regiment by his commander's name.

[Ralph A]

Excellent staff work gentlemen!

Speer remarks in his memoirs on "the bent of the time" to link things like assignments and units to the names of individuals.