feldpost number

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Hi I wonder if anyone can help me. I am trying to find which regiment the following feldpost number is: 08279? The letters are dated Nov 1942 until Dec 1942. I know that they were near Stalingrad as Wilhelm refers to the fact in his letters. I would be very grateful for any information. Thanks.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi, the Stalingrad connection is correct:

08279

(Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) Pionier-Kompanie Pionier-Bataillon 40,
(2.1.1940-27.4.1940) 1.Pionier-Kompanie Pionier-Bataillon 40,
(28.4.1940-14.9.1940) 1. Kompanie Pionier-Bataillon 40,
(27.1.1942-14.7.1942) 1. Kompanie Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 40,
(25.1.1943-31.7.1943) gestrichen, (Stalingrad),
(24.3.1944-6.11.1944) 18.4.1944 Stab u. 1.-3. Kompanie Estn. Bau-Pionier-Bataillon 2,
(24.3.1944-6.11.1944) 16.12.1944 gestrichen.

Cheers, Ade.

PS. Welcome to the forum!

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feldpost

Thankyou very much for your help I have been trying to find this information for days. I notice that there is a gap from 14/7/42 until25/1/43 why is that as my letters are dated during the gap. Was it strichen because they all died?

[Ian Jewison]

It was cancelled due to lossed and the fact they were taken prisoner......most if not all units that were in Stalingrad Janurary 1943 were disbanded/destroyed by February 1943.
Of those that did go into PoW captivity, many never returned!
Some would have escaped capture by joining Kampfgruppen and fighting their way out, rejoining either a new unit or their old unit reformed!

The dates on the FP.Nr. refer to changes within that unit but are not an exact date. As you can see:

From Mobilmachung (mobilisation) until 1.1.1940 it belonged to Pionier-Kompanie Pionier-Bataillon 40.
Between 2.1.1940 and 27.4.1940 it belonged to 1.Pionier-Kompanie Pionier-Bataillon 40.
Again during 28.4.1940 and 14.9.1940 the Kompanie changed name again and it belonged 1. Kompanie Pionier-Bataillon 40.
Between 27.1.1942 and 14.7.1942 it remained with 1. Kompanie, however now the Battalion was renamed Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 40.
Lastly between 25.1.1943 and 31.7.1943 it was cancelled at Stalingrad.

More precise:

Pionier-Bataillon 40
FP Nr:
Stab: 37766
1. Kompanie: 08279
2. Kompanie: 39954
3. Kompanie: 41137
Kolonne: 12065
Br******252;ckenkolonne T: 03036

Formed 1.3.1940 in Wehrkreis III. The Cadre pesonnel came from within Wehrkreis I from the 1 Kavallerie Brigade's aleady existing Pionier-Kompanie 40 (mot.). It was then part of the new 1 Kavallerie-Division.
4.12.1941 the Battalion was renamed Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 40.

The Ersatz (Replacement unit) was Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon 1 in K******246;nigsberg, 27.9.1940 transferred to Pardubice in the Protektorat B******246;hmen und M******228;hren. 16.7.1941 it transferred back to K******246;nigsberg.

Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 40
FP.Nr.
Stab 37766. After 1943: 02097 A
1. Kompanie 08279. 02097 B
2. Kompanie 39954. 02097 C
3. Kompanie 41137. 02097 D
Br******252;ckenkolonne T/K. 03036 -
Kolonne 12065

Formed 4.12.1941 through renaming Pionier-Bataillon 40 of 1. Kavallerie-Division. the Division was reorganised as 24. Panzer-Division.
The Bataillon was destroyed January 1943 at Stalingrad.

Re-raised February 1943 in France within Armee-Oberkommando 15, throught the remains of the old Battalion and the reinfored Pionier-Kompanie of the reinfored Grenadier-Regiment 891.

/Ian

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feldpost

Thankyou for so much information, it's very sad but also very interesting. The letters were given to me by a dear German friend about ten years ago. They were written by his cousin to his mother. I'm not quite sure why he gave them to me but I'm grateful that he did. I now know so much more about the battle of Stalingrad and how all sides suffered. My old dressage instructor was onw of the few who came home and he has toldme of the Germans terrible sufferring. Thankyou once again you have been a great help.