Ostmedaille Doc - Abwicklungsstab 6. Armee u. Hegru. Afrika

[Brian R]

I'm looking for a little help with this Ostmedaille document. My understanding is that this unit was in existence in order to ascertain the losses of the 6th Army at Stalingred and the DAK. However, based on the date (21. September 1942) of this doc, the 6th Army and DAK were not yet detroyed. I can't believe the existence of this Abwicklungsstab was in anticipation of catastrophic losses among these units. It seems that this unit was operating as a result of these losses. Could this be a typo and the doc should be dated 1943 or it is just back dated and was actually awarded in 1943 or so on?

[jmark]

I'm looking for a little help with this Ostmedaille document. My understanding is that this unit was in existence in order to ascertain the losses of the 6th Army at Stalingred and the DAK. However, based on the date (21. September 1942) of this doc, the 6th Army and DAK were not yet detroyed. I can't believe the existence of this Abwicklungsstab was in anticipation of catastrophic losses among these units. It seems that this unit was operating as a result of these losses. Could this be a typo and the doc should be dated 1943 or it is just back dated and was actually awarded in 1943 or so on?

Hi Brian,

I've studied the records of Abwicklungsstab 6. Armee und Heeresgruppe Afrika and it was only set up in 1943 to deal with the catastrophic losses resulting from the twin capitulations of Stalingrad in January/February 1943 and Africa in May 1943. Those two tragedies (for the Germans) were not even linked in September 1942 (what I mean is that Stalingrad had absolutely nothing to do with Afrika in September 1942... their common link was the mass surrender of a German army/army group).

I'm no expert on award documents but it seems to be saying that Fw. Hövel belonged to the Abwicklungsstab, which was tucked away safely in Germany. Why would he be awarded the Ostmedaille? If it was for service with a front-line unit, then why isn't that unit listed on the document? I suppose Fw. Hövel could have been with the Abwicklungsstab and the Ostmedaille document was backdated to 21 September 1942. Again, I'm far from an expert on these documents. Perhaps someone knowledgeable on such matters can help.

The signature says "Luz", which would be Generalmajor Helwig Luz, who was Kdr. Abwicklungsstelle Stalingrad und Afrika from 1 February 1943 (according to Keilig).

I don't know if I've helped at all, but I am certain the Abwicklungsstab did not exist in 1942.

All the best,
Jason

[Simon O.]

We've seen one or two award documents coming from this depatrment before. The date reflects when this man's unit at the time authorised the award. In many cases circumstances prevented unit members from actually receiving their medals. One of the jobs of this office will have been to make sure all the paperwork was up to date for the quite considerable number of soldiers that had belonged to units destroyed in Africa and Stalingrad.

So the date you see here does not reflect when this document was issued.

It's quite common to see Ostfront docs that seemingly come from units that were never in Russia in 41\42.

[jmark]

We've seen one or two award documents coming from this depatrment before. The date reflects when this man's unit at the time authorised the award. In many cases circumstances prevented unit members from actually receiving their medals. One of the jobs of this office will have been to make sure all the paperwork was up to date for the quite considerable number of soldiers that had belonged to units destroyed in Africa and Stalingrad.

So the date you see here does not reflect when this document was issued.

It's quite common to see Ostfront docs that seemingly come from units that were never in Russia in 41\42.

Thanks for clearing this up, Simon. I've seen other documents issued by the Abwicklungsstab but they've had the man's field unit written on the documents. I've studied one unit extensively (a pioneer battalion lost at Stalingrad) and there was a deadline of 30 September 1943 for all Stalingrad units to resubmit recommendations for EK2, EK1, wound badges and the various assault badges. Because almost all company records were lost in Stalingrad together with the unit supply trains, this was often a difficult task, and quite a lot of paperwork went back and forth determining eligibility for certain medals. In lieu of some paperwork, sworn declarations were needed for medals to be awarded. In all cases that I have seen, however, the original field unit was listed on the award documents. I suppose the man in question (Fw. Hövel) might have belonged to the Abwicklungsstab because each Stalingrad division was represented on the Abwicklungsstab by at least one officer and several men. They handled matters dealing with their division. For example, in mid-1943, Soviet leaflets were dropped on German troops, and these leaflets had been signed by officers captured at Stalingrad. One multi-page "leaflet" contained several hundred names (Note: this was not in connection with the anti-Fascist leagues set up in POW camps). The officers on the Abwicklungsstab determined if the names and signatures relating to their division were genuine. If memory serves me correctly, the Abwicklungsstab was disbanded in mid-1944 (but don't quote me on that!).

All the best,
Jason