Hans Hermann Loew

[StuGIII]

Hans Loew

Hi JM,

That's great that you were able to find the brewery owned by Hans' parents. Would they have made a local brew or a brand that we would've heard of? A Kraftfahrabteilung, would that be a transport battalion or regiment? In the family photo, he has the number 7, on his shoulder board. So would that mean that his transport battalion was assigned to the 7th Regiment? Too bad there's no way to find out the panzergrenadier unit he was in at the time of his death. He must've just been a recent transferee as he only had the wound badge and no other awards for bravery.

[jmehner]

Well John,

that bit about the brewery being the parents' is a bit simplified, it would have been from the mother's side if it indeed was them, she was a born Glück (who owned the brewery), married Hermann Loew in 1917 and took over the reigns of the brewery in 1940, her father had died in 1927 and his widow (her mother) took over. The brewery is the "Bürgerliches Brauhaus Augsburg-Göggingen", also known as the Bürgerbräu and is one of the countless local breweries that at one time existed in Germany (the relatively small town of Bamberg alone boasted 60).

Somebody else must help you on the duties of the Kraftfahrabteilungen, I know that in Reichswehr times there was one for each Wehrkreiskommando and they trained drivers, filled transport needs, were responsible for requesting and use of civilian vehicles etc. but some of them also had a trials purpose and others had some of their staff trained as reconnaissance and motorcycle troops, so they probably had a replacement function as well.

K.W.Regiment points to a Kraftwagen-Transport-Regiment (motorized/mechanized transport as opposed to horse-drawn), if there was a Regiment Nr 7 among them, that was probably where he was assigned to.

HTH

JM

[StuGIII]

Hans Loew

Hi JM,

Thanks for your help with Hans' family. I find it interesting his father marrying into a well to do family and all. Well thanks again for your help and I hope you have some Happy Holidays.