My Grandpa in WW2

[Ernst1917]

Hi everyone,
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well I am new to this forum as well as new to WW2 history. Due to my grandmothers passing away recently I came into the possession of some pictures of my grandfather in his WW2 uniform. I never had the chance to meet him in person since he died in the 1960ies. I try to post two of the better pictures and maybe someone knowledgeable here can help me identify the rank, awards, etc he has earned.

[bratwurstdimsum]

Ok, I'll state some obvious stuff (I hope ) . Your grandfather appears to have been promoted and then transferred (assuming the cuff title is not a "propaganda" or "Feldpost" cuff), to an a elite unit) in the second picture, he was an unteroffizer in the first, served in russia, got the ek2, got a infantry assault badge, was wounded and finally, the EK1. Can't tell what the sheild is, it looks too big to be a krim or a kurland...Can't be RAD?

Can you zoom in on the sleve?

[Thomas Durante]

Armshield looks to be Demjansk.

Tom D.

[Ernst1917]

Hmm, that is already more than I knew. I think, my grandma once told me, that the second picture was taken in 1944 in Potsdam after he was recovering from combat injuries. I think, and again I will not bet on this, he was wounded 5 times during WW2. His name is Ernst Schomann born Dec 25, 1917 and I believe in Schwerin

[junior]

He is awarded also the Winterschlacht im Osten-medal.

[Robin Lumsden]

Nice photos.

The second shows him as a Lieutenant in the elite 'Feldherrnhalle' division - with a nice range of decorations - EK1, EK2, Wound Badge, Infantry Assault Badge, Ostmedaille, Demjanskschild and a Sports Badge.

A real combat veteran, and a true 'survivor', who worked his way through the ranks.

[bratwurstdimsum]

Armshield looks to be Demjansk.

Tom D.

Probably...the only other one is a Narvik:

[Edward]

Hello Ernest,

From the pictures your Grandfather got around. Besides having served at Demyansk as an infantry NCO he was also assigned to either the division or later Korps of the Feldherrenhalle as he is wearing the cufftitle to this unit. After becoming an officer he was probably assigned sometime during the later part of 1944 to the Feldherrenhalle on it's rebuilding and expansion to a Korps. Nice pictures too.

Regards

[TerryG]

Grandad

Great photos and what stories your grandad could have told!. Is that your grandmother in the 1st photo? Did your grandmother keep his medals also? Even if she did not, you could easily collect the right medals corresponding to the photos , in memory of him. ANyway, welcome to the forum...a great start for you here.

[Ernst1917]

Thanks everyone for your help. And yes that is my grandmother on the first picture. She died last May. I have more pictures and will scan them for your convenience, some date back to pre-war Germany showing my grandpa in his Arbeitsdienst uniform. Do you think that going to the Bundesarchiv in Kornelimuenster will reveal more information on his military career? What part of the eastern front was Demjansk? I will try to interview my uncle as well about my grandfathers military life. Since my mom was born in February 1945 I have a pretty good clue when my grandfather was on vacation in 1944. Assuming ... :-)

[Ian Jewison]

For Military records contact http://www.com-de.pair.com/wast/ ...as a family member they should provide what they have...it may take a few months however!

/Ian

[Robin Lumsden]

Thanks everyone for your help. And yes that is my grandmother on the first picture. She died last May. I have more pictures and will scan them for your convenience, some date back to pre-war Germany showing my grandpa in his Arbeitsdienst uniform. Do you think that going to the Bundesarchiv in Kornelimuenster will reveal more information on his military career? What part of the eastern front was Demjansk? I will try to interview my uncle as well about my grandfathers military life. Since my mom was born in February 1945 I have a pretty good clue when my grandfather was on vacation in 1944. Assuming ... :-)

Ernst.
Demjansk was on the northern sector of the Eastern Front, near Lake Ilmen, and was a HUGE battle lasting many months. There is a wealth of information about it on the internet if you just search under 'Demjansk' or 'Demyansk'.

[Ernst1917]

Here some more pictures

[DaveJ]

[QUOTE=Ernst1917]Here some more pictures


Interesting early m36, with early board turned upside down,
Dave

[Ernst1917]

Sorry, but what is an m36, with early board turned upside down

Excuse my ignorance please