Marinebataillon 320 (Hoßfeld) document and award group- one of the rares KM units.

[dan734]

Today I show you the group of marine infantryman from Marinebataillon 320 (Hoßfeld) - Karl Fauser.
He was born 26.02.1921 As most of young men of tha time he became a member of HJ ad got a civil profession (a printing worker)

[dan734]

........

[dan734]

He was physically trained - his SA sport badge and DRL in bronze.

[dan734]

His DRL award doc- 26.06.1940

[dan734]

He was also a member of DRLG rescue organisation.

[dan734]

It is impossible to say exactly when his service in Kriegsmarine started, but I suppose that in second half of 1943 he was already on costal KM service at Crimea.

[dan734]

Now I will show his documents regarding his service in Marinebataillon 320 (Hoßfeld). There is little information about this unit in the web (at least I did not manage to find much)
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...tlHossfeld.htm
http://www.feldgrau.com/kmsbat.html
The information following: "Formed 2.44 from Stabskompanie Kaukasus, for the defence of Sevastopol. Destroyed 5.44 and disbanded 7.44."
But regarding this document about Karl's close combat days, he was a member of this unit since 13.10.43, so possibly Marinebataillon 320 was formed earlier than it is written in saurces above.
As you see combat operation in which he took part and his nahkampftage and sturmtage presented in this doc.
It is signed by bataillon commander Hans Hossfeld- RK and EL winner.
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-4...sfeld-hans.htm

[dan734]

Karl was involved in desperate battle for Sevastopol and 29.04.44 won his first combat award - EK2. This photo shows him soon after field award ceremony in trenches.

[dan734]

His EK2. The doc is signed by Vizeadmiral Helmuth Brinkmann.

[dan734]

Two more Karl's trench photos with his combat comrades (the second one has plenty of character).

[dan734]

7.05 and 8.05 - during the most desperate fights for Sevastopol he was wounded twice. Later he was awarded WBiB for that. Doc signed by Hans Hossfeld.

[dan734]

Later he was awarded EK1 for battles at Crimea. On that his military career finished, he did not return to army service again (possibly wound gave some complications on his health).The doc is signed again by Vizeadmiral Helmuth Brinkmann.

[dan734]

His ek1 mm 26.
That's all, hope the story was interesting for you.

[Tom B]

Fantastic !

This is one of the finest KM groupings I have seen in years !! Thank you for posting this for us to see !!!!!!! Tom

[Hank C.]

Really great, KM groups are hard enough to come by, this one is very nice.

best,
Hank