352nd VGD Group - Few Question

[InfanterieSammler]

Hello,

Just confirming - is this the signature of Erich Schmidt?

Thanks,
John

[InfanterieSammler]

Two...Does anyone have the OOB for the 352nd VGD during the Battle of the Bulge. I would like to know who commanded GR916. This signature by the Regimentsführer from 20 Jan 1945 - anyone recognize?

Thanks,
John

[InfanterieSammler]

Lastly, can I could use a little help on the "Sturmtage" entries.

16th - ?
17th - ?
18th - ?
19th - Bettendorf?
21st - ? Ettelbrück
22nd - ?
23rd - Ettelbrück
24th - Ettelbrück

Ltn. u. KP.Führer signature?

Thank You,
John

[Lionel H.]

Hello,

Just confirming - is this the signature of Erich Schmidt?

Thanks,
John

No John. it is G.M. Richard BAZING.

[Lionel H.]

So easy, John

16.12 : Nieterberghof u. Höhe KIrschbusch.
17.12 : Ergänzung d. übergang v.d. "Blees" (please doublecheck the Name of the River there !!)
18.12 : Inbesitzname............................. Fahrberg
21 : Südwestausgang Ettelbrück
22 : Grentzingen, Mueterhof

Can not say if the Places arce correctly written... But with Google Earth, you will not need too much time to check and correct. Hope it helps. Lionel.

[InfanterieSammler]

No John. it is G.M. Richard BAZING.

Genau!

Thank You,
John

[InfanterieSammler]

So easy, John

16.12 : Nieterberghof u. Höhe KIrschbusch.
17.12 : Ergänzung d. übergang v.d. "Blees" (please doublecheck the Name of the River there !!)
18.12 : Inbesitzname............................. Fahrberg
21 : Südwestausgang Ettelbrück
22 : Grentzingen, Mueterhof

Can not say if the Places arce correctly written... But with Google Earth, you will not need too much time to check and correct. Hope it helps. Lionel.

Thank you again Lionel. These were helpful.

Still working on finding the location for 16th and the 18th.

GR916 crossed the Our south of Gentingen on 16 Dec, fighting in the area of Hoesdorf. Searching in that area for a location I can't find anything yet.

John

[InfanterieSammler]

Can anyone assist with the Regimental CO (GR 916) and the Company CO (8th)?

Thank You,
John

[matthias_AC]

Unfortunately I can´t help you with the COs at the moment, I´ll check tomorrow if I have any information that might be useful for you. But for now: Great and desirable documents!! I assume they made their way from Belgium across the Atlantic Ocean to you?

[Luft 76]

I found only the name of the commandeur of GR 916 at the beginning of Ardennen Offensiv : Oberstlt. von Lücken. But no trace of this Major u. Regtsführer.
Do you know the documents MS B-067 and B-603 ?

[InfanterieSammler]

Unfortunately I can´t help you with the COs at the moment, I´ll check tomorrow if I have any information that might be useful for you. But for now: Great and desirable documents!! I assume they made their way from Belgium across the Atlantic Ocean to you?

Hi Matthias,

Yeah, bought this one from Bart last year.

I just picked up copies of Vol 1/2 of the Battle Bulge in Luxembourg by Roland Gaul. There is an entire chapter on GR.916! Looking forward to digging into these in the coming weeks. Also, I have been fortunate enough to make contact with the author.

Best,
John

[InfanterieSammler]

I found only the name of the commandeur of GR 916 at the beginning of Ardennen Offensiv : Oberstlt. von Lücken. But no trace of this Major u. Regtsführer.
Do you know the documents MS B-067 and B-603 ?

Interesting, thank you. What is your source Oberstlt. von Lücken? I've only just begun to read Roland Gaul's work, but he has major Walter von Criegeren listed as the regimental commander.

I"m not familiar with the two documents you are referencing? Please tell me more.

Many Thanks,
John

[Luft 76]

Source is Gen. Schmidt himself in his post war studies about 352.VGD. Those are in NARA in Washington, registered as Foreign Militaries Studies, with five main numbering system (MS A-... , MS B-... , C, D and P). The two main series are A and B.
You can found most of hem here :
http://www.sturmpanzer.com/Default.a...3&item=1&sec=3
These Militaries Studies are not "the Bible" but though very usefull for knowledge of german units. Some are very detailed, many others not.
About your research, MS B-067 and 603 have also maps attached.
Good reading !

[InfanterieSammler]

Source is Gen. Schmidt himself in his post war studies about 352.VGD. Those are in NARA in Washington, registered as Foreign Militaries Studies, with five main numbering system (MS A-... , MS B-... , C, D and P). The two main series are A and B.
You can found most of hem here :
http://www.sturmpanzer.com/Default.a...3&item=1&sec=3
These Militaries Studies are not "the Bible" but though very usefull for knowledge of german units. Some are very detailed, many others not.
About your research, MS B-067 and 603 have also maps attached.
Good reading !

Thank you kindly for the link. I am familiar with FMS series and have used them before, however I didn't know they were available via that site. What a terrific resource! FMS B067 is exactly the time-frame for the Bulge actions, so this will be helpful.

I agree though, the FMS are not "the Bible" as they were written after the war and not without issue(s) like the participants willingness to put themselves in the most positive light and/or pointing the finger of blame elsewhere.

Regards,
John

[Archi]

Hello John, Lionel and Luft 76 !

Some general remark :
John/InfanterieSammler, I really worship your interest in great detail, trying to pin down the
very exact locations/circumstances, where the soldiers fought .

I think Lionel already did an excellent job, in deciphering the locations in the "Sturmtage" list.
Some very minor additions :
- 16.12.44 : I think it is Niederberghof (a farmhouse or grange, ~1km S of Gentingen) [see map]
- 17.12.44 : "Erzwingung d.[es] Übergangs ü.[ber] d.[ie] Blees" (=Forcing the River Blees)
- 18.12.44 : Inbesitznahme ... Kirchbusch ... Fohrberg
[I think the place on 18.12., starting with "K" should be the same as mentioned on 16.12.44]

I'll attach some maps, which might be of interest. 1st is 1:100,000 scale.
I think I found the locations, mentioned on the 16. and 18., on a topographic map with a scale of 1:25000,
which can be found on this site (Messtischblatt Nr.6103 Wallendorf):
http://www.landkartenarchiv.de/deuts...blaetter_6.php
http://www.landkartenarchiv.de/tk25....Maps_2499_high

These entries are somehow confirmed by the FMS report mentioned by Luft 76 :
In the B-067 report Gen. Schmidt mentions, that Gren.Rgt. 916 had the task to take the high ground
N of Bettendorf. But despite all efforts, it was only able to achieve that task, when heavy weapons
were brought in on the 18th (The 3rd map is from that FMS report).

I fully agree with Luft 76 on the FMS reports. They are great sources (and often the only ones !),
but they have to be taken with care, as many are written from memory only. According to my experience,
their accuracy differs, some are very poor, some are extremely good. IMO, FMS B-067 seems to be a good one !

Here are some additional links, I found interesting. (The first one has a lot of photos of the
battlesites as they look today, the second one two pdfs in English language):
http://www.darkplaces.org/Deutschlan..._Reisdorf.html
http://www.mnhm.net/cms/index.php/de...storische-wege

Best regards,

Archi