As you all know we've just had the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and as many of you will also know, i collect documents exclusively with a connection to Norway and Finland. So, how do i get a Bulge related group whilst still keeping within my area of collecting when the two are seemingly not related?
The answer is, keep your eyes open and wait a long time
Last week i finally managed it, only a partial group unfortunately but i bridges the invasion of Norway with the Battle of the Bulge perfectly.
The key was to find a grouping to the 560 Volks-Grenadier Division. Formed in SE Norway using a cadre of around 2000 men from other units stationed in the country by and order dating to 28th July 1944 it was far from complete and was missing much of its equipment when it was ordered to the continent in Nov.44. Still understrength it was allocated to Manteuffel's 5 Pz.Armee and together with the 116 Pz.Div. 'Windhund' made up the LVIII Pz.Korps.
The understrength 1130 Gren.Rgt. came up against elements of the 112th Inf.Rgt. of the 28th Inf.Div. and was heavily engaged in the fighting from the beginning.
Accounts of the Bulge mention that the 560 VGD was a 'green' formation with no previous combat experience. That is certainly true, even for the experienced 'veterans' who had come from other units in Norway like Hauptfeldwebel Walper, his last combat experience had been almost 5 years earlier during the invasion of Norway when he was part of Inf.Rgt. 345 of the then 196 Inf.Div. he survived the torpedoing by HMS Triton and sinking of his transport ship off the coast of Sweden whilst heading for Oslo, many of his comrades in the regiment were not so fortunate. Later, IR 345 was used to create the 199 Inf.Div. and Walper was sent to North Norway until the summer of 44.
So, a nice little group to a soldier who took part in both the invasion of Norway and the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans first and arguably last major offensives in the West.
The answer is, keep your eyes open and wait a long time
Last week i finally managed it, only a partial group unfortunately but i bridges the invasion of Norway with the Battle of the Bulge perfectly.
The key was to find a grouping to the 560 Volks-Grenadier Division. Formed in SE Norway using a cadre of around 2000 men from other units stationed in the country by and order dating to 28th July 1944 it was far from complete and was missing much of its equipment when it was ordered to the continent in Nov.44. Still understrength it was allocated to Manteuffel's 5 Pz.Armee and together with the 116 Pz.Div. 'Windhund' made up the LVIII Pz.Korps.
The understrength 1130 Gren.Rgt. came up against elements of the 112th Inf.Rgt. of the 28th Inf.Div. and was heavily engaged in the fighting from the beginning.
Accounts of the Bulge mention that the 560 VGD was a 'green' formation with no previous combat experience. That is certainly true, even for the experienced 'veterans' who had come from other units in Norway like Hauptfeldwebel Walper, his last combat experience had been almost 5 years earlier during the invasion of Norway when he was part of Inf.Rgt. 345 of the then 196 Inf.Div. he survived the torpedoing by HMS Triton and sinking of his transport ship off the coast of Sweden whilst heading for Oslo, many of his comrades in the regiment were not so fortunate. Later, IR 345 was used to create the 199 Inf.Div. and Walper was sent to North Norway until the summer of 44.
So, a nice little group to a soldier who took part in both the invasion of Norway and the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans first and arguably last major offensives in the West.
!
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