BWB Award Document

[Jeff Diederichs]

Finally getting around to showing this, I picked them up a while back. I have no knowledge of whether the medal and the badge actually belong together originally. About the only way I could envision this badge being in this condition and from this event is if the wound was fatal, and the award was mailed home with the badge to the family. Doubtful, I'd imagine the badge was added to the document by a collector after the fact. Both came in a Riker case.

I really like the document, since it is Infantry related.

Black wound badge in excellent condition, with award document to Oberschutze (Private first class) Walter Propach, 3. Kompanie of Infantry Regiment 328. It is indicated that the award was presented in the field.

Award dated for actions on 27 September 1942, awarded on 10 October 1942.

The 328th was involved with the seige of Leningrad at this time.

Jeff

[kevin john]

Hi Jeff nice set ,and you are right there is no way of telling if they came together Kevin.

[M3A1Mats]

Nice set Jeff! Thanks for sharing,

-Mats

[norman]

Black Wound Badge & Document

Nice addition Jeff. Have you managed to do a follow up on the soldier yet. I wonder if he made it back.
Regards
Norman

[HAF]

nice find ,here a bit info abaut the unit
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...er/IR328-R.htm

[Tom Yanacek]

Nice badge & document. Found this listing in the Volksbund War Graves Registry:

Best regards,
Tom




Nachname:Propach
Vorname:Walter
Dienstgrad:Unteroffizier
Geburtsdatum:29.06.1910
Geburtsort:Heiligenhaus
Todes-/Vermisstendatum:16.09.1944
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Feldlaz. 21

Walter Propach konnte im Rahmen unserer Umbettungsarbeiten nicht geborgen werden. Die vorgesehene Überführung zum Sammelfriedhof in Riga Beberbeki war somit leider nicht möglich. Sein Name wird im Gedenkbuch des Friedhofes verzeichnet.

[Jeff Diederichs]

Thanks you for the comments! I am trying to build a collection of Ostfront memoribilia, so this fits just fine!

Thank you very much, Tom!! Looks like he found the end in Latvia Northeast of Riga just before other units were cut off in the Kurland pocket.

I get the impression from the text he may have been MIA and not able to be reburied at Riga?

**edit maybe died in hospital (feldlazarett. 21) or perhaps they just recorded the death. Interesting**

Jeff

[Yubari]

Interesting document and research! BWB most likely added to this to make it more fency. As BWB was awarded 42 and he died 44...

[Tom Yanacek]

BWB most likely added to this to make it more fency. As BWB was awarded 42 and he died 44...

I would have to agree. The guy was probably KIA wearing his original Black Wound Badge and it most likely went to the grave with him. Then again, perhaps he was wearing a Silver or even Gold Wound Badge at the time of his death. A lot could happen in combat over the course of two years.

Best regards,
Tom