Infantry divisions

Unteroffizier Friedrich Gross served with 11./I.R. 19, 7. I.D. from December 1940 to August 1943. Wounded by shell splinters and shot in the chest. Spent time in hospital in 1943 and then served with training units and attended a ROB-Lehrgang for infantry in March 1945. Awarded Inf.Sturmabzeichen, EK II, Ostmedaille, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK I, Nahkampfsp. 1. Stufe.

Schütze Lüder von Linden completed his RAD service in September 1941 before starting his basic training and serving with 4./Feld-Ers.Batt. 291./2. He transferred to 1./I.R. 2, 11. I.D., I. Korps, 18. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord, Wolchow-Ladoga in March 1942. Killed in action in Posadnikow/Ostrow, Russia a month later. No awards recorded.

Grenadier Josef Deinzer did his basic training with 3./Gren.Ausb.Batl. 97 from January to February 1943 before transferring to 2./Res.Gren.Batl. 23, 141. Res.Div. where he was involved in fighting in White Russia. In April 1943 he transferred to a training and replacement unit and a march company before joining 5./Gren.Rgt. 23, 11. I.D., XXVI. Korps, 18. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord, Wolchow-Ladoga in September 1943. After being injured in the hand, he spent a few weeks in hospital before returning to the training and replacement unit. Released from active service in March 1944. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter (Julius) Hans Puziak was called up to serve with Inf.Pz.Jäg.Ers.Kp. 24 near Prague in April 1942 and completed his basic training as an anti-tank gunner in June, when he joined 14. (Pz.Jäg.)Kp./Inf.Rgt. 88, 15. I.D., which had just been transferred to France for coastal defence duties after spending almost a year with the 4th Army as a part of Army Group Mitte. Died on 9 March 1943 near Estrowka (?) in the Charkow area. Awarded the EK II.

Feldwebel Karl Herzner served with 14./I.R. 21 and 14./I.R. 104 from October 1936 to September 1937 and then with 14.(Pz.Abw.)/I.R. 21, 17. I.D. from August 1939 to January 1942. He died on 26 January 1942 of shell splinter wounds to his head, throat, stomach and left thigh suffered the previous day. Awarded the Schützenabzeichen am PAK 36/37, EK II, Inf.Sturmabzeichen and EK I.

Obergefreiter Rolf Eckhoff volunteered and was accepted for service with II./I.R.47 in February 1937. He started his active service when he was inducted into Stab I./Inf.Rgt. 76, 20. Inf.Div. in November 1937 where he remained as a man pack radio operator until he was wounded by a shell splinter in his right arm on 1st August 1941 in ????????. After recovering from his wound and serving with a signals replacement company he joined a march battalion before transferring to Stab I./I.R. 65, 22. Inf.(LL)Div. in November 1941. Killed during the siege of Sewastopol in February 1942. Awarded Sudeten-Erinnerungsmedaille, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK II and Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber.

Oberschütze Paul Wagner first served in the Wehrmacht from October 1935 with I.R. 52, Inf.Lehr-Rgt. and M.G. Btl. 38 rising to the rank of Leutnant der Reserve before the war, and was discharged as fit for war duties after completing his 3 years of active service with 12./Inf.Rgt. 382 (Lehrdiv. ????) in February 1941. Just over a week later he was recalled as an ordinary soldier to 1./I.R. 102, 24. I.D. Killed on 27 June 1941 when he was shot in the head in Huta Zielona, Russia (buried in Potylicz, Ukraine). Awarded Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der HJ.

Oberfüsilier Ludwig Köbler was inducted into 4. (M.G.) Ers.Komp. I.R. 87 in October 1940 and joined 12. (M.G.) Komp. I.R. 87 (later mot.), 36. I.D. (later mot.) six weeks later. Killed by a direct artillery hit in October 1941. No awards recorded.

Oberleutnant Wilhelm Neuschäfer served with Infanterie-Regiment 181, 52. I.D. from August 1939 until he died in Spass-Demenskoje of wounds received in February 1942. Awarded EK II and Inf.Sturmabzeichen.

Oberleutnant Rolf Behne already saw active military service with the RAD from 1939 and volunteered to serve with 4.(M.G.)Kp./I.R. 503, 290. I.D. from November 1940 to May 1941 before transferring to the infantry school at Döberitz for officer training. He joined the officer reserve of Heeresgruppe Nord in September 1941. He then served with II./I.R. 220, 58. I.D. (and 8. Jäg.Div.???) from September 1941 to July 1943 and was involved in defensive fighting with a field replacement unit in Russia before being killed by a shell splinter fired from an anti-tank gun near Krederiskis, Pandelys, Lithuania (Todesort H.V.Pl. Nereta/Lettland) on 31 July 1944. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, EK II, Ostmedaille, Inf.Sturmabzeichen, EK I, Nahkampfspange 1. Stufe.

Gefreiter Adolf Laubach served with 10./I.R. 105, 72. I.D. from October 1940 to September 1941. Shot in the chest while in the Ukraine and died in Kriegslazarett 1/606 (Vatra Dornei, Rumania) as the result of an embolism a month later. Awarded the Schutzwallehrenzeichen, EK II and Rumänischer Orden: ...........tigkeit und Treue mit Schwertern Kl. II.

Gefreiter Hubert Stadtfeld volunteered to join the Wehrmacht and served with 1./I.R. 105, 72. I.D. from November 1941 to January 1942. Killed in action 4 km west of Feodosia in the Crimea on 18 January 1942. No awards recorded

Obergefreiter Otto Schmidt served with 1./Pz.Jäg.Abt. 72, 72. I.D. from December 1941 to August 1943 and with 7./A.R. 185, 85. I.D. from March 1944 to August 1944. Awarded Verwundeten-Abzeichen III. Stufe for shell splinter wounds and bullet wounds received in Russia and Normandy, Ostmedaille, Rum. Krim.Med. - Kreuzzug g. d. Kommunismus, Krimschild and Sturmabzeichen.

Gefreiter Theodor Häberle served with 5./I.R. 460 from October 1939 to the end of February 1940 and then with 5./I.R. 14 (later 5./Gren.Rgt. 14 and 1./Sturm-Rgt. 14), 78. Sturm-Division from January 1942. Received a head wound (shell splinter) in November 1942 and died in a reserve field hospital in Brest Litovsk in April 1943 after being shot in his upper thigh a month earlier. Awarded Ostmedaille, Verw.Abzeichen in Schwarz, EK II, Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber.

Obergefreiter Georg Müller served with Stab I. and 6./Inf.Rgt. 158, 82. I.D., from December 1939 (beurlaubt 16.8.40-1.2.41) to March 1943 when he was wounded by shell splinters for the second time. After recovering from his wounds he returned to 9./Gren.Rgt. 158 in July 1943. Killed in action in Jarroslawka (???) west of Kursk on 17 August 1943. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz.

Wachtmeister Horst Zobel (volunteer) served with 6./A.R. 16 from November 1935 to September 1936 and with 1./Art.Rgt. 183, 83. I.D. from December 1939 to June 1942 when he transferred to 12./A.R. 183. Died in a dressing station after being badly wounded by a shell splinter in the fighting near Welikjia Luki on 16 January 1943. Awarded EK II, Verw.Abzeichen in Schwarz, Sturmabzeichen, Verw.Abzeichen in Silber.

Gefreiter Manfred Lindermann served with 91. Infanteriedivision from July 1944. No awards recorded.

Feldwebel Karl Thoß volunteered to join the Luftwaffe and served with Luftfunk-Ers.-Komp. 7/11 Königsberg (Pr.) from November 1937 to June 1938 (basic training) before transferring to Lg.Nachr.Rgt. 12 in July 1938. He remained with this airforce signals unit in operations on the western front against Belgium, France and Britain until December 1942 and then with Lg.Nachr.Rgt. Westfrankr. until the beginning of February 1943. After 3 weeks under marching orders he joined the Auffangabtl. of 113. I.D. At the end of March he joined the newly re-established 10./Gren.Rgt. 261 (after it had been destroyed in Stalingrad in January 1943) and served with 113. I.D. while it was being re-formed in the west until July 1943. Between July and the end of September 1943 he served with 113. I.D., 18. Pz.Gren.Div., 337. I.D., and then again with 18. Pz.Gren.Div., 337. I.D. before being wounded in the stomach and thigh in K........., Russia. He died of his wounds in Orscha two days later on 27 September 1943. Awarded the EK II posthumously.

Soldat Günther Schaaf volunteered to join the Wehrmacht in April 1940 and was initially put back and exempted from RAD service. His military service started when he joined Kraftf.Ers.Abtlg 6 in Dortmund in March 1941 where he remained until February 1942. He then transferred to Feld-Ers.Btl. 126/2 for a week before joining 3./Inf.Rgt. 426, 126. I.D. Killed west of Mailukowy-Gorkij on 5 December 1942. No awards recorded.

Gefreiter Franz Gutneder (volunteered to serve as flying crew with the Luftwaffe) served with Stabskp./Gren.Rgt. 426, 126. Inf.Div. from April 1943 to January 1944 when he was reported MIA near Krasnoje Selo, Russia. His medical records suggest he survived his time as a POW and suffered from severe health problems from 1948 onwards. No awards recorded.

Feldwebel Anton Schäfer was involved in Luftwaffe operations with the RAD beyond the Reich borders before completing his basic training with a signals unit and then transferring to the signals company of Inf.Rgt. 438, 132. I.D. in March 1941. Lost his lower legs on 14 May 1942 1 km west of Wassiljewka, Crimea. Both of his legs were amputated two days later and he was discharged from service in November 1943. Awarded EK II, Ostmedaille and Verw.Abz. in Gold.

Obergefreiter Rudolf Schmidt served (as a machine gunner) with 9./I.R. 391 (11.1939 - 01.1940) and I.R. 401 (01.1940 - 06.1942), 170. I.D. Killed in action near Sewastopol (Kamary vor Swastopol) in the Crimea on 12 June 1942. No awards recorded.

Schütze Wilhelm Klinzing started his basic training with 15./Feld-Ers.Batl. 206 in April 1940 and then served with 3. Komp. Inf.Rgt. 312, 206. I.D. from July 1940. He was released from active service between August 1940 and April 1941 to serve the war industry. Killed in Redjkino approx. 60 km NNE of Rschew on 26 December 1941. Awarded Inf.Sturmabzeichen in Silber.

Obergefreiter Bernhard Henning served with a number of replacement and transport units from February 1940 until the middle of June 1942. In July 1941 he contracted a venereal disease and spent some time in hospital. He joined I.R. 306 (later Gr.R. 306), 211. I.D. in June 1942 and served with various companies until he was shot in the head in March 1944. Died on 19 May 1944. Awarded the Verw.Abz. in Schwarz.

Oberschütze Otto Bode served as an anti-tank gunner with 1./Panzerjäger-Abteilung 216, 216. I.D. from August 1940 until he was killed in action in Meschtschowsk, Russia in January 1942. Awarded Sturmabzeichen and Ostmedaille.

Obergefreiter Karl Gollwitzer served with I.R. 481, 256. I.D. from August 1939 until June 1942, when he contracted spotted fever. After serving with replacement and training units until June 1943, he joined Gren.Rgt. 922, 243. I.D. Killed near Le Ham on 11 June 1944 in the fighting on the Cherbourg Peninsula during the invasion of Normandy. Awarded Ostmedaille.

Obergefreiter Wilhelm Arzdorf served with 4.M.G.Kp.I.R.463, 263 I.D., from October 1940 until January 1942 (coastal protection duties with 7. Armee in France until April 1941, then with 4. Armee in Brest, Bialystok, Smolensk, Wjasma, south of Moscow, Juchnow), and with 4.(M.G.)Kp.Gren.Rgt.463 from May 1943 until the end of November 1943 (3. Pz.Armee/16.Armee in Welish, Newel). Completed NCO and tank destruction courses in March and June 1943, respectively. Wounded in January 1942 and then again by shell splinters to his right temple, right upper and lower arms and right upper leg in Widussowo in November 1943. Spent the rest of the war with convalescent and replacement units before being discharged from the army in February 1945. Awarded Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen, EK II, Verw.Abz. in Schwarz, Inf.Sturmabzeichen, Ostmedaille and Verw.Abz. in Silber.

Gefreiter Jürgen Thode took part in Luftwaffe operations while serving with the RAD from March 1942 until May 1943 and was then used for anti-partisan operations and rear area duties with Gren.(F.)Ausb.Rgt. 720, 391. (Feldausb.)Div., Pz.A.O.K. 3 and Heeresgruppe Mitte until February 1944, and then with Gren.Rgt. 720 and Div.Füs.Btl.(A.A.) 263, 263 I.D. Went missing in action on 28.12.1944 in Bungali, Kurland (died same day near Kalvene according to the Volksbund database). Awarded EK II, Inf.Sturmabzeichen, Nahkampfspange 1. Stufe and 2. Stufe and EK I.

Schütze Alfred Emrich served as a machine-gunner with I.R. 368, 207. I.D. and 281. Sicherungs-Division from April 1940 to March 1942. He was given extended leave to serve the war economy from August 1940 to February 1941. Died at a main dressing station in Gschatsk of brain damage caused by an artillery round while serving with Grenadier-Regiment 508, 292. I.D. in Didenowo, Russia, in November 1942. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz and Ostmedaille.

Gefreiter Johann Roth first served with 9./I.Rgt. 767, 376. I.D., 6. Armee, in the Charkow and Donbogen sectors from April until September 1942 when he was wounded by bomb splinters that passed through his right side and an infantry round that passed through his left hand. After spending time with convalescent and marching units, he joined the newly raised static 2./Gren.Rgt. 897, 266. I.D., 7. Armee, at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen in Germany in June 1943 and then left for Brittany. Discharged from the army in September 1943. Awarded Verw.Abz. in Schwarz and Inf.Sturmabzeichen.

Gefreiter (Walter) Oswald Zeidler completed his basic training with 4.(M.G.) Kompanie Inf.Ers.Btl. 173 from October 1941 to February 1942 when he joined 4.(M.G.)Kp./Inf.Rgt. 534, 384. I.D. Died at a dressing station run by 1./San.Kp. 384 in Kischjakow (???) on 25 August 1942 after being wounded by shell splinters to both lower legs the previous day. Posthumously awarded Verw.Abz. in Silber.