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Soldbuch grouping of Heinz Schultz, Fallschirmjäger, Ardennes. Wachtmeister Heinz Schultz served with Fallschirm Artillerie Regiment 5 in the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division. He entered service in 1939 with Flakabteilung 83. He was transferred to Flak Regiment 12 which saw action in Tunesia and was subsequently destroyed. After this he was transferred to 4. Kompanie Fallschirmjäger Artillerie Ersatz und Ausbildungs Abteilung. 28.10.1944 he was transferred to his field unit Fallschirmjäger Artillerie Regiment 5. This unit was part of the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division of which the brief unit history during this period until the end of the war is described;

In October 1944, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 was relocated from its assembly area near Oldenburg to the Netherlands for coastal defense. At this time, most of the division’s units were still stationed at training grounds in northern Germany. As a result, the assembly of the division could not begin before mid-November. Although the division was only partially combat-ready and still in the process of being organized, it was transferred to the Eifel region at the end of November 1944, after Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 was reassigned to it, in preparation for the planned Ardennes Offensive. The units were stationed in the Bitburg – Oberweis – Sülm area.

Even during the march to its assembly area, the division suffered considerable losses due to low-flying Allied air attacks. Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5 lost all of its vehicles, rendering it inoperable. During the Ardennes Offensive, the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was tasked with advancing on the right flank of the 7th Army, as part of LXXXV Army Corps, from the area around Bitburg. After crossing the Our River near Vianden, it was to break through enemy positions at Wahlhausen, Putscheid, Nachtmanderscheid, and Walsdorf, and secure the line St. Hubert – Neufchâteau – Mellier – Attert, where it would establish a mobile defensive position to protect the southern flank of the 5th Panzer Army, which was advancing through Bastogne.

On the morning of December 16, after a short artillery preparation, the division crossed the Our River at Stolzembourg and Roth. By the evening of the first day, the advance elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 had reached the Diekirch – Hosingen road. The left neighbor, the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division, was making slow progress east of Fouhren, while the right neighbor, Panzer Lehr Division, was already engaged west of Hosingen. On December 17, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 secured the river crossings near Bourscheid, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 attacked between Putscheid and Weiler. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 13 was fighting alongside the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division at Fouhren.

On December 18, elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 reached the western edge of Weiler, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 secured the bridges at Bourscheid intact and linked up with Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 at Weiler. Meanwhile, the division’s attached Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI was engaged in combat at Nachtmanderscheid and Walsdorf. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 13, still under the command of the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division, continued to fight at Fouhren. On December 19, Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 advanced through the Sauer Valley without significant enemy resistance, while Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 reached the Wiltz Valley near Kautenbach and Nocher by evening.

The division’s advance continued rapidly, with Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 moving south of Doncols toward the Bastogne-Arlon road. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15 and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI pushed southwest beyond the division’s left boundary, toward Bigonville and Martelingen, to support the neighboring division, which was still engaged in heavy fighting near Ettelbruck. By the end of the day, the division’s lead elements had reached the general line: northern edge of Martelingen – Vaux-les-Rosières – Sibret. On the evening of December 21, Martelingen was captured by Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI with support from elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 15.

Since the left neighboring division was still lagging behind, exposing the left flank of both the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division and the 5th Panzer Army (which had already advanced far west beyond Bastogne), the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was ordered to assume flank protection. On December 22, the division reorganized its units, shifted from offensive to defensive operations, and established defensive positions against attacks from the southwest and south along the line: Vaux-les-Rosières – Martelingen – Bigonville – Arsdorf – Heiderscheid, covering a front of 40 km.

Between December 23 and 25, the division was forced to abandon several positions, including Vaux-les-Rosières, Hotte, Strainchamps, Martelingen, Titange, and Bigonville, due to heavy attacks from the U.S. 3rd Army from the southwest and south along the Bastogne road. On December 26, American forces continued their advance toward Bastogne. Between Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14, still holding out near Chaumont, and the 26th Volksgrenadier Division to the northwest, American units broke through northward. Fallschirmjäger Regiment 14 withdrew its right flank to Assenois, barely preventing an enemy advance on Losange and Villers-la-Bonne-Eau.

By December 27, the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division’s front stretched from Assenois to Lutrebois, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. Following the successful American breakthrough at Bastogne, the division was threatened on its flank near Nothum. The American advance was halted only by deploying the last available reserves along the Harlange – Nothum – Buderscheid line. By December 29, 1944, the division, now under the command of LIII Army Corps, was still holding the line Lutrebois – Villers-la-Bonne-Eau – Harlange – Bavigne – Nothum against continued enemy attacks.

On January 2, 1945, following further American breakthroughs near its left neighbor, the division was at risk of encirclement in the Harlange and Bavigne area. It held its positions until January 7 but was then forced to withdraw northeast, abandoning Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Harlange, and Bavigne. On January 9, American forces attacked the division at Bras, Doncols, and Nothum, encircling a large portion of its forces and taking many prisoners. The remaining elements of the division regrouped near Wiltz and were later transferred to the Düren area.

During their retreat, these remnants were diverted southeast and committed to counter an Allied breakthrough near Prüm. By the end of February, the remaining troops repelled Allied attacks near Wilwerath, Gondenbrett, and Olzheim. However, in early March, American forces bypassed the division’s defensive positions on both flanks, forcing it to retreat further northeast.

At the Nürburgring, the division was encircled west of the Rhine, with most of its remaining troops taken prisoner. Only small remnants managed to escape to the Wernigerode area in April 1945.

He was awarded the Flakkampfabzeichen, Erdkampfabzeichen, Eisernes Kreuz II Klasse, Ostmedaille, Schützenschnür, Dienstauszeichnung 4. Klasse, Erinnerungsmedaille 1.10.38 and possibly one I forgot. This is a great soldbuch with many entries, interesting units, awards and a nice portrait in tropical uniform. A great soldbuch for further research of a Fallschirmjäger who took part of the Ardennes Offensive!

Soldbuch grouping of Unteroffizier Kurt Helbig, serving with Artillerie Regiment 276 under the 276 Volksgrenadier Division during the Ardennes offensive. He was first serving with several Luftwaffe search light units such as Flakscheinwerfer-Abteilung 238 and on 16.10.44 drafted in 276 VGD. The first page on his Soldbuch notes the fact that he was not issued a Heer Soldbuch but was part of the army. He participated during the Ardennes offensive and must have whitnessed a large portion of the combat in the area of the 276 VGD as described below. He was issued a MP44  for the Ardennes Offensive which he later had to turn in in March 1945. He was wounded 13.2.45 near Prüm.

Soldbuch to Hans Schühmacher serving with Füsilier Regiment 27, 12. Volks Grenadier Division at the end of the war fighting at Aachen, Hürtgenwald, Malmedy and Elsenborn.

The Soldbuch was first filled in 10.6.1941 enlisting with Schutzen Ersatz Kompanie 193. He was then drafted to Landesschützen-Bataillon 479 which was tasked guarding POW’s near Groß-Hesepe. After this he was sent to Infanterie Regiment 27, later to be renamed into Füsilier Regiment 27.

He was promoted to Oberschütze 1.2.42. He was promoted to Gefreiter on 1.3.42 and Obergefreiter on 1.1.44.

He was issued a number of interesting field gear items such as a Tarnnetz or helmet net, a sewing kit, a visor cap, a two piece reversible winter suit and Kopfhaube. He was armed with a K98.

He was wounded a number of times.
11.5.42 wound code –
26.12.43 wound code – Reserve Lazarett Königsberg.
13.1.44 wound code – Reserve Lazarett Brumat, Elsass
25.11.44 wound code 31b indicating shrapnel wounds. Reservelazarett Günzburg / Donau. He was probably wounded during the fighting in Aachen or the Hürtgenwald at this point.

He was awarded several awards;
20.2.42 Iron Cross second class when his unit was fighting between Olenin-Bjeloje
15.5.42 Wound badge in Black, same area
20.11.44 Infantry Assault Badge in Silver when his unit was fighting in Aachen or the Hürtgenwald

His unit was part of the 12. Volksgrenadier Division which saw a lot of action on the Western front from early october 1944 until the end of the war. The unit was first sent to defend Aachen and saw heavy fighting for the Hürtgenwald. Mid november the division saw heavy action at Stolberg, Hastenrath and Eschweiler which was his hometown and probably the area he was wounded as well. The division was then merged with the 47 Volksgrenadier Division because of heavy losses on 25.11.44. Two days later US troops breached the line near Inden. Late November they were pulled from the line near Merode and sent for rest and refit between Jülich and Düren. Starting 14.12.44 it was moved to Hallschlag and Scheidt in preparation for the Ardennes Offensive. The first line of troops consisted of Grenadier Regiment 48 and Füsilier Regiment 27. The offensive started from Losheimergraben and on 17.12.44 they started opening the road from Büllingen trough Bütgenbach to Malmedy. The attack stalled at Bütgenbach until the 25.12.44. The division was moved to Hierlot where it severed heavy losses in January 1945 consisting of only 600 battle ready troops. It was sent to the Rhine between Leverkusen and Knapsack. In march 1945 it was sent to the Remagen bridgehead and shortly after it capitulated to the American troops in the Ruhrkessel.

A interesting Soldbuch with a load of entries, great for research!

Soldbuch to Unteroffizier H. Hartjes. The Soldbuch was first filled in 26.8.39 when he enlisted with 2. Batterie Artillerie Regiment 11.  His battery was subsequently merged with 5. Batterie Artillerie Regiment 291 between July and August 1940. He was promoted to a Obergefreiter on 1.7.1940 serving with Artillerie Regiment 291. He was promoted to Unteroffizier on 1.12.1940 serving with Artillerie Regiment 306. After serving with this unit for some time he was sent to Artillerie Regiment 170 which was a new unit formed in may 1944. With him being hospitalised and healing he was enlisted with this newly formed unit. This unit was destroyed in the fighting for Walcheren, the Netherlands in November 1944. After this he was sent to Artillerie Regiment 179 right in time for the Ardennes Offensive.

He was issued a number of interesting uniform and equipment pieces under which;

Tragegestell or carrying frame
Tarnnetz or helmet net
Pelzweste or Fur winter vest
Knee warmers
Felt in lay soles
Mapcase
Greatcoat
Gasmask size 3

He was issued many different weapons of which 1 rifle and 3 different pistol including one Belgian.

He was wounded 3 times;
15.6.44 wound code 18 indicating Pneumonia, hospitalised at Feldlazerett (Motorisiert) 5 Luftwaffe
1.4.44 wound code 31a indicating bulletwounds, hospitalised in Kriegslazarett Belgrad
6.9.44 wound code 31u(is probably a) indicating bulletwounds, hospitalised in Reserve Lazarett II Olmuss Teillazerett Pöttingeum which is a Neo Gothic style school building in Olomouc, Czech. During the war this was used as a Feldlazarett.

He was awarded the Iron Cross second class on 26.1.1943. He was awarded the black wound badge on 8.9.44.

His last furlough was granted on 20.10.44 and lasted 7 days indicating he was back with his unit 27th of October.
Prior to the Ardennes offensive he was drafted in Artillerie Regiment 179 which was a part of the 79 Volksgrenadier Division during the Ardennes offensive. His unit fought in the Ardenes at Vianden, Bourscheid and later retreated to the Westwall. Early in 1945 it fought hard battles with US divisions in Germany. The soldbuch would be a good base for further research!

Flugzeugführer document grouping to Obergefreiter Arnold Merth. The grouping consists of his Flugzeugführer document and his Luftwaffe Flugzeugführerschein. Merth attended the Flugzeugführerschule B20 and learned to fly the Ju 52, Si 204 and HE 111- E, F, B, P.