Back from a trip to the Auvere

[Paul D]

Forgot to ask Dim , what is in photo no 9 ?

cheers

Paul

[Dimas]

Forgot to ask Dim , what is in photo no 9 ?

cheers

Paul

This is the gasplane bag with some papers inside and a piece of zelluloid envelope with postcard inside.
Also the first helmet on the picture found in the place where we park our cars first day when we work with shell hole.

[Dimas]

There a couple of the items now. So, the Geb jag tag is absolutely oxidized and after dry - lost partly the inscription ( what is the good to make a pictures being found)
The zelluloid case is probably for the Soldbuch, but unfortunately just a postcard inside, which we will not touch it. That all stuff belonged to the SS Geb Jag, all of the soldiers was absolutely broken and just a partsof them in the bottom of the trench was found, as you can see the dog tag is also damaged, due of that all personal stuff was found with him, due of no war time maradeurs would like to touch him. Strange that was not a Soldbuch with him. I'am wondered to know the language ( I think it's Romanian ), there was some papers in this language unfortunately that is what I can make with rotten papers.
Note that the same number on the leather pouch, looks like they was issued with dog tags to the owners.
The SS Germania dog tag is the same as shown in the book Jean Hoeidal
Deutsche Erkennungsmarken, and I'am wondered that number in his book is 26580, our is 26562... just difference in 18
Probably was found in that area too...

[Paul D]

Hi Dimas,

Very interesting i think the language is probably Rumanian as well , looks like they have been killed by Artillery or Katyushas what do you think ? , interesting to see the numbers on the leather pouch as well as the dog tag.

Odd that the soldbuch has gone as with the tags being whole ones they have been there since they were killed and no Germans have tried to recover them.

The numbers on the Germania one suggest they were in the same training intake only 18 apart !!

I have been checking all my maps and think that these could be the postions of 7 Kompanie SS Pz Gren Rgt 23 Norge. During the Tannenburg battles most of Norge were in the forests south of the railway but 7 Kompanie were attached to III Btl Danmark and were in this area, it 's possible that the raised up area in the field, where all the stones and brickwork are, closer to the rail line than where we were digging was where the Command post of III Danmark was , until they were taken by Soviet forces and withdrew to Grenadier Hill.

Gurov says he thinks that Soviet infantry troops were also in the trenches we have found.

Hopefully the Volksbund will be able to help with the unit ID as well as the men ??

regards

Paul

[Dimas]

Hi Paul, The number is visible on the picture I'veposted above, there pencil written on it. There both, artillery and katyushas and 120 mm mortars.
I thought that Danmark positions is on the graveyard line and over railway. Can you post some maps I would like to look at them, due I havenot a great source for them

[Paul D]

Hi Dim,

Will attach a map and some text which i beleive could relate to the area we were in or at least as close to it as anything i have seen on maps etc.

If this is right it would put the date of death of our guys as probably 27th July but also maybe a day either side !!

Let me know what you think ?

[Dimas]

Here is detailed maps, and we think that tis is the first casualities at the beginning of fight, when the Soviets attack and take the first hill
Take a look at the pictures and try to find another trenchlines
1-2 our first ss- men
3 old road which is clearly seen from the bird flight
4- other finds
For comparision take a look at the other maps

[Dimas]

Compare the maps, from a map 9./24

[gurov]

Did Gurov manage to excavate them ok ?

regards

Paul

Hello Paul, Sorry but i couldn't to clean them up. Two of them were in poor condition (blowed up) and another two were founded by Robocop. It was rainy and it was in late evening, it was dark there, and we have no time.
I'll try another time if it will.

[Paul D]

Hi Dim,

Great aerial photos they make it much easier and good work superimposing the map !!

Definately looks like the area of 9 Kompanie SS Pz Gren Rgt 24 Danmark

Probably during the Battle some units will have got mixed up which may explain the Norge dog tag.

Danmark had a strength of 40% Danes, 25% Germans and 35% Ethnic Germans from Rumania so called Banat and Siebenburgen Germans with some transferred from Prinz Eugen !!

Situation was similar in the Norge Regt.