Heer Photo Album - Pionier Btl 753

[KatManDude]

Hello all...I would like to share some pictures from my latest photo album acquisition....I am a big fan of personal photo albums, in the group I received a photo album, Arbeitsbuch and a large group of loose photos....close to 400 in total with all of the usual stuff...there are quite a few interesting photos that I want to share so I think I'll just show them in subject groups.....

the group belonged to Josef Schmid and he was in Pionier Battalion 753(1 Komp) from Feb 1941 to, I assume, the end of the war…there are lots of pictures of camp life, marching, bridge building and sights. Also quite a few pictures of Russian civilians and POW’s along with several tank photos....there are also several grave photos from his unit and I am currently compiling a list of the names ,dates and places for the KIA's

Pionier Btl 753 is a little difficult to track and I am still researching….it seems they were a standalone unit that moved around to support different Infantry divisions and the 20th Panzer Division, they were assigned to the 3rd Panzer army and fought entirely in the east, to the gates of Moscow and then the long retreat to the Baltics…

First up are some photos of the troops, most I assume are from the 1/ PI Btl 753

I am still researching and several of the photos are noted and dated, I just have to piece it all together but any input is appreciated....I'll add some tank and equipment pics next round

I think this may be his unit...a few decorations in there




The fellow with the hands is well decorated


bad pic but center guy has the tank destruction badge on his sleeve






bunker busting ?


couple of helmet close ups

[TabsTabs1964]

Excellent find. I will follow your thread with interest.

Regards
Santi

[BlackCat1982]

Looks like a super album and group of items you have acquired KatManDude. Plenty of research material there.

[KatManDude]

thanks guys...it's a ton of stuff to plow thru and slightly complicated but I do enjoy puzzles....here are some equipment pics, german and soviet, there are several pictures of a freshly destroyed T-34 with the deceased crew, I've only included the most benign casualty and wonder if they knocked that tank out

german





feldgedarme


KV-2, Katushka, T34




freshly destroyed T34





russian bomber


not sure what these are but I assume russian

[KatManDude]

next up some russian POW and civilian pics...not sure how he acquired them

POW





civilians




my favorite

[BlackCat1982]

The armoured cars are Russian BA-10 I think.

[KatManDude]

some lighter stuff....last one will be all of the graves from his unit but I need to do a little research first

love this one...full of luft and heer unit signs, lazarette, feldpost etc...along with a couple of fellows who just marched in


you would figure the engineers have the best field shower


not sure what is going on here...child of the camp cook?


typical goof off photo


for Santi

[KatManDude]

Here’s the last group…there are several shots of graves and I am not sure they are all from his unit…just curious, did Pioniers build graveyards ?

These are the fellows I could identify in chronological order…all are from his unit except one which has an unusual unit designation….I’ve found casualty cards on some of them….

• (Ltn) Johann “Hans” Ditscheid Dec 2, 1941
• (Pion) Karl Metzger Dec 2, 1941
• (Gefr) Heinrich Kuhlmann Dec 2, 1941
• (Pion) Alois Liesmann Dec 2, 1941

All of the guys above were killed by a landmine, I assume they were in a vehicle and one may have died in the field hospital

• (Gefr) Helmut Muhle July 14 1941 (J-Trupp #45)
• (ObGefr) Eugen Bremicker 1942
• (Pion) Wilhelm Tonnes Dec 24, 1942
• (Uffz) Karl Reuscher Jan 9, 1943








helmets with chickenwire and camo covers

[TabsTabs1964]

Great, great photos.
Thank you very much.

Regards
Santi

[Witt]

Really a fantastic looking album full of interesting and well-taken photos. All of the tank photos and that of Stalin’s organs are very nice. I have many KV-2 photos so it’s always nice to see more photos of those beasts.
For me, the photo with the guy wearing the tank destruction badge takes the cake. That is the only photo I would need to see to add such a neat album to the collection.

Thanks much for sharing this one.
-Ben