"I once had a comrade". Photos of graves of German soldiers.

[Willmore]

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting so I hope I have this right
Here is a photo of my wife's uncles grave
Gefr W BENNING. He died on 17th May 1940 at La Besace France. He was first buried in Raucourt and then reburied sometime later in Noyes-Pont-Maugis military cemetery near Sedan.

The photo shows other names which I read as Gefr VOGELSANG, Gefr DIEKERT (BIEKERT?), Gefr W. BENNING and Feldix? SCHIELE.

The second photo is of his grave at Noyes-Pont which we recently visited

Hi Dave.

Thank you for sharing this with us. I had a search and found some information for you and your wife.

Name: Wilhelm Benning
Rank: Gefreiter
Birth Date: 23 January 1921
Birth Place: Münster
Military Unit: 6./Kompanie Infanterie Regiment 79
Death Date: 17 May 1940
Death Place: Raucourt

His cause of death is noted as Gefallen: Kopfschuß (Killed in action: Head shot)










Volksbund entry -

Willi Benning | Grabersuche-Online


Infanterie Regiment 79 -

Infanterieregiment 79 - Lexikon der Wehrmacht

16. Infanterie Division -

16. Infanteriedivision - Lexikon der Wehrmacht


BATTLE OF STONNE (15-18 May 1940) -
(When you see 16. ID mentioned, this is Wilhelms Division)

Battle of Stonne 15-17 May 1940 - Axis History Forum


Here is some information on the soldier Wilhelm is buried with.

Name: Josef Diekert
Rank: Gefreiter
Birth Date: 6 Jul 1915)
Birth Place: Marl
Military Unit: 7./Kompanie Infanteeie Regt 79
Death Date: 23 May 1940
Death Place: 4 Km Südl Raucourt La Besace

His cause of death is notes as Gefallen: Artillerie Geschuß Kopf und Bein (Killed in action: Artillerie shot, head and leg)




Kind regards,

Will.

[Witt]

Here are the cards for the other two fallen men shown in the photograph.



Name: August Schiele
Date of birth: 16.1.1914
Place of birth: Osnabrück
Death/missing date: 17.5.1940
Death/missing place: 5km südlich Raucourt

August was a Feldwebel in 7./Infanterie Regiment 79



Name: Wilhelm Vogelsang
Date of birth: 01.10.1913
Place of birth: Münster
Death/missing date: 23.5.1940
Death/missing place: La Besace

Wilhelm was a Gefreiter in 7./Infanterie Regiment 79 fallen by artillerie geschuß brust (artillerie shot to the chest)



They were originally buried at Friedhof Raucourt, shown in the first photograph.

[MrDaveC]

Hi Will
Many thanks for the info you provided. There were a few things that I didn't know about, so this is really interesting. Where did you search for this information? I had been in contact with the Federal Archive and they provided me with just a little of this.

[Willmore]

Hi Will
Many thanks for the info you provided. There were a few things that I didn't know about, so this is really interesting. Where did you search for this information? I had been in contact with the Federal Archive and they provided me with just a little of this.

Hi Dave.

You can access the casualty cards on Ancestry, but you need a subscription. The great thing about these is that you can tell what unit the soldier was with. Then by searching online you can find out where his unit was and any battles they were involved in. I have heard the Federal Archive can be hit and miss, but if you received any documents or information you need a hand with just let us know.

Kind regards,

Will.

[TabsTabs1964]

Richard Soff
16.8.41
13/ I.R. 102?
Konstantinowka


Gfr. Alois Knoblauch

[Willmore]

Hi Santi.

You are right about the unit from the first photo and here is what I found.

Name: Richard Soff
Rank: Schütze
Birth Date: 27 April 1917
Birth Place: Grasengrun Karlsbad
Military Unit: 13./Kompanie Infanterie Regiment 102
Death Date: 16 August 1941
Death Place: Konstantimowka

His cause of death is noted as Unfall: Beim Baden Ertrunken (Accident: Drowned while bathing)



Richard Soff was not recovered during our re-interment activities. The planned transfer to the collective cemetery in Kyjiw -Sammelfriedhof Ukraine was, therefore, unfortunately not possible. His name will be recorded in the cemetery's memorial book.


From the Feldpost number (21976 - Stab 1 u. 1.-4. Kompanie Infanterie-Regiment 102), here are there the details for the second soldier.

Name:Hermann Schreiber
Rank: Oberschütze
Birth Date: 26 August 1911
Birth Place: Haynau / Schles
Military Unit: 3./Kompanie Infanterie Regiment 102
Death Date: 16 August 1941
Death Place: Budki

His cause of death is notes as Ertrunken: Beim Waschen der Pferde (Drowned: Washing the horses)



Hermann Schreiber has not yet been transferred to a military cemetery set up by the Volksbund.
According to the information available to us, his grave is currently in the following place: Budki / Tscherkassy - Ukraine.


Second photo -

Name: Aloys Knoblauch
Rank: Gefreiter
Birth Date: 22 November 1909
Birth Place: Reinerswalde Heilsberg
Military Unit: 1./Kommpanie Nachrichten Abteilung 31
Death Date: 29 June 1941
Death Place: Feldlazarett 4/582 Ostrowo Bei Rozana

His cause of death is noted as Verstorben: Rückensteckschuß, Lungen und Herzschuß (Deceased: shot in the back, lungs and heart)

Steckschuß = A retained projectile, eg a bullet or piece of shrapnel stuck in the body.



Aloys Knoblauch has not yet been transferred to a military cemetery set up by the Volksbund.
According to the information available to us, his grave is currently in the following place: Rushany - Belarus.

Kind regards,

Will.

[TabsTabs1964]

Thank you very much Will

I never would have thought about it.
Two soldiers accidentally drowned. One of them bathing the horses..... I imagine the terrible heat it would be on August 16, 1941 in Belarus....







Regards
Santi

[Willmore]

My pleasure Santi.

Thank you for adding the photos, they perfectly illustrate the likely scenario that occurred on that day.

Kind regrads,

Will.