Close Combat Clasp In Silver Soldbuch

[hucks216]

The latest item in my collection is this zweitschrift issue soldbuch (issued January 1944) to Uffz Georg Pape who served in Infantry/Grenadier Rgt 78 of 26 Infantry Division and won the Nahkampfspange 1 & 2 Stufe as well as the EK II & I.
At the end of 1944/beginning of 1945 Pape was posted to the Wehrertüchtigungslagern system which were a sort of military fitness camps for the HJ... Axis History Factbook: Hitlerjugend: Wehrertüchtigungslagern (WEL)
Pape was posted to the WE-Lager: HJ-Gebiet 9 (Westfahlen Nord) - WEL - Augustdorf bei Sennelager. There is an additional piece of paper stapled into the soldbuch that denotes some kind of course I think but I am finding it hard to make out the words. I think it has something to do with being an instructor in aircraft tracking but I am far from certain of that.

[hucks216]

During his front line service George Pape was awarded the following:

Ost Medal - July 1942
Black Wound Badge - August 1943
Infantry Assault Badge - September 1943
EK II - September 1943
EK I - May 1944
Nahkampfspange 1 Stufe - May 1944
Nahkampfspange 2 Stufe - September 1944

An added bonus is the Nahkampftage slips are still present showing the 30 days he was awarded for the Bronze & Silver awards. Also present is another slip of paper showing his posting details as a trainer in the WE-Lager system at Augustdorf.

[John Brandon]

Ouch, bet that one hurt the pocket Kev
Even better when you know how to research it properly. Another nice piece

[hucks216]

Ouch, bet that one hurt the pocket Kev
Even better when you know how to research it properly. Another nice piece

It was actually quite reasonably priced I think considering the Nahkampfspange Silber & EK I entries. It was abit less then 380 Euros (including postage) so I was pleased with it. As is the way of things, this is the first CCCiS related soldbuch I have obtained for my collection but I am shortly about to trade a Wehrpass group for another one (with citations) and as a matter of pure coincidence that soldiers surname is also Pape!

[Justin P]

Congrats on adding this nice SB to your Collection. Nicely filled out award page! and Combat dates. Any new news on the Pape connection with the other WP?

[hucks216]

I should be receiving that other CCCiS soldbuch grouping anyday now.

[Paul D]

A nice one Kevin i love the ones to real combat veterans !!

[hucks216]

As mentioned above I was waiting for a second CCCiS soldbuch to arrive. It now has and here it is - to a soldier with the same surname as that above.

Franz Pape served with Infantry/Grenadier Rgt 2 of the 11 Infantry Division for most of the war but after being wounded in mid 1944 he spent until March 1945 in hospital and was then assigned to Grenadier Rgt 418 of the 281 Infantry Division, fighting on the Oder Front.

Uffz Franz Pape won the following awards:

25.04.1942 - Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
15.08.1942 - Russian Front Medal
23.03.1944 - Iron Cross 2nd Class
03.05.1944 - Wound Badge in Black
01.05.1944 - Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
01.06.1944 - Wound Badge in Silver
18.08.1944 - Close Combat Clasp in Silver




Five of seven of the citations were with the group but unfortunately the Ost Medal & CCCiS citations are the two that are missing.
Interestingly the Silver Wound Badge citation has a Close Combat Clasp link as it is signed by Major Franz Dutter who was a rare dual winner of the Knights Cross & Close Combat Clasp In Gold.

[Paul D]

Another nice one Kevin and from a genuine Narwa Front Kampfer , all his 44 combat awards are for the fighting at Narva where 11 ID was heavily commited from early Feb 1944 , my area of expertise !!! Many of his close combat days will have been in the forests and swamps of the Auwere bridghead and the sack battles south of the Narva-Tallinn rail line.

Excellent signature of Franz Dutter as well , a real gem of a soldbuch.

regards

Paul

[hucks216]

Thanks for that Paul. It is always good to be able to add these geographical details to the paperwork. I knew the EK II might of been for Narva but it is especially appreciated that you have been able to provide specific areas for where the fighting took place during those months.