Wehrpaß Artillerie Regiment 29 (mot) Verstorben

[BlackCat1982]

This is a Wehrpass to Georg Ernst who was born in Nortmoor in the Leer district of Lower Saxony on 23rd February 1923.





The Wehrpass was opened on 10th June 1941 in Aurich when he was conscripted, (dienstplichtiger) into OKW. Educated at a Volkschule. I believe his religion was ev. luth (evangelisch-lutherisch) and he was single. He listed his Father Hinrich as next of kin as his Mother had died in 1927.



Active Service commenced for Georg on 23 April 1942 when he was placed in 3./Le. Art Ers Abt 22.

Entstellungstag – starting service date. 14th April 1942.

Unit: 3. L. Art. Ers. Abt 22. Verden.

Oath taken on 25th April 1942.

14.4.42 – 15.10.42: 3. L. Art. Ers. Abt 22.
16.10.42 – 16.12.42: Marsch Batterie Le. A.E.A. 22
18.12.42 – 28.2.43: 1/A.R (Mot) 345
1.3.43 – 15.10.44: 4/A.R.29 (Mot)
16.10.44 – 3.11.44: 4/A.R.29 (Mot)



He was trained to use his K98 rifle as well as the Light Field Howitzer type 18. There is some other training courses he undertook Rechner and Richts.


1.7.43 - Promotion to Gefreiter
1.5.44 – Promotion to Obergefreiter


Vaccinations


Combat engagements:
bis 26.12.1942 - Verwendung im Heimatkriegsgebiet
ab 27.12.1942 - Küstenschutz an der Mittelmeerküste
27.2 – 15.6.43: Südfrankreich
16.6 – 13.7.43: Küstenschutz in Italien
14.7 – 15.8.43: Schlacht in Sizilien
16.8 – 9.9.43: Verteigungs Rückzugsgefechte in Calabrien
10.9 – 18.9.43: Schlacht von Salerno
19.9 – 20.11.43: Abwehrkampf in Süditalien und Absetzen auf den Garigliano und Sangro.
21.11.43 – 4.3.44: Abwehrkampf in Mittelitalien
12.5 – 22.9.44: Kampf in Mittelitalien
3.11.44: Lungendurchschuß = Shot through the lung.



Medical treatment:
22.9.44: Lungendurchschuß whilst attached to 4/A.R.29 (Mot) S.Mauro/Mittelitalien.
3.11.44: Death. Whilst at Kriegslazarett 914 at Badgastein, Austria.

Today Georg Wilhelm Ernst lies at rest in grave 373 in the Kriegsgräberstätte in Böckstein, Austria. Near to the site of the Kriegslazarett where he died. There is no casualty card for him that I have found.

This is my first attempt at deciphering a Wehrpass and I would be grateful for any corrections or additions from my fellow enthusiasts.

[toot]

a nice history of a young lad.

[Willmore]

Hi BlackCat

A very nice Wehrpass and you did a great job translating it too!. Thanks for sharing it with us.


The only things I can expand on

I’m reading his religion as ev. luth (evangelisch-lutherisch)

As for the training, I am reading Rechner and Richts???

I’m hesitant to say this, but I wondering if these could be devices or equipment used for artillery sighting or calculation.
Der Verein

On page 32 I read -

bis
26.12.1942 - Verwendung im Heimatkriegsgebiet
ab
27.12.1942 - Küstenschutz an der Mittelmeerküste

[BlackCat1982]

Thank you for the observations and additions Willmore I appreciate you taking the time to look through it.

[Paul D]

One of my main areas of collecting is paperwork / photos etc to 29 ID (Mot ) , 29 Panzer Grenadier Division so nice to see this Wehrpass showing his post Stalingrad service with the Division .

[BlackCat1982]

Thank you for the comments Paul D, sadly for young Georg there was no relief in joining the reformed 29th Pz Grenadier Division post Stalingrad. I will try to unearth more about him if I can.

[TWS]

Minor correction: Lungendurchschuß = Shot through the lung.

Nice Wehrpaß. If he'd had service with AR 29 (mot.) at Stalingrad, I'd be trying to buy it from you.

[BlackCat1982]

Thank you for the confirmation of injury, I had wondered what context he was injured in, being motorised artillery I had assumed that it was as an indirect result of enemy action i.e Shrapnel rather than a bullet wound.

[TWS]

Thank you for the confirmation of injury, I had wondered what context he was injured in, being motorised artillery I had assumed that it was as an indirect result of enemy action i.e Shrapnel rather than a bullet wound.

It may be possible to search around and find out what kind of action his Batterie or at least Batallion was involved in on that day. However, an artillery man being shot was nothing too unusual. Often artillery units had to take up their personal arms and defend their firing positions against enemy that had broken through (and also crank their cannons down for direct fire). And there were also partisan ambushes behind the HKL, especially along the roads as a unit drove past.

But yes, more artillery men were struck by indirect fire, in particular when the enemy had located them and was applying counter-battery fire to try and silence their guns. The Germans were a bit better at that than the Soviets but the Red Army certainly did it when they could manage.

[Paul D]

Thank you for the confirmation of injury, I had wondered what context he was injured in, being motorised artillery I had assumed that it was as an indirect result of enemy action i.e Shrapnel rather than a bullet wound.

I have the Divisional Histrories of the Falke Division plus copies of the Divisional newsletter whilst they were in Italy i'll check them out to see if it sheds any light on that day .