Wehrpass - 255th Infantry Divsion

[KatManDude]

I really appreciated the additional detail on my Soldbuch posting and I hope maybe get some additional info on this wehrpass...my wife is a German native but sometimes she has a hard time with some of the older script....

This is one of my three wehrpass' where unfortunately the soldier was lost in combat in the east.

With this one I also received some additional supporting documents which were interesting.

brief details -

* Heinz Spindler born May 13, 1920
* called up Oct 4, 1940
* Bordeaux area (?) 10/40 - 6/41
* Operation Barbarossa
-- Pinsk July 1941
-- Smolensk Sep 1941
-- Moscow Dec 1941 (KIA)

I believe he was wounded in action on Dec 14 1941 and then passed from his wounds on Jan 12, 1942

awards -
EK 2 - Jun 28, 1941
Ostmedaille - posthumously awarded Sep 14, 1942

units when active --
Infantry Regiment 475 / Kompanie 6 * Oct 1940 - Jan 1941
Infantry Regimant 475 / Kompanie 5 * Jan 1941 - Dec 1941

inside cover


Mr Spindler


call up day


unit info


activity 1 - hard for me to read this one


activity 2


notice to report for induction(?) outside and inside



posthumous award document for the Ostmedaille which I assume was sent to his father with the medal and the wehrpass..there is also a note in the wehrpass awarding the medal


formal notice to next of kin



there you go....what I think is a nice group to have together....any help with the hard words would be appreciated

Thanks!

[Willmore]

Really nice Wehrpass, thank you for sharing it with us.


I struggled with some of this, so hopefully if I’ve made mistakes someone can correct them.


Page 32 -

V(on) - 16.10.40
B(ei) - 3.3.41 - Küstenschutz an der Franz (Französischen) Atlantikküste

Coastal defense on the French Atlantic coast

4.3.41 - 22.6.41 - Bei der besatzungs truppe im Ostraum

With the occupation force in the eastern area

22.6 - 14.12.41 - Kampf in Russland

Fight in Russia

Sorry, I just can’t get the last entry on the page.


Page 34 -

14.12.1941 - Rückensteckschuß

Rücken = Back

Steckschuß = gunshot wound with a retained projectile (bullet/shrapnel is in the body)

21.1.1941 - Verstorben = Deceased

His casualty card says he died at 17.00 hours in Feldlazarett 652 (mot) Gshatsk, Russia (Field post number - 13074).

Here is some information about this field hospital.
Posts by many - Page 4 - Forum der Wehrmacht

Interestingly his casualty card notes different injuries from those in the Wehrpass. I’m not sure what the first abbreviation is, possibly a complication due to his injuries.

Verstorben : ???? b.d fusse
I. G. Brustschuß

Verstorben : ???? beide beine fusse
Infanterie Geschuß Brustschuß

Deceased : ???? Both legs, feet
Infantry shot in the chest

[Willmore]

255. Infanterie Division.

255.Infanterie-Division - Feldgrau

Die 255. Infanterie-Division des Heeres

[KatManDude]

thanks !.....I was struggling to read it as well, even with my assistant....and thanks for the casualty card....much appreciated

[Willmore]

No problem Sir.

[BlackCat1982]

Interesting group. Perhaps the card saying shot in the chest was deemed more heroic than being shot in the back?

[Willmore]

I’ve had another look at the abbreviation on the casualty card and I think that Erfr may stand for Erfrierung = Frostbite.

[BlackCat1982]

That makes perfect sense for December 1941 at the gates of Moscow!