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01-09-2011 06:45 PM
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Re: Wehrpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Campaign Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
by
DUJAILAH
My main problem is that I can't find any record of Panzer Regt. 12. Have I totally misread the entry?
Yes, actually, it says "Grenzwacht-Regiment 12", a short-lived formation raised on 26 August 1939 and disbanded again in the autumn 1939.
I've filled in the blanks:
Ewald had served in WW1 with Pommersches Jäger Batallion Nr. 2 (Culm) from 22/02/1918 to 04/03/1919. This Wehrpass was issued on 28/08/1937; but Ewald had served on a Grenzwacht-Übung [Border Guard exercise] at Hammerstein from 02/05/1937 to 13/05/1937. He saw some service with 4. Übungskompanie Deutsch Krone 1 from 28/01/1938 to 08/02/1938 before going on active service with 4. Komp. Grenzwacht-Regiment 12 on 25/08/1939. Ewald took part of the invasion of Poland that started on 01/09/1939. He was Killed in Action nine days later on 10/09/1939 at Wylatowo were the Germans met stiff Polish resistance.
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
Bravo H.P., splendid translation as usual. Great history with that pass, Richard, very nice.
Jay
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
Very nice WP. I have a soft spot for Poland KIA wehrpasses and have 3 although the earliest one I have is for the 15th Sept. The best book in the English language on the Polish campaign is Case White by William Russ but typically I can't find my copy at the moment so can't mention what it says about any fighting at Wylatowo. If I can locate it I will let you know if it says anything.
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
by
DUJAILAH
Were the units raised as a preparation for the invasion of Poland? I suppose the units were disbanded in Autumn 1939 as the border no longer existed.
The Lexikon der Wehrmacht website has this to say about the Grenzwacht-Regimenter (translation by me):
"The establishment of these regiments has its reason in the end of World War I and the Versailles Treaty. Since it was not possible to defend Germany's Eastern Border with the forces permitted under this treaty, the Reichswehr raised secret self-defence formations. These consisted of volunteers, who did their duty in these formations unpaid. Later, these units were consolidated into permanent formations and subordinated to the Wehrkreiskommandos [Military District Commands]. Thus, the Grenzschutz-Abschnitts-Kommandos (Divisionsstäbe) [= Border Guard Sector Commands (Divisional Staffs)] were established, whose duty was to defend a defined border sector in case of an armed conflict with Poland. Subordinated to them were the Grenzwacht-Abschnitte (Regimenter) [= Border Guard Sectors (Regiments)]. The pertinent weapons and uniforms were kept in storage by the Zeugämter [= Arsenals] and were only to be issued in crisis situations. The regiments were called up in late August [1939]."
The above info is from this site...:
Lexikon der Wehrmacht
...which also includes a listing of these regiments linking to their respective data pages. (all German language)
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
Thanks again HPL2008, brilliant info, cheers, Richard.
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
by
hucks216
Very nice WP. I have a soft spot for Poland KIA wehrpasses and have 3 although the earliest one I have is for the 15th Sept. The best book in the English language on the Polish campaign is Case White by William Russ but typically I can't find my copy at the moment so can't mention what it says about any fighting at Wylatowo. If I can locate it I will let you know if it says anything.
Thanks hucks216, I was pleased to get the WP as I didn't have a Polish Campaign Casualty. I don't know where I got the Wylatowo info from as I can't find the reference on the net now!! If you do find anything I'd be very interested, Cheers, Richard.
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
I wouldn't be surprised if the location of Wylatowo is now known by a Polish name so it could be hard to track down. Here is a very good description of the events of 10th September 1939 during the Polish Campaign...
10
I wonder if the location was near the Bzura River as the Battle Of The Bzura was the largest battle of the Polish Campaign which commenced on the 9th September and lasted for 10 days after which the Germans controlled western Poland.
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Re: Werhpass to Ewald Messerschmidt. Polish Casualty 10/09/39. Panzers?
Hi Hucks216, I've found this ref on the net Wylatowo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cheers, Richard.
Last edited by DUJAILAH; 01-10-2011 at 09:58 PM.
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