Hello,
Because of the white Christmas weather I’am basically locked up in my home so I’ll use the time I am spending inside to share this Soldbuch from my collection with all of you, it is a Soldbuch of a sergeant that served in a reconnaissance unit (Aufklarungs Abteilung) in Westfeldzug in 1940.
You gun collectors will like the pistol entries in this Soldbuch, besides the army issue pistols, Karl Diekmann had also a private purchase pistol.
On August 26 1939 (the period of the big mobilization in Europe) the 269 Infantry Division is formed, two days later Karl Diekmann is issued with this Soldbuch.
In 1939 Karl Diekmann is a 22 year old mechanic; he has done previous army service because he is already a sergeant in '39 when he assigned to the staff of AA269.
In '39-'40 the 269 ID is a classic WH infantry division that is assigned to the 6th army for the invasion of the Low countries; most men are conscripts that still have to march in to combat like the soldiers of Napoleon but the recon unit of this division is equipped with motorized vehicles (cars, motorbikes) and bicycles.
On the morning of May 10 1940 the war starts for Karl Diekmann, his unit drives through the Southern tip of Holland and enters Belgium just South of the famous fort Eben-Emael, at the time they cross the Albert canal South of the fort the Southern pointed guns of the fort aren't taken out by the Fj's and these guns make a lot of casualties with the men of the 269ID.
On May 12 the advance troops of the 269ID, Vorausgruppe (major) Budde, occupy Liege; this isn't the same victory as it was in August 1914 because in 1940 the Belgian army doesn't really defend Liege, except of the obsolete forts that are build around the town.
AA269 continuous to move Southwest, towards Namur, pursuing the French army; and on May 23 they are involved in the battle for Thulin.
Thulin is a small town in Southern Belgium and the battle for control over it was just one of the many small battles that was fought in May/June 1940, it wasn't an important battle, the only fact that made it special is that the famous German war reporter, Borchert, was there and made a large article with lots of photo's about it for the German newspapers.
For Karl Diekmann the battle of Thulin is important because he was seriously wounded in it and he was also awarded with an EKII for it.
During the battle for Thulin he gets hit in his bottom by shrapnel, he remains in hospital for 6 weeks.
When he returns to active service he becomes a truck driver in various units of the 269ID, the 14th company of IR489 (an anti tank unit) and AR269, the artillery regiment of the 269ID, so it seems that because of his wound he isn’t fit enough anymore to continue to serve in a recon unit anymore.
In 1941/42 his unit is involved in the siege of Leningrad. In August 1942 he will get a winter war medal (Ost Medaille für Winterkampf) for it, in 1943 he also gets the truck driver proficiency badge (Kraftfahrerbewährüngsabzeichen).
At the end of 1942 the 269ID is transferred to Norway, where they will stay till the end of 1944 when then they are transferred to the Vosgez area.
Because of the white Christmas weather I’am basically locked up in my home so I’ll use the time I am spending inside to share this Soldbuch from my collection with all of you, it is a Soldbuch of a sergeant that served in a reconnaissance unit (Aufklarungs Abteilung) in Westfeldzug in 1940.
You gun collectors will like the pistol entries in this Soldbuch, besides the army issue pistols, Karl Diekmann had also a private purchase pistol.
On August 26 1939 (the period of the big mobilization in Europe) the 269 Infantry Division is formed, two days later Karl Diekmann is issued with this Soldbuch.
In 1939 Karl Diekmann is a 22 year old mechanic; he has done previous army service because he is already a sergeant in '39 when he assigned to the staff of AA269.
In '39-'40 the 269 ID is a classic WH infantry division that is assigned to the 6th army for the invasion of the Low countries; most men are conscripts that still have to march in to combat like the soldiers of Napoleon but the recon unit of this division is equipped with motorized vehicles (cars, motorbikes) and bicycles.
On the morning of May 10 1940 the war starts for Karl Diekmann, his unit drives through the Southern tip of Holland and enters Belgium just South of the famous fort Eben-Emael, at the time they cross the Albert canal South of the fort the Southern pointed guns of the fort aren't taken out by the Fj's and these guns make a lot of casualties with the men of the 269ID.
On May 12 the advance troops of the 269ID, Vorausgruppe (major) Budde, occupy Liege; this isn't the same victory as it was in August 1914 because in 1940 the Belgian army doesn't really defend Liege, except of the obsolete forts that are build around the town.
AA269 continuous to move Southwest, towards Namur, pursuing the French army; and on May 23 they are involved in the battle for Thulin.
Thulin is a small town in Southern Belgium and the battle for control over it was just one of the many small battles that was fought in May/June 1940, it wasn't an important battle, the only fact that made it special is that the famous German war reporter, Borchert, was there and made a large article with lots of photo's about it for the German newspapers.
For Karl Diekmann the battle of Thulin is important because he was seriously wounded in it and he was also awarded with an EKII for it.
During the battle for Thulin he gets hit in his bottom by shrapnel, he remains in hospital for 6 weeks.
When he returns to active service he becomes a truck driver in various units of the 269ID, the 14th company of IR489 (an anti tank unit) and AR269, the artillery regiment of the 269ID, so it seems that because of his wound he isn’t fit enough anymore to continue to serve in a recon unit anymore.
In 1941/42 his unit is involved in the siege of Leningrad. In August 1942 he will get a winter war medal (Ost Medaille für Winterkampf) for it, in 1943 he also gets the truck driver proficiency badge (Kraftfahrerbewährüngsabzeichen).
At the end of 1942 the 269ID is transferred to Norway, where they will stay till the end of 1944 when then they are transferred to the Vosgez area.