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Soldbuch of a recon NCO

Peter U

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Staff member
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.
 

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The history of battle for Thulin:

On May 15 & 17 the Luftwaffe had bombed and strafed the roads South of Thulin, roads that were full with refugees and beaten French troops that were searching for safety behind the fortifications of the Northern front of the Maginot line.
On May 20 AA269 occupied the town and its crossroads, the infantry regiments of 269ID were fighting Northwest of Thulin against French troops that were defending the fortress area of Hergnies (Valenciennes).
In the meanwhile the French infantry regiment 158, commanded by Pierre Puccinelli (part of the French 43rd infantry division) was fighting in Maubeuge, after four days of fighting they are surrounded, and on May 21 there situation was getting desperate, and there was only one alternative and that was to withdraw Northwestwards towards Valenciennes.
It is a withdraw through German controlled area's , on May 22 units of the 43ID clash with German troops in Blarengies; the commander of the 12th French artillery regiment colonel André is KIA while fighting as an infantry soldier.
On the morning of May 23 a German out post (6 or 7 men of AA269) stationed at a crossroad South of Thulin was surprised to see a French motorcycle (capt J.Levresse & cpl R.Claus) coming from Elouges, a town the German soldier thought was in their hands; the German soldiers are really surprised and their is some confusion, but soon the first shots are fired and the motorcycle catches fire, col Puccinelli sees the smoke and realizes that his two men recon team has run in to trouble, he immediately gives the order to his troops to push towards the crossroad, the Germans guarding the crossroad are taken POW.
Colonel Puccinelli hopes to find food and ammo in the village of Thulin and decides to attack it in force, AA269 has used the railroad line that runs just South of Thulin as there defense line, but after some fierce hand-to-hand combat and fighting with fixed bayonets, the French assault is successful, and the men of AA269 withdraw from Thulin, and take up new positions North of the town behind the canal. (Lt Steinhoff of AA269 is KIA)
This French assault is a huge threat to the rear of the infantry regiments of 269ID.
What is important is that the commander of AA269 was able to sent a message, 6.30 am, to the divisional HQ of the strong French assault, now the commander of 269ID (gen. Hell) acted, he ordered AR59 to shell the town and his only available reserve, IR469 (commanded by col Tschüdi) to counterattack and to retake control of Thulin and its important crossroads.
The battle was fierce, Puccinelli was wounded in his HQ, but these fresh German soldiers were no match for the exhausted French infantry and after exhausting all there small arms ammo the French soldiers surrendered and on 10.00 am Thulin was back in German hands.
The exact casualty figure for this small battle has never been established but 14 French and 12 German soldiers were buried in Thulin.
According to some of the German soldiers of AA269 that were made POW during the battle, two Germans were KIA by German artillery fire; the Germans held the French responsible for not having adequately protected their POW's; Capt Levresse of 158RI was prosecuted by a German military court, first he was sentenced to 15 years, then the death penalty, which they commuted in to a life prison sentence.
 

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