When we think about the Wehrmacht in WW2 we tend to think about Panzer divisions and motorized warfare, for example when we think about the battle of the bulge we have a picture in our mind of the Tiger II and Panther tanks in the valleys of the Ardennes.
And although the German army had taken armoured and motorized warfare to a whole new level, the WH still was made up of classic infantry divisions that depended for a very large part on horse traction for the transportation of their field guns and supplies, a big contrast to the US and British/Canadian armies which were fully motorized.
The Soldbuch this thread is about is good example of how old fashioned the Germany army still was equipped even during its final big offensive in December 1944.
Werner Brinkmeier was the regimental blacksmith of Füselier Regiment 39, of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, which played an important role in the battle for Bastogne, it belonged to the XXXXVII Panzerkorps of the 5th Panzer Army and had 5000 horses at his disposal!
At the time he was issued this Soldbuch in August 1939 Werner Brinkmeier, a blacksmith from Humfeld was already a Feldwebel in the 4th MG company of IR78 (26ID).
In June 1942 he is promoted to the rank of Oberbeschlagmeister and he takes care of the horseshoes of IR39 (26ID).
His task of blacksmith doesn't mean he isn't a soldier, according to his Soldbuch he was involved in no less then seven close combat engagements; oddly enough he wasn't awarded an Infantry Assault Badge.
His unit is engaged on the eastern front continuously from June '41 till the summer of 1944 when they are taken away from frontline duty and are rebuild as Volksgrenadier Division, the ranks are filled with former Kriegsmarine personel.
An example of a former KM gunner that was transferred to the 26VGD:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?5054-Soldbuch-GR78-WIA-Bastogne-44&highlight=GR78
In November '44 they are on full strength again an now transferred to the western front, in the Dasburg area they will await for the start of operation Wacht am Rhein.
In his Soldbuch we can see that also Werner Brinkmeier gets new equipment, for example a new pistol and gasmask but also a helmet with camo net.
These equipment entries are the last in his Soldbuch, was he one of the many 26VGD soldiers taken POW in the battle for Bastogne?
I don't know but he sure could have been; because the next clue we have is a POW ID card from May 23 1945, according to this POW ID card he has POW serialnumber 1228877, a number which still is low enough to be that of a battle of the bulge POW of January/February '45.
Enjoy watching the images.
Peter
And although the German army had taken armoured and motorized warfare to a whole new level, the WH still was made up of classic infantry divisions that depended for a very large part on horse traction for the transportation of their field guns and supplies, a big contrast to the US and British/Canadian armies which were fully motorized.
The Soldbuch this thread is about is good example of how old fashioned the Germany army still was equipped even during its final big offensive in December 1944.
Werner Brinkmeier was the regimental blacksmith of Füselier Regiment 39, of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, which played an important role in the battle for Bastogne, it belonged to the XXXXVII Panzerkorps of the 5th Panzer Army and had 5000 horses at his disposal!
At the time he was issued this Soldbuch in August 1939 Werner Brinkmeier, a blacksmith from Humfeld was already a Feldwebel in the 4th MG company of IR78 (26ID).
In June 1942 he is promoted to the rank of Oberbeschlagmeister and he takes care of the horseshoes of IR39 (26ID).
His task of blacksmith doesn't mean he isn't a soldier, according to his Soldbuch he was involved in no less then seven close combat engagements; oddly enough he wasn't awarded an Infantry Assault Badge.
His unit is engaged on the eastern front continuously from June '41 till the summer of 1944 when they are taken away from frontline duty and are rebuild as Volksgrenadier Division, the ranks are filled with former Kriegsmarine personel.
An example of a former KM gunner that was transferred to the 26VGD:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?5054-Soldbuch-GR78-WIA-Bastogne-44&highlight=GR78
In November '44 they are on full strength again an now transferred to the western front, in the Dasburg area they will await for the start of operation Wacht am Rhein.
In his Soldbuch we can see that also Werner Brinkmeier gets new equipment, for example a new pistol and gasmask but also a helmet with camo net.
These equipment entries are the last in his Soldbuch, was he one of the many 26VGD soldiers taken POW in the battle for Bastogne?
I don't know but he sure could have been; because the next clue we have is a POW ID card from May 23 1945, according to this POW ID card he has POW serialnumber 1228877, a number which still is low enough to be that of a battle of the bulge POW of January/February '45.
Enjoy watching the images.
Peter
