It has been a while since I promised to post the other battle of Stalingrad Soldbuch from my collection, but here it is:
Janisch Gerhard (°1912) was a professional soldier in the Wehrmacht, at the eve of war he was issued this Soldbuch, so we know he was sergeant in the 9th company of Armee Nachrichten Regiment 549 when WW2 broke out.
This was a signals unit that operated on an army level, initially it was attached to the 10th Army but from October 1939 onwards with the famous 6th Army.
With the 10th Army he fought in Poland in September 1939, he distinguished himself and was awarded an EKII already on October 1 1939.
(It isn't common to find combat related medals in Soldbucher of those that served in support units.)
He continuous to serve with the 6th Army in their campaigns in the West in the spring of 1940 and against the Soviet Red Army in 1941/42.
In the summer of 1942 he gets caught up in operation blue, the conquest of Southern Russia and rides with the 6th Army towards Stalingrad.
During the battle of Stalingrad he is transferred to the first company of NA384, the signals unit of the 384 Infantry Division.
This division is also ends up being encircled Stalingrad after operation Uranus but its staff is flown out of the pocket.
The first entry in his Soldbuch made after the fall of the 6th Army is in February 1943, an award entry for an EKI done entered by a clerk of the 384ID and a few weeks later in March 1943 a control stamp done by an officer of the 384ID.
Was Janisch Gerhard one of the lucky ones that was flown out of the Stalingrad pocket?
We will never know for sure but I think he was.
The Stalingrad veteran, now decorated with the prestigious EKI is eventually again attached to his old unit 9/ANR 549 when the units of the former 6th Army are rebuild.
He will serve out the rest of the war as a Hauptfeldwebel with the 6th Army and most likely become a POW of the US Army in Austria.
His Soldbuch never had a picture inserted in it but is loaded with all kinds of interesting equipment entries such as a pistol, MP, binoculars, wristwatch and of course the EK award entries.
Janisch Gerhard (°1912) was a professional soldier in the Wehrmacht, at the eve of war he was issued this Soldbuch, so we know he was sergeant in the 9th company of Armee Nachrichten Regiment 549 when WW2 broke out.
This was a signals unit that operated on an army level, initially it was attached to the 10th Army but from October 1939 onwards with the famous 6th Army.
With the 10th Army he fought in Poland in September 1939, he distinguished himself and was awarded an EKII already on October 1 1939.
(It isn't common to find combat related medals in Soldbucher of those that served in support units.)
He continuous to serve with the 6th Army in their campaigns in the West in the spring of 1940 and against the Soviet Red Army in 1941/42.
In the summer of 1942 he gets caught up in operation blue, the conquest of Southern Russia and rides with the 6th Army towards Stalingrad.
During the battle of Stalingrad he is transferred to the first company of NA384, the signals unit of the 384 Infantry Division.
This division is also ends up being encircled Stalingrad after operation Uranus but its staff is flown out of the pocket.
The first entry in his Soldbuch made after the fall of the 6th Army is in February 1943, an award entry for an EKI done entered by a clerk of the 384ID and a few weeks later in March 1943 a control stamp done by an officer of the 384ID.
Was Janisch Gerhard one of the lucky ones that was flown out of the Stalingrad pocket?
We will never know for sure but I think he was.
The Stalingrad veteran, now decorated with the prestigious EKI is eventually again attached to his old unit 9/ANR 549 when the units of the former 6th Army are rebuild.
He will serve out the rest of the war as a Hauptfeldwebel with the 6th Army and most likely become a POW of the US Army in Austria.
His Soldbuch never had a picture inserted in it but is loaded with all kinds of interesting equipment entries such as a pistol, MP, binoculars, wristwatch and of course the EK award entries.
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