Hello,
Hans Strüven (°1921) was a shop assistant from Kellinghüsen; he entered military service in May 1940.
After his basic training he was assigned to the 7[SUP]th[/SUP] company of IR551, in1940/41 this regiment was still under construction.
In 1941 heis transferred to Wirtschaft Inspection Nord, an occupation unit in the Baltic States,after he got his training as a truck driver in 1942 there comes an end on his relatively easy live in the rear when he is transferred to the first battery of Heeres-Flak-Art-Abt (mot) 291, a motorized anti aircraft artillery unit.
In January’43 his unit is attached to the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Army and is engaged for the first time in the heavy fighting in Stary Oskol and Kursk, already in March ’43 they are pulled back from the front, they had lost all there equipment in thatshort period; it is during this fighting on the eastern front that he will earnhis EKII.
While his unit is rebuild and reequipped in Germany during the spring and summer of 1943, Hans Strüven gets his NCO training.
In November’43 there ready again for active service; this time they get stationed in France, their task is to defend the V-weapons installations and transports, first under the command of AR760 and a few months later of HArko 191.
The constant allied air raids keep them well occupied; in December ’44 he will get the Heeres Flak Abzeichen for his actions during the spring and summer of 1944.
At the end of September ’44 HArko 191 is resolved, this time H-Flak-Abt 291 is now stationed in Holland, his battery defends the bridge over the Beveland canal in Vlake, Zeeland (Holland).
In the early hours of September 28 1944 the first battery is relieved from their task of defending the bridge in Valke and is now attached to the 67 Army Corps that is holding the frontline at the Antwerp-Turnhout canal.
On that same day the allies break through the frontline in Merksplas, the sector of the719ID, to stop the breach in their frontline the second battalion of FJR6 is sent to the 719ID.
On September 30 ’44 the FJ’s build a defensive position together with the Pz JgAbt 719 in the hamlet Zondereigen.
It seems that the anti tank unit of the 719ID strengthened with Flak guns of the firstbattery of H-Flak-Abt 291.
The fighting for control over the cross road in Zondereigen is very fierce, thePoles only take control over it the next day with the aid of their tanks.
A few days after the battle of Zondereigen he gets the EKI from the commander of the719ID.
His bravery and leadership in action also gets rewarded with a transfer to an officerstraining school, in November ’44 he is an officer cadet in the artillery school in Groß-Born.
In February’45 he is back at the front, this time in Pommern with the second battalion ofthe Fahnenjunker Regiment 4, a unit of officer cadets.
The fighting in Eastern Prussia is fierce and he accumulates close combat daysfast, but his good luck runs out on March 11 1945, that day he is hit by shrapnel and will spend the rest of the war in hospital.
On April 11945 he gets his officers commission.
On the equipment page of his Soldbuch you can see that he was issued a P38 and a Luger P08 pistol, a pair of binoculars and a flare gun.
Cheers,
Peter
Hans Strüven (°1921) was a shop assistant from Kellinghüsen; he entered military service in May 1940.
After his basic training he was assigned to the 7[SUP]th[/SUP] company of IR551, in1940/41 this regiment was still under construction.
In 1941 heis transferred to Wirtschaft Inspection Nord, an occupation unit in the Baltic States,after he got his training as a truck driver in 1942 there comes an end on his relatively easy live in the rear when he is transferred to the first battery of Heeres-Flak-Art-Abt (mot) 291, a motorized anti aircraft artillery unit.
In January’43 his unit is attached to the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Army and is engaged for the first time in the heavy fighting in Stary Oskol and Kursk, already in March ’43 they are pulled back from the front, they had lost all there equipment in thatshort period; it is during this fighting on the eastern front that he will earnhis EKII.
While his unit is rebuild and reequipped in Germany during the spring and summer of 1943, Hans Strüven gets his NCO training.
In November’43 there ready again for active service; this time they get stationed in France, their task is to defend the V-weapons installations and transports, first under the command of AR760 and a few months later of HArko 191.
The constant allied air raids keep them well occupied; in December ’44 he will get the Heeres Flak Abzeichen for his actions during the spring and summer of 1944.
At the end of September ’44 HArko 191 is resolved, this time H-Flak-Abt 291 is now stationed in Holland, his battery defends the bridge over the Beveland canal in Vlake, Zeeland (Holland).
In the early hours of September 28 1944 the first battery is relieved from their task of defending the bridge in Valke and is now attached to the 67 Army Corps that is holding the frontline at the Antwerp-Turnhout canal.
On that same day the allies break through the frontline in Merksplas, the sector of the719ID, to stop the breach in their frontline the second battalion of FJR6 is sent to the 719ID.
On September 30 ’44 the FJ’s build a defensive position together with the Pz JgAbt 719 in the hamlet Zondereigen.
It seems that the anti tank unit of the 719ID strengthened with Flak guns of the firstbattery of H-Flak-Abt 291.
The fighting for control over the cross road in Zondereigen is very fierce, thePoles only take control over it the next day with the aid of their tanks.
A few days after the battle of Zondereigen he gets the EKI from the commander of the719ID.
His bravery and leadership in action also gets rewarded with a transfer to an officerstraining school, in November ’44 he is an officer cadet in the artillery school in Groß-Born.
In February’45 he is back at the front, this time in Pommern with the second battalion ofthe Fahnenjunker Regiment 4, a unit of officer cadets.
The fighting in Eastern Prussia is fierce and he accumulates close combat daysfast, but his good luck runs out on March 11 1945, that day he is hit by shrapnel and will spend the rest of the war in hospital.
On April 11945 he gets his officers commission.
On the equipment page of his Soldbuch you can see that he was issued a P38 and a Luger P08 pistol, a pair of binoculars and a flare gun.
Cheers,
Peter
