Deathcard and bad cursive help needed!

[Shooter McGavin]

Hey guys! I need help with understanding these album photos.

Pic 1

image.jpg (74.22 KiB) Viewed 1953 times

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Pic 2

Pic 3

image.jpg (91.54 KiB) Viewed 1953 times

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[Shooter McGavin]

Pic 4

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Pic 5

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[Shooter McGavin]

The death card was with it so I'm trying to learn more about the location he was KIA,which unit he served with, and what battle it could have been.

Thanks ahead of time!!

[Heimatschuss]

Hello,

the death card only says he died in the Western Caucasus which isn't very specific of course.

The death card was with it so I'm trying to learn more about the location he was KIA,which unit he served with, and what battle it could have been.

Here's his database entry from the German War Graves Commisssion saying he died in a place called Gunaika/Gunajka:

Josef Ostermeir

Josef Ostermeir wurde noch nicht auf einen vom Volksbund errichteten Soldatenfriedhof überführt.
Nach den uns vorliegenden Informationen befindet sich sein Grab derzeit noch an folgendem Ort: Gunajka - Rußland

Nachname: Ostermeir
Vorname: Josef
Dienstgrad: Obergefreiter
Geburtsdatum: 15.07.1920
Geburtsort: Augsburg
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 06.10.1942
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Südwestausg[ang]. Gunaika, W[estlicher]. Kaukasus

Best regards
Torsten

[Shooter McGavin]

Thanks Torsten! I appreciate it!

[Tirdad]

the city lies here:

Russia / Krasnodarskiy / Gunajka Tsjetvertaja

[nichte]

What I think it says.
Hiltraut

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rechts Komiß links Uffz.
L…

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vorne rechts Gefr. Jakob
links Uffz. Oppenrieder

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Feldw. Krauß (Kreuß?)

Pic 5 back
Gerhard
Westfront 1940

[Shooter McGavin]

Thank you both! According to:
http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=284
The day he was KIA
6 Oct 1942 "German III.Panzer Korps captured Malgobek on the Terek River in the Caucasus in southern Russia. Far to the west, German troops also captured Novorossiysk."

I was able to find "Gunajka Tsjevertaja" on the map and it seems to be on the approach to Malgobek. There is a little bit of info on these battles on this site:
Malgobek
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... k#p1825694
Novorossiysk
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... k#p1084231
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... n&start=15
I am still looking for more info on these battles and " the Tuapse defensive operation" and perhaps an Order of Battle for Malgobek?
Thanks for the help guys

[GregSingh]

According to his death card he was in mountain troops.
Division Lanz (Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 from 1.Gebirgs-Division and Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 from 4.Gebirgs-Division) was in October 1942 in the area of Gunaika.
This mountain unit was advancing towards Tuapse.

It has nothing to do neither with Malgobek (350km away) nor Novorossiysk (150km away) - no mountain troops there.

Gunaika village is just south to Mount Geiman (or Gaiman).
Map from Osprey Campaign book.

Tuapse early Oct 1942

Map from Teike book.

Tuapse mid Oct 1942

[Shooter McGavin]

Thank you Craig! You have helped me again with your incredible resourcefulness and knowledge.