Can anyone help me with a Soldbuch?

[SullyD]

My husband's Grandfather was in the war (UK soldier) and came into possession of a Soldbuch and after doing a bit of research I think I have figured out some basic information like his name, rank, his mother's name (and that she is deceased) and a few things like height and shoe size etc but the writing itself is really hard for me to figure out. I have a sense of what information is posted to each page I am just having a hard time reading what has been written down.

He seems like a young soldier so there is not a ton of information but I would love to know more about his story. I can upload or message the pages. but here is a few




I also have a bunch of cool photos - one from Normandy, some propaganda and a camera taken from a different German soldier if anyone wants to see any of it. I am new here so not sure where to post anything.

Thanks in advance for reading.

[AETIUS 1980]

Good evening
12./Grenadier Régiment. 858, part of the III. Bataillon of 346 Infanterie Division. This unit was fighting in Normandie.
Regards

[SullyD]

Good evening
12./Grenadier Régiment. 858, part of the III. Bataillon of 346 Infanterie Division. This unit was fighting in Normandie.
Regards

Oh wow! Thank you. Would you be able to help me with a few more pages if I upload them?

Thanks again!

[SullyD]

From the other memorabilia that we have which includes a photograph taken on D day that indicates that my husbands grandfather fought there it would seem that it would also be where he took this book off of this German Soldier. I am just starting to research and piece it all together. Are there specific pages in the Soldbuch that could confirm that he was there?

[AETIUS 1980]

The 346 Infanterie Division was used between Sallenelles and Chateau de St Côme (South of Breville les Monts) from June 7th up to August before to withdraw to the Seine area.

[SullyD]

The 346 Infanterie Division was used between Sallenelles and Chateau de St Côme (South of Breville les Monts) from June 7th up to August before to withdraw to the Seine area.

Oh! Very interesting. Thanks

[hucks216]

Can you show the whole of pages 2, 4 & 22 please.

[SullyD]

Can you show the whole of pages 2, 4 & 22 please.

yes absolutely! Thank you

[SullyD]

I have been researching this and my husbands Grandfather simultaneously (which is easier given that his information is all in English) and have learned that his Grandfather was Corporal Frederick Emuss and was in the 45 Royal Marine Commando Troop E which was the only troop sent for Parachute training (we have his Paratrooper badge) and was involved in D Day.

The 45 Royal Marine Commando was part of the 1st Special Service Brigade and was part of Operation OverLord on D day. From what I am told he killed the owner of this Soldbuch and I am wondering if it was in the days following June 6th

He is mentioned in this article: https://www.combinedops.com/45%20Royal% ... m#Hi_Geoff

An Order Group was called and everything possible was done to tighten up our defences. Ammunition was by now very limited and the HQ personnel shared their allocation amongst the troops. By 09.00 hours, both enemy patrols and sniping had increased and movement was reduced to an absolute minimum, while counter sniping parties were organised. These achieved some success, in particular Cpl Emuss of E Troop and Cpl Bartholomew of C Troop.

[hucks216]

Going by the Soldbuch, Hermann Kempter was born on 19th February 1925 and had registered for military service in Konstanz. He was just under 18 when he was called up on 14th January 1943, having previously been a farm worker. He underwent basic training with Stamm-Kompanie of
Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 185 (based in Konstanz), being issued his first dog tag (Erkennungsmarke). On completion of training, he was assigned to 4.Kompanie in Reserve-Grenadier-Bataillon 195. After a spell with this unit, he was assigned to Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 36 which was located in Friedberg/Hessen and by the end of 1943 he was assigned to his final unit, 12.Kompanie in Grenadier-Regiment 858 of 346.Infanterie-Division where he was issued his replacement dogtag.
On 1st March 1944 he was promoted to Obergrenadier and from 8th to 28th April 1944 he was sent on Erholungsurlaub which was basically R & R leave, spending it in Eigeltingen which is a district of Konstanz.

Hermann Kempter wasn't killed but was taken prisoner as he died on 17th January 2017 in Eigeltingen.

[AETIUS 1980]

Really nice work Hucks216. Bravo!

[SullyD]

Going by the Soldbuch, Hermann Kempter was born on 19th February 1925 and had registered for military service in Konstanz. He was just under 18 when he was called up on 14th January 1943, having previously been a farm worker. He underwent basic training with Stamm-Kompanie of
Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 185 (based in Konstanz), being issued his first dog tag (Erkennungsmarke). On completion of training, he was assigned to 4.Kompanie in Reserve-Grenadier-Bataillon 195. After a spell with this unit, he was assigned to Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 36 which was located in Friedberg/Hessen and by the end of 1943 he was assigned to his final unit, 12.Kompanie in Grenadier-Regiment 858 of 346.Infanterie-Division where he was issued his replacement dogtag.
On 1st March 1944 he was promoted to Obergrenadier and from 8th to 28th April 1944 he was sent on Erholungsurlaub which was basically R & R leave, spending it in Eigeltingen which is a district of Konstanz.

Hermann Kempter wasn't killed but was taken prisoner as he died on 17th January 2017 in Eigeltingen.


20200331-011229-226.jpg

WOW! Impressive. Thank you so much! I am at a loss for words.

[SullyD]

OK so processing....lol

So the last time that this book was in his hands was after he had been sent sent on Erholungsurlaub which was basically R & R leave from the 8th - 28th of April. So he would have had to have been taken prisoner after that I presume. So does that mean he would have still been with his final unit, 12.Kompanie in Grenadier-Regiment 858 of 346.Infanterie-Division at that time? Sorry I am just trying to piece it all together.

[hucks216]

The last time that he touched the Soldbuch was when he last put it in to his tunic pocket before being captured on (or after) D-Day while serving with Gren.Rgt 858 - unless he was the one who took it out to hand it over, in which case that would have been the last time. His family have never seen it.

[SullyD]

The last time that he touched the Soldbuch was when he last put it in to his tunic pocket before being captured on (or after) D-Day while serving with Gren.Rgt 858 - unless he was the one who took it out to hand it over, in which case that would have been the last time. His family have never seen it.

Ok thank you. That is so crazy to me. I was always under the impression that it was from a deceased soldier, but I also know that his Grandfather would never talk about the war so I am sure it was just speculated. Thank you again for all this!