Poland 1939: KIA German officers

[nimbuss]

New one officer possible.

Lt. (?) Dr. Fritz Wiechmann (?) from 1./A.A.13 (?)
30.09.39. (?)

Here we have foto of his grave.

5378.jpg

It is written (at reverse of foto) that it is in Siedliska, but most probably it is in Kozłówka palace (next to Siedliska village).
http://www.muzeumzamoyskich.pl

palac.jpg

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

von Ditfurth Wilhelm Dietrich ("Dico"), 22.06.1886, Oberst, [Kdr. K. Sch. R. 9], [3. lei. Div.], 08.09.1939 (Pilatka), Manstein-Verlorene Siege, S. 54

Since 3:08 of this video we can see a photo of a destroyed car of Oberst von Ditfurth at Pilatka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSIEGpFwcjY

[Njorl]

A bit of supplementary information for:

Kleinschmidt Martin, 08.09.1897, Hptm., -, -, 11.09.1939 (Feldlaz. 45, Tarnow), VB

According to Mit den Kradschützen in Polen, Erlebnisse der 1 (Kradsch.) Kp. Sch. Rgt. 2 by Oberleutnant Künzel, Rittmeister der Reserve Kleinschmidt was commander of 6. (Kradsch.) Kompanie Schützen-Regiment 2.

Concerning whereabouts of his death: he was reported to have been hit by a burst of MG rounds (1 hit in stomach, 2 hits in thigh) and if it wasn't enough alone, a German tank that was driving on reverse apparently did not see him laying on the ground and ran over him...

Regards,
MJU

[AlifRafikKhan]

One of 1. leichte Division's few Panzerkampfwagen Ausf.B tanks - which equipped only one platoon per battalion - burnt out after taking several hits from Polish anti-tank guns near Warsaw. The commander, Prinz von Ratibor, was killed. Leutnant Viktor IV Albrecht Johannes Josef Michael Maria Prinz von Ratibor von Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (born 12 February 1916 and was first son of Victor III August and Elizabeth zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Öttingen-Spilberg) was a Zugführer in 2.Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 11/6.Panzer-Brigade/1.leichte Division/zur Verfügungs.Armeekorps/10.Armee/Heeresgruppe Süd. He was killed in 18 September 1939 (around 20:00) near Warsaw. He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant. On that day, during the combat of Pociecha, Polish plutonowy podchorąży (Sergeant) Roman Orlik (2 TK X HP + 1 TKS x 20 mm) was sent with two other tankettes (armed with MG only) to make a recognition of a forest near Puszcza Kampinoska (huge forrests in Poland). Suddenly he heard enemy tanks, so he ordered two other tankettes with MG to hide. He had hidden his tankette and made an ambush for enemy tanks. Three german Panzer 35(t) and few other vehicles appeared. Orlik opened fire and all enemy tanks were destroyed. Germans were fleeing in blind panic and they were shooting in all directions. Orlik managed to escape. Among tanks eliminated by Orlik on 18th of September, there was tank of Leutnant Prinz von Ratibor. The whole of his platoon was eliminated during that combat and this Austrian noble was heavily Wounded and severely burned - and after a few minutes he died. Next day Orlik and his tank did something even greater. He counterattacked (alone!) against German tanks attack and destroyed 7 Panzer 35(t) and took two German POWs! He also tried to rescue the crew of one of those eliminated German tank (by him) - which started to burn - but he, unfortunately, didn't manage to rescue them and all of them died. After that he had ran out of ammo and left battlefield. Roman Orlik (the winner at those two extraordinary days) was Polish university student at architecture departament. In September 1939 he was commander of TKS tankette with 20 mm gun (FK wz. 38 model A) in Wielkopolska Brygada Kawalerii (Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade). He survived the war and was working as an architect. He died in 1982.

Source:
Book "The 6th Panzer Division: 1937-45" by Oberst a.D. Helmut Ritgen, with additional infos from other sites

[Njorl]

Supplementary information for:

Euen Erich Albert Gustav, 08.02.1914, Oblt., -, -, 01.09.1939 (Bhf. Konitz), VB, nicht in H. Gru. Nord gelistet

According to caption on scan below (from expired Ebay auction, most probably from Wolfgang Sawodny's Deutsche Panzerzüge), he was commander of Panzerzug 3.

So we finally have cofnirmation of our previous hunch.

Regards
MJU

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

New one officer possible.

Lt. (?) Dr. Fritz Wiechmann (?) from 1./A.A.13 (?)
30.09.39. (?)

Here we have foto of his grave.

5378.jpg

It is written (at reverse of foto) that it is in Siedliska, but most probably it is in Kozłówka palace (next to Siedliska village).
http://www.muzeumzamoyskich.pl

palac.jpg

Kozłówka is located near Lubartów, more or less in half way from Lublin to Kock:

Kozlowka.jpg

[nimbuss]

Some new data about known officers.

Document of Gen.Kdo.IV A.K. dated 03.10.39.: "Verluste des IV A.K. vom 1-30.9.1939"
There are no names, but I belive it is about these officers:

Mohrmann Gert Hans, 04.10.1917, Lt., 1/PiBtl 13, -, 01.09.1939 (Feldlaz. 3./542 Lubliegitz), VB, IIa IV Korps AOK10 "Verluste von Offizieren in der Zeit vom 1.-10.9.39"

here: verw. 1.9.39. and gest. 2.9.39.

Werner Helmut, 22.07.1915, Lt., I./I. R. 101, 14. Div., 07.09.1939 (Ruda), VB, IIa IV Korps AOK 10 "Verluste von Offizieren in der Zeit vom 1.-10.9.39"

here: Ord.Offz. I./I.R.101 with date of death 6.9.39.

Vogel Horst, 14.02.1915, Lt. d. R., 2 Kp or 8 Kp/I. R. 101, 14. Div., 04.09.1939 (Maluszyn), VB, IIa IV Korps AOK 10 "Verluste von Offizieren in der Zeit vom 1.-10.9.39"

There was a question: 2 or 8 kompanie. Here: 2./I.R.101

Römisch Werner Jacob Emil, 04.05.1916, Lt. d. R., -, -, 17.09.1939, VB

3./MG-Btl.7

Grosser Rüdiger, 11.05.1905, Lt., -, -, 17.09.1939 (b. Lublin), VB

3./MG-Btl.7 and written as Großer

Streffer Gert, 15.01.1909, Lt. or Oblt., AA 14, -, 16.09.1939 (Strzeszkowice-Duza), VB, F.Pulkowski "Geschichte des 10 (Preuß) RR"

Fhr.K.G.Zg. 3./A.A.14 and here as Lt.d.R. [anybody knows what does it mean?]

Müller Hellmut, 28.09.1914, Lt., -, -, 14.09.1939, VB

it is probably this officer:
Lt. Müller, H., Beobachter, 1./(H) 41, 14.9.39. verw. gest.

Halger Otto, 22.06.1905, Lt., -, -, 26.09.1939 (2 km w. Leczna), VB

it could be this one, who is listed here as verm.:
Ltn.d.R. Halger, zgf.14./I.R.52, 27.9.39.

and there is also another one verm.:
Ltn. Teufel, 20.9.39., zugf.3./Pz.Abw.4 [any info about him after Polenfeldzug?]

[nimbuss]

And two more from the same source:

Schroeter Werner, 21.02.1898, Hptm., -, -, 17.09.1939, VB

here: Oblt.d.R., Kp.offz. 14./I.R.10

and der Prinz:

Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld Carl Franz Ferdinand, 16.07.1903, Lt. d. R., I. R. 103, 4. Div., 26.09.1939 (b. Lublin), GHdA

Kp.offz. 14./I.R.103

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

Freiherr von und zu Egloffstein Leonhard, 01.04.1915, Lt., -, -, 22.09.1939, VB

Von Egloffstein was a very old German noble family from Prussia dating back to the 15th century.

In years 1469 - 1472 brothers Kuntz and Hartung von Egloffstein received ownership of the town of Domnau together with nearby villages, landed estates, cultivated soil, palaces & castles from the Teutonic Order.

Before that, brothers served as mercenaries in the Teutonic army. This was a reward for their service.

Nowadays Domnau is located in the Kalinigrad Oblast of Russia:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domnowo

According to this wiki article, Kuntz von Egloffstein came to the Teutonic State from Franconia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia

[Elwyn W]

And a very large military clan. There were 6 FrHr v u z Egloffstein who were Prussian Generals, the most famous being 3 Kaiserliche Gen d Inf who were brothers: Heinrich, Nikolaus and Wilhelm. There was also GenMj Moritz who was in the Bavarian Army in WW1.

Cheers
Elwyn

[Bf110]

Hello,

found this on ebay:

Dipl. Ing. Baumgart Herbert, 28.09.1893, Oberstleutnant, [Kdr. II. Abt./Pz. R. 3], [2. Pz. Div.], 08.09.1939 (Biskupice / Dunajec), VB, Stellenbesetzung 1938

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Neubaufahrz ... 53f413369b

Schmid Wilhelm Anton Karl, 01.01.1918, Lt., -, -, 20.09.1939, VB

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Sterbebild-Offiz ... 43b81f6eb9

regards,
Bf110

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

Elwyn, Done.

Please add these two officers currently from the Research Section:

- Hellmut Wegewitz
- Fritz von Korff

To the Master List. Their death is already confirmed by two sources (for each of them) listed near their entries in the Research Section, but I've found even one more source which confirms their deaths:

Wegewitz Hellmuth, -, Oblt., Kp Chef 6/ IR 72, 46 ID, 10.10.39 (nach verw. am 01.09.39 bei Lubecko), Militär-Wochenblatt 27/1940, http://gliederungundstellenbesetzung.bl ... r72-d.html

von Korff Fritz, died from wound in Poland, Militär-Wochenblatt 31/1940, listed as Hptm Korff, Chef 3./A.R.70 according to http://gliederungundstellenbesetzung.bl ... r70-d.html

Apart from http://www.gliederungundstellenbesetzung and Militar-Wochenblatt, also this database lists them:

http://soldaten.balsi.de/index.php?action=show&id=2786

http://soldaten.balsi.de/index.php?action=show&id=2789

So I'm sure that we can safely add them to the Master List.

Best regards,
Peter

[Heimatschuss]

Hello,

there seems to be an answer to this case now

Ballerstädt Werner, 20.09.1919, Lt., -, -, 01.09.1939 (b. Roggenhausen, Kr. Graudenz), VB, nicht in H. Gru. Nord gelistet (mglw. Luftwaffe?)

in http://archive.org/stream/hertaleoleab0 ... 5_djvu.txt:

Werner Ballerstaedt fiel Im Alter von fast 21 Jahren als Leunant 9/IR 3 am 1. September 1939 an der Ossa bei Roggenhausen, Kr. Graudenz.

Best regards
Torsten

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

And let's add that Roggenhausen is Rogóźno-Zamek in Polish:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rog%C3%B3%C5%BAno-Zamek

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rog%C3%B3%C5%BAno-Zamek

German infantry attacked there with support of I./Pz.Rgt.10. If he was KIA on the northern bank of the Ossa river, then it is probable that he died from artillery fire of 16 pal or while fighting Polish advanced outposts.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement.........

The grave of Maj. Spielvogel.

Source: Deut.Soldatengrab,Kdr.,II.(Schlacht)/LG2,Major Spielvogel,Alt-Rosenberg,Polen,39. ebay auction.

Cheers. Raúl M .