Generalmajor Walter Vogel (1889-1974)

[cshuman]

I have a german pistol that my wifes father got while in WWII. He was a B-17 pilot. In the holster it has the name Oberst Vogel with some other letter, numbers. I found there was a Oberst Vogel that was the commander of a fort in France that the US took later in the war. I am trying to find out if this could have possibly been his pistol. Could the numbers in the holster be his military ID? If so were could I find out if these numbers were his?

Thanks

[Simon Orchard]

A tough one as there were several officers of that name and rank in the late war period.

What are the numbers? It could also be a field post number.

[cshuman]

Thanks for the respose. The Fp 28.780

There are some other markings: Dr. 89829

Hope this helps

Thanks

Chuck

[Simon Orchard]

Ok, i've got your man. The fp number belonged to Artillerie Regiment 172 of the 72 Infanterie Division.

Oberst Walter Vogel commanded that regiment between May and Oct. '42 during which time it was on the Eastern front.
He started the war with Artillerie Regiment 5 and was promoted Oberst on 1.4.41. On the 20.1.45 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold as Artillerie Kommandeur 490 or Arko 490. At that time he was artillery commander for the LXXXX Armeekorps a formation formed in Nov.44 from the IV Luftwaffen Feldkorps, Arko 490 had previously been Arko 2 and Walter Vogel had assumed command of this on 31.03.43. Now this formation was stationed in Southern France with the 19 Armee initially until being moved to the Alsace area. His korps was involved in Operation Nordwind in January 1945, which i guess was the background for his award of the German Cross.

[cshuman]

Thanks so much!!!!. I guess he's not the same guy who was the commander at Fort Pappeville on Dec 1944 in France.
How did you find this information, this is great!

Thanks

Chuck

[Simon Orchard]

No this is the same guy. It makes better sense of the German Cross award given the date Fort Plappeville fell.

The info comes from a range of sources, the 1944 rangliste, the list of German Cross in Gold winners, the history of the two Korps mentioned etc.

[cshuman]

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/campaig ... s/metz.htm

Go to the web site above and scroll down, there are two pictures taken of an Oberst Vogel surrendering to the allies at Fort Plappeville. So you think this could be the same one? If so do you think this guy is still alive? This is great information.

Thanks

Chuck

[Simon Orchard]

No chance at all he's alive, He was an older senior officer.

You might want to do some more research on the Metz battles, there are several books in English on it.

[Heimatschuss]

Hello,

found the following newspaper article about his bestowal with the DKiG [German Cross in Gold]:

Walter Vogel

* 19.08.1889 in Auspitz [Southern Moravia] [= Hustopeče, Czech Republic]
+ ??.??.1974 in ???

On April 20th, 1945 Vogel was even promoted to Generalmajor despite already being a POW.
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 8#p1816868

Until 1945 he had his home in the town of Znaim [Southern Moravia] [= Znojmo, Czech Republic].

Source: Znaimer Tagblatt of Mar. 21st, 1945; 48. Jahrgang; Folge 68, p.2
http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno? ... =2&zoom=33

Best regards
Torsten

[Frech]

Not much about Vogel in my records - just some supplements:

Vogel Walter (Auspitz/Mähren, 19.08.1889 – 1974), GM:

18.08.1908 KadOffzStv
01.05.1911 Leutnant
01.08.1914 Oberleutnant Fs.A.R. 4
01.08.1917 Hauptmann
00.00.1919 Übernahme in das tschechische Heer
00.00.191_ tschechischer Major
00.00.19__ tschechischer Oberstleutnant
00.00.1940 Oberstleutnant z.V.
00.00.1940 z.V. der Wehrmacht beim Stab des Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiments 262 in
01.04.1941 Oberst z.V. und Kommandeur des Artillerie-Regiment-Stabs 213 (Heerestruppe bei AOK 17)
15.12.1941 Führerreserve und beauftragt mit der Führung des Artillerie-Regiments 176
01.05.1942 Führerreserve, Dienst regelt WK XVII
25.05.1942 – 29.10.1942 Kommandeur A.R. 172
01.06.1942 Oberst (RDA 1.4.1941) und Kommandeur A.R. 5
29.10.1942 Führerreserve
13.02.1943 Arko 114
29.03.1943 Führerreserve
31.03.1943 - 08.05.1945 Arko 490
20.04.1945 Generalmajor (3)

k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Jubiläumskreuz 1908
Krimschild
KVK.2.X
EK II 1939
EK I 1939
20.01.1945 dt. Kreuz in Gold

Znaimer Tagblatt, 32.3.1945
Schematismus für das k.u.k. Heer 1916
Keilig, Generale des Heeres, S. 356
Sammlung Krug (Krug, Ottomar), Deutsche Generale: Neuere Zeit, T - Z (MSg 109/2022), BArch/MA Freiburg

[genstab]

So just for the record, what kind of pistol did the Oberst carry?

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

[cshuman]

Sorry for the late response. The pistol is a CZ 27, blued with a leather holster that has the FP # and his name in it.

[iggy88]

According to a HPA appointment list, Vogel was named Artillerie-Kommandeur 2 mit Wirkung vom 31 Mar 1943, not Arko 490.

[graveland]

Thank you, boys.

[askropp]

On April 20th, 1945 Vogel was even promoted to Generalmajor despite already being a POW.

I am skeptical about this being the same officer. If Vogel had been captured, he should not have been promoted. The award of the DKiG would also seem unlikely for a prisoner. The unit card of Arko 490 and several 1945 Stellenbesetzungen list him as still being in command. And the person on the photo, especially if he shows the "strain of the hard combat" as alleged, seems younger than 55 years to me.