VraÅ¾ja divizija

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 25 Jul 2005 15:47

I'm looking for photos of divisional commanders:
Generalleutnant Fritz Neidholdt and Generalleutnant Georg Reinicke.

Btw, book "Ne osećam se krivim" (stenographic notes from D.Mihailović's trial)
claims it is Fritz Reinholdt and not Neidholdt (?).

Here's one fine photo of this division's soldiers, i'd like to share.
It was taken near Vrbnica village, 10.VI 1943. (source: book "Sutjeska")
I'm also looking for more photos of this division...

/Ivan

streljko1 · Post by **streljko1** » 26 Jul 2005 12:51

Hello Ivan,
Some pictures of Fritz Neidholdt from:
http://houterman.htmlplanet.com/bio/german/HeerN.htm

They are small, but that is best I can find.

Drawing of 369 ID soldier from : http://www.hrcrusader.net/povijest/hrvatska_legija.htm

From this forum, captured soldier of Vražja divizija 1945:

Pozdrav!

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 26 Jul 2005 15:03

Thanks, Streljko.

I've just found another photo of Neidholdt from
V.Strugar's "Jugoslavija u ratu 1941-1945".

Photo was taken on 1.I 1943. in Zagreb,
during poglavnik's inspection of Teufel's Division.

From left to right:
- A.Pavelić
- I.Perčević
- Glaise-Horstenau
- V.Begić
- F.Neidholdt
- Braunner
- S.Štancer
- I.Prpić
etc

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 26 Jul 2005 15:17

Could these two officers (extreme left & extreme right)
be members of 369.Division as well?
Photo comes from the same book as previous one i've posted,
with caption: Meeting in the streets of Pljevlja, 19.V 1943,
of German and ustaša-domobran ( ) officers
with officers of Italian Division "Taurinense"

streljko1 · Post by **streljko1** » 26 Jul 2005 23:18

Yes these are officers of 369 ID(it was only cro-german division that took part in Schwartz)
with italian officers of I guess "Taurinense" division which hold front east of positions of 369 ID(including town Pljevlje).

In yugoslav literature treatment of 369 ID vary, Mr.Nikola Anić usually mention it as german unit, only in some situations, like side switch of two companies of 370 IR on Pelješac peninsula in late 1944. Mr.Anić admits that it was also croatian,
369 ID is mentioned by different authors as ustaša, german, cro-german, homeguard-ustaša and so on..... unit.

Also some serbian nationalistic sites use fact that wehrmacht had croatian divisions as argument for fascism of croatian people( likewise as hrcrusader.net).

I read interesting story in Sibe Kvesić book "Dalmacija u NOR" about one of few partisan survivors of Tjentište massacre, Sjajna Kvesić from Pitava, Hvar island.

She was member of 5th montenegro brigade, and was wounded and was hiding for several days in high grass in the mountains, from her story:
"...I heard german talking, but also our language.That were ustaše from their positions on mountain top shouting to their comrades in the valley to bring them some water...."

BTW- There was no Ustaše units there, only 369ID.

Not all legionares were "ustaše in german uniforms" but there was also many Home guard members in 369ID who volunteered because of profesional reasons.

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 27 Jul 2005 02:32

Thanks -again.

What about these men?
This is a scan from "Signal", April 1943, i believe,
text was about volunteers from Croatia.
But no unit was specified...

/Ivan

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 27 Jul 2005 09:21

Next photo comes from book "Ne osećam se krivim".
Caption: "Četniks and Germans in Bosnia 1943".

But i think it is a Croatian unit with četniks...?
Armshield looks like "šahovnica" to me.
Any other ideas...?

/Ivan

Allen Milcic · Post by **Allen Milcic** » 27 Jul 2005 14:34

Hi Ivane:

I believe the photo titled '1943' is of the 369th Reinforced (Croat) Infantry Regiment that fought on the Eastern Front (and was destroyed at Stalingrad).

The photo with the Cetniks is perhaps of a member of "Handschar"?

Regards,
Allen/

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 27 Jul 2005 14:53

Hi Allen, thanks.
I remember that photo ("1943") also from one communist book,
which claimed that those volunteers are taking oath
before leaving for Eastern front.

But i doubt those are "Handžar" soldiers on photo
with četniks, i believe they are wearing Heer collar patches.
(also, "Handžar" men wore armshield on their left hand)

Cheers,
Ivan

streljko1 · Post by **streljko1** » 27 Jul 2005 16:12

About a picture "Četniks and Germans in Bosnia 1943".these are croatian legionares, strange but they cooperated with Četniks more than once, during Drvar operation KG Willam of 373ID was suported by company of local Četniks, also in Dubrovnik 369ID was supported by hercegovina Četniks,quote from Mr.Anić text "Bitka za Dubrovnik" from Slobodna dalmacija :

"Koncem ožujka u Trebinju je obavljen sprovod jednog četnika koji je poginuo u borbama s partizanima. Mrtvački lijes bio je pokriven srpskom zastavom, a počast mu je odao vod Vražje divizije "
"At the end of March in Trebinje was funeral of četnik killed in fighting with partisans. Coffin was covered with serbian flag, and was honoured by platoon of Vražja division"

Pozdrav!

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 27 Jul 2005 16:19

Thanks.
Fine example of bratstvo & jedinstvo (

)

/Ivan

streljko1 · Post by **streljko1** » 27 Jul 2005 16:32

Actually I too thought about "bratstvo & jedinstvo" - communists definitely lied to us that they invented it!

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 28 Jul 2005 11:30

Well, if nobody has to post more photos of this division,
i guess i could share some more from the same book
first pic i've posted came from.

1st - 15.V 1943. Čajniče
2nd - 10.VI 1943.

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 28 Jul 2005 12:08

Two more, taken in May 1943, Goražde

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 28 Jul 2005 12:12

Next photos show making a ferry for tank transport
across the river Drina, Goražde, 15.V 1943.