Description
HEER SOLDBUCH – 11. “GESPENSTER” DIVISION – KURSK, FRANCE 1944 ALSACE
Soldbuch named to Obergef. Egon HOLITSCHKE. Original photo of the man wearing Feldgrau Sturmgeschütz tunic. He served in 3.Battr./Panzer Artillerie Regiment 119 of the 11 “Gespenster” Division. He also has an interesting Ersatztruppenteil entry for Panzer Haubitzen Ers. und Ausb. Abt. 201 – Hummel, Wespe, etc. Awards entered include Ostmedaille, KVK2 and STURMABZEICHEN – all awarded for service with 11 Panzer Division. He suffered injuries after a vehicle accident in Nov 1944 that appears to have taken him out of the rest of the war.
$425
In July 1943, it participated in the Battle of Kursk and the defensive operations and retreat that followed the German failure. It was entrapped in the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket in February 1944 and almost completely destroyed in the break-out from the pocket. The division was withdrawn from the front and sent to Bordeaux, France after receiving personnel drawn from the 273rd Reserve Panzer Division.[4]
After being stationed in the Toulouse area, the division was moved to a section of the Rhône in July 1944. When the Allies invaded southern France in August 1944 it retreated via the Rhône corridor, reaching Besançon. Later entering combat in Alsace, it helped in the defence of the Belfort Gap and was defeated in the Battle of Arracourt before going back to the Saar. In December 1944, the division fought as part of the Army Group G.[4]
