Description
HEER SOLDBUCH – STURMGESCHÜTZ – 26. PANZER DIVISION – SALERNO, NETTUNO, ANZIO
Very nice Soldbuch issued to Obergefreiter Friedrich ALSCH. He served in Panzer Grenadier Regiment 9 of the 26. Panzer Division. Awards entered include Black Wound Badge, KVK2 and Bronze Driver’s Badge. Also comes with a few additional documents from his service including British POW camp.
26. Pz.Div. was raised on 14 September 1942 from 23. Inf.Div. in the Courtrai-Béthune sector of France. In May 1943, it was stationed in the Amiens area until July, when it left for Italy to be allocated to 1. Fallsch.Korps (14. Armee, Army Group “C”). In 1943, the division was deployed to Salerno and Cassino. In 1944, it was deployed to Anzio, Nettuno, Orsogna, Frosinone, Lucca, Marino, Rimini, Cesena, Ravenna, and Bologna. The division counterattacked at Anzio then took part in the fighting on the “Gustav Line”. It later withdrew to the “Gothic Line”. Around this time it took over Gr. Rgt. 1027. In November 1944, it distinguished itself during battles fought between the Apennines and the Adriatic. Early in 1945, it defended a sector along the Adriatic coast, in April, it fought to the south of the Po. It then received orders from Hitler to hold out on the Po with LXXVI. Pz K. to which it was assigned and was wiped out there. Only a few members of the division managed to escape across the Po, withdrawing towards Bozen (Bolzano). The division having lost all its vehicles and tanks by then, thus ceased to exist. Its men were placed in captivity at the Ghedi camp
