Description
HEER WEHRPASS – 217. INFANTERIE DIVISION – POLAND – FESTUNGS PAK VERBAND VII- EAST PRUSSIA
Heer Wehrpass issued to Obergef. Paul SELKE. He served in Inf. Rgt. 311. Later in Sell. Bau. Pionier Ball 734 and lastly Festungs PAK Komp 5,/VII at war’s end in East Prussia against the hopeless onslaught of the Red Army. He was awarded the EK2.
$145
The task of the Fortress Anti-Tank Units and the subordinate companies was to destroy enemy tank spearheads that had broken through from prepared rear positions, and to secure the approach and advance of our own reinforcements. To fulfill its mission, it was therefore to be deployed in rear positions, regardless of the line of fire of the HKL, in the presence of natural or artificial tank obstacles. The companies were equipped with medium and heavy anti-tank guns in calibers from 5 cm to 8.8 cm: 7.62 cm Inf.Kan. Howitzer 290(r), 7.5 cm Pak 97/38, Skl (=base mount) I with 7.5 cm K 51, Skl I with 7.5 cm K 67, Skl I with 5 cm Kwk 39, 7.5 cm RFK, 8.8 cm RW 43 “Puppchen”, 7.5 cm Pak 40 (on wheel or base mount), 7.62 cm Pak 36, 7.62 cm Feldkanone 39, 8.8 cm Pak 43, 43/1, 43/3, 43/41, Panther turret. The train-mechanism squadrons available in the companies were only suitable for the movement of individual guns. When moving complete platoons or the entire company, the command authority simultaneously ordered the method of mobility of the units to be moved by other units.
Festungs Oak Verbena VII was established in September 1944 by the Gness Establishment Staff in Nordenburg, with the fortress anti-tank companies 1./VII – 21./VII, by order of the OKH of August 16, 1944, in Wehrkreis I. Fortress Anti-Tank Unit Companies 22./VII – 28./VII were established in October 1944. The unit was subordinate to the Command of the Fortifications of East Prussia, which was deployed in East Prussia. During the struggle to defend East Prussia between January and April 1945, 245 men from Festungs-Pak-Verband VII were reported missing in action.
