Description
HEER SOLDBUCH – NINE AWARDS – GEBIRGS PANZER JÄGER ABTEILUNG 44 + PANZERJÄGER ERSATZ ABTEILUNG 17 – JAGDTIGER
Soldbuch (Zweitschrift) issued to Oberfeldwebel Nikolaus GRIES. Awards entered include Austrian Anschluss Campaign MedaL, Sudetenland Campaign medal, Long Service Medal 4th Class, EK2, EK1, Sturmabzeichen, Ostmedaille, Black Wound Badge, NAHKAMPFSPANGE IN BRONZE, and Panzer Vorhandwerker Abzeichen. Also comes with his Führerlehrschein issued by 2./GEBIRGS PANZER JÄGER ABTEILUNG 44. Interestingly, the original was issued in 1937 (this one in 1942) – very early for a Wehrmachts-Führerlehrschein. Soldbuch has an original photo of the man wearing Feldgrau Sturmgeschütz tunic. His CLOSE COMBAT CLASP was awarded on Feb. 16, 1945 while serving in the field with PANZER JÄGER ERSATZ ABTEILUNG 7. The unit was then used to form PANZER JÄGER ERSATZ ABTEILUNG 17, part of Panzer-Ausbildungs-Verband Böhmen in Prague. Some sources reference that PANZER JÄGER ERSATZ ABTEILUNG 17 was equipped with JAGDTIGER at war’s end! GEBIRGS PANZER JÄGER ABTEILUNG 44, with whom it appears he saw field combat with previously, was part of the 1 Gebirgs Division and had Sturmgeschütze assigned to it. Interesting SOldbuch that could use more research!
