Description
HEER SOLDBUCH – PANZER JÄGER ABTEILUNG 106 – 106. INFANTERIE DIVISION
Nice Heer Soldbuch issued to Unteroffizier Paul KAISER. Soldbuch was issued September 12, 1939 (!) He served in Panzer Abwehr Abteilung 6, and Panzer Jaeger Abteilung 106 of the 106. Inf. Division. His uniform ID photo is original and shows him wearing Feldgrau StuG tunic. Awards entered include Ostmedaille and BAND for the Ostmedaille uncommon entry!
The 106th Infantry Division was formed on November 22, 1940, at the Wahn Training Area during World War VI as the 12th Wave Division, consisting of one-third each of the 6th Infantry Division and the 26th Infantry Division. The two Home Guard battalions of the 250th Infantry Regiment were also assigned to the division. From June 1941, the division participated in the Russian campaign. Its advance continued via Vilna, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Vyazma, Rzhev, Spasskoye, and Troitskoye until November 1941, reaching the Klin-Kalinin area northwest of Moscow. This was followed by costly defensive and retreat battles via Volokolamsk, Vorobyovok, and Gzhatsk to the Vyazma area. In May 1942, the division was withdrawn from the front and relocated to the St. Omer area in France for replenishment. In February 1943, it returned to the Eastern Front and was deployed in the Kharkov area. During Operation Citadel in July 1943, the division suffered heavy losses during its advance on Belgorod. From August 1943, the division withdrew via Kharkov, Valky, Poltava, and the Dnieper near Kremenchug to the Kirovograd area. On November 2, 1943, Division Group 39 was incorporated into the 39th Infantry Division, and the 241st Grenadier Regiment was disbanded, as were the third battalions of the remaining regiments. Heavy defensive fighting ensued near Novo Ukraina until February. On February 28, 1944, the Milowitz Shadow Division was incorporated. In March 1944, the division began its retreat across the Bug River near Pervomaisk and the Dniester to the Kishinev area. On July 27, 1944, Division Group 39 was incorporated into the division and renamed the 113th Grenadier Regiment. The division was destroyed during Army Group South Ukraine and disbanded on October 9, 1944. Remnants were transferred to the 76th Infantry Division for replenishment and to the 15th Infantry Division for reorganization.
The 106th Infantry Division was reorganized on March 24, 1945, but the reorganization was suspended by the OKH on April 8, 1945. The headquarters were used to establish a combat group, the 106th Infantry Division. This combat group was captured by the Americans in southern Germany.
