Fallschirmjäger with Ground Assault Badge and Crete Cuff Band

[Guillaume d'Orange]

Hello everyone,

I'm seeking pics of paratroopers from the 2nd paratrooper division (2. FJD).
Although the pic below has no date or provenance, I bought it. It is the usual personal photo : 6x9 cm.

The fellow is an Unteroffizier, EK II ribbon, Fallschirmjägerabzeichen, Erdkampfabzeichen, Creta Cuff Band.
I think the picture may have been taken not earlier than in the spring of 1943 as Ground Assault Badge were mostly issued to paratroopers end of 1942.

I have to admit that the fact that the fellow is with his little girl (2/3 years old) lead me to buying it as it stirred up some thoughts about the frailty of things...

 

[Peter U]

In the FJR6 Soldbuch in my collection the Fj got his Crete cufftittle on May 20 1943, on the anniversary of the landing on Crete.

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

In the FJR6 Soldbuch in my collection the Fj got his Crete cufftittle on May 20 1943, on the anniversary of the landing on Crete.

Hi Peter, thanks. You're right that the cuff title allows to date the photo even in the summer of 1943. I have pics of Ramcke and Heidrich in June 1943 and neither wear the cuff title, however at the same time I have a pic of (probably) XI. Fliegerkorps officers and some wear it. Again, I got a pic of Student around Rome in September, he does not wear it.
On the Wikipedia page, it seems that you have to apply to receive it. Perhaps, at first, prominent officers did not bother to apply as it was too obvious that they took part in the operations.

Have you posted the FJR6 soldbuch you are talking about ? I would be happy to see it.
I found a post from 2018 where you were discussing the rarity (or lack thereof) of various awards like the EK II. What's your take on how easy it was to get it ?
In my opinion for a soldier who had the luck to survive Greece/Crete in 1941, Russia in winter/spring 1942, or Africa in late 1942/early 1943, you could get it in 1943 (that's perhaps the CV of the fellow on the picture).

 

[rohling81]

Salut Guillaume

from my families estate I inherited a box of photos from my Great-Uncle Karl Koch. He was a Fallschirmjäger and I believe he was part of the 2. FJD if I'm not mistaken.
He died on the 20. August 1944 in the Falaise-Pocket, holding open the last remaining exit out of this "Kessel" so the remains of the Wehrmacht were able to retreat.

Here are a few pictures from the estate. His name was Karl but everyone in our Family called him Peter, why idk.

 

[Peter U]

Hi Peter, thanks. You're right that the cuff title allows to date the photo even in the summer of 1943. I have pics of Ramcke and Heidrich in June 1943 and neither wear the cuff title, however at the same time I have a pic of (probably) XI. Fliegerkorps officers and some wear it. Again, I got a pic of Student around Rome in September, he does not wear it.
On the Wikipedia page, it seems that you have to apply to receive it. Perhaps, at first, prominent officers did not bother to apply as it was too obvious that they took part in the operations.

Have you posted the FJR6 soldbuch you are talking about ? I would be happy to see it.
I found a post from 2018 where you were discussing the rarity (or lack thereof) of various awards like the EK II. What's your take on how easy it was to get it ?
In my opinion for a soldier who had the luck to survive Greece/Crete in 1941, Russia in winter/spring 1942, or Africa in late 1942/early 1943, you could get it in 1943 (that's perhaps the CV of the fellow on the picture).

I thought I posted it but it seems I didn't, I'll do it in the near future.

This one is in my collection too, FJR9, St Lo veteran:

Soldbuch FJR9 - Saint Lo

Snow and ice on the roads in Belgium today, so excellent weather to stay indoors and write another Soldbuch story. Heinrich Klashinrich (°1922), a schoolboy from Ostenfelde joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941 and was assigned to several signals units until the end of November 1943, then he...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

Salut Guillaume

from my families estate I inherited a box of photos from my Great-Uncle Karl Koch. He was a Fallschirmjäger and I believe he was part of the 2. FJD if I'm not mistaken.
He died on the 20. August 1944 in the Falaise-Pocket, holding open the last remaining exit out of this "Kessel" so the remains of the Wehrmacht were able to retreat.

Here are a few pictures from the estate. His name was Karl but everyone in our Family called him Peter, why idk.

View attachment 358167View attachment 358168View attachment 358169View attachment 358170View attachment 358171

Hi rohling, those are cool pics, especially if they are from a family member. I like the first one : I see a wound badge in black near his Fallschirmjägerbazeichen. Is it an EK 1st class above it ?
As you're great-uncle died during the Falaise Pocket battle, it is safe to assume he belonged to the 3. FJD of Richard Schimpf.
I guess you know that he is buried in the cemetery of Champigny-Saint-André. Perhaps VDK can tell you to which regiment he belonged.

 

[rohling81]

Hi Guillaume,

thank you for providing me this info. I managed to locate his grave through the VDK but I was not sure about the division he belonged to.
Yes in the first picture that is a EK1 and it must have been taken shortly before his death since on his VDK website it states that he died as a "Feldwebel".
He is buried at St.Lambert-sur-dive. https://www.volksbund.de/erinnern-g...nline/detail/8dd7b442db929d2cb627e6e523f2971d

There are many more interesting picture from his time on the eastern front and in France during the late war period.

 

[Amberg]

Fallschirmjägerbazeichen

Fallschirmschützenabzeichen, not Fallschirmjägerabzeichen!

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

Hi Guillaume,

thank you for providing me this info. I managed to locate his grave through the VDK but I was not sure about the division he belonged to.
Yes in the first picture that is a EK1 and it must have been taken shortly before his death since on his VDK website it states that he died as a "Feldwebel".
He is buried at St.Lambert-sur-dive. https://www.volksbund.de/erinnern-g...nline/detail/8dd7b442db929d2cb627e6e523f2971d

There are many more interesting picture from his time on the eastern front and in France during the late war period.

View attachment 358193View attachment 358194View attachment 358195View attachment 358196

He died in Saint Lambert, but rests in Champigny:
Karl Koch ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Champigny-St.André .
Endgrablage: Block 13 Reihe 32 Grab 1900

Kriegsgräberstätte: Champigny-St.André - Bau, Pflege und Instandsetzung | Volksbund.de

kriegsgraeberstaetten.volksbund.de

If the date of the pic where he is in a trench under snow is winter 1942/1943, he might have been with either FJR 1, 3 or 4. If it is was taken in winter 1943/1944, FJR 2, 6 or 7.

 

[rohling81]

Thank you Guillaume, to be sure I will be contacting the Bundesarchive in Berlin or Freiburg, I'm sure there will be a record on him.