Soldbuch 18. Volksgrenadier Division Ardennes St. Vith 1944

Soldbuch to Gefreiter Willi Barth.

In daily life Barth was a 1,82 m tall factory worker.

In 1944 he was called-up again for military duty and became part of Stabsbatterie of III./Artillerie Regiment 1818 of the 18. Volksgrenadier Division.

In December 1944 this Division was one of the many Volksgrenadier Divisions who took part in the German operation “Wacht am Rhein” also know as the Battle of the Bulge.

18. Volksgrenadierdivision gained two of the most significant victories of the Ardennes campaign by utterly defeating the US 106th Infantry Division and taking St. Vith.
The division was formed in Denmark in September 1944, combining 571. Volksgrenadierdivision and elements of 18. Luftwaffenfelddivision. They were commanded by Oberst Günther Hoffmann-Schönborn.

The division began its attack in the Ardennes on 16 December 1944. They pushed into the Losheim Gapthrough the Schnee Eifel, inflicting on the US 106th Infantry Division the worst defeat suffered by US forces in Europe when they captured over 8,000 prisoners.

On 21 December, 294. Volksgrenadierregiment, 18. Volksgrenadierdivision captured St. Vith. The regiment assaulted the Prumerberg heights, punched a hole through the lines of the dug-in infantry of CCB, 7th Armored Division, and advanced down the road into St. Vith. They were soon followed by Volksgrenadiers from 62. VGD. The taking of St. Vith then allowed the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade to pursue the retreating Americans.

As the Ardennes offensive ran down the division went on to the defensive. The division slowly retreated through Germany until the end of the war, when it surrendered.

On 1-1-1945 he got promoted in the field to Gefreiter.

After the Ardennes offensive he was awarded the KvK 2 with Swords on 30-1-1945.

Good used condition, complete with all pages.

code: D26364