Soldbuch 183. Volksgrenadier Division – Westwall 1944

Ersatz Soldbuch to Gefreiten Martin Galtins.

Born 21-7-1907. In daily life he was a truckdriver and car mechanic.

The Soldbuch opens at 26 May 1944 with Infanterie Panzerjager ersatz Kompanie 262 based in Retz.
After he finished the training with a Panzerjager training unit he became part of the 13. (Panzerjager) Kompanie of Volks Grenadier Regiment 343 of the 183. Volksgrenadier Division.

The 183. Volksgrenadier Division was set up on September 15, 1944 at the Döllersheim military training area in WWXVII as a division of the 32nd wave. The replacement personnel came mainly from the Luftwaffe; the equipment was complete but insufficient for front-line operations. After a short formation, the division was relocated to the Zülpich, Düren and Euskirchen area at the end of September 1944 and took part in the battle for the West Wall.
On October 2, 1944, a major American attack began against the section of the 183. Volksgrenadier Division.
On October 4, 1944, the division lost 729 men. In the subsequent battles for Geilenkirchen the division suffered further heavy losses. In mid-November there was heavy fighting south of Immendorf.

Immendorf and Loverich were lost, but the planned American breakthrough on Linnich and Gereonsweiler was prevented by the weakened division.

The 183. VGD south of Heinsberg on the Dutch - German border.

As a result, the 9. Panzer Division and the 15. Panzergrenadier Division from the Prummern and Gereonsweiler areas were deployed, but with moderate success. The remaining combat-ready remnants of the 183. Volksgrenadier Division were subordinated to the two divisions. On November 19th, US troops managed to encircle and occupy Geilenkirchen. The resulting German counterattack remained in the Niederheid area. After these battles, the division was pulled out of the front to refresh itself. The refreshment had to be accelerated considerably because the division again had to take the section northwest of the Wurm with its own forces. Due to its relocation, the new HKL had to be completely rebuilt and was located east of the Süggerath and Prummern line at the end of November 1944.

Somewere in late 1944 he must have been taken POW.

He received an Tarnetz

Medals

- Wounded badge in Black, 11-2-1944.
He got wounded while serving with his previous unit Stab/Grenadier Regiment 597 of the 329. Infanterie Division wich fought on the Eastfront and was whiped-out in late ‘43.

Good used condition, complete with all pages.

The map is for reference only and does not come with the item.

code: B24250