Soldbuch grouping 560. Volksgrenadier Division Ardennes EK 2

Soldbuch to Obergrenadier Wilhelm Granderath.

Born on 3-5-1909 in Düsseldorf.

The Soldbuch opens at 1-8-1944 with Stamm Kompanie Grenadier ersatz Battlion 473. After his basictrainings he became part of Grenadier Regiment 1128 wich was part of the newly formed 560. Volksgrenadier Division.

Formed as part of Himmler’s ‘Replacement Army’ in August 1944, 560. Volksgrenadierdivision obtained its personnel from various Luftwaffe and Heer units stationed around Norway and Denmark. They all came together at Moss, in Northern Norway, and were ready to be sent to the front in October 1944.

It was committed to the Ardennes on 16 December 1944, but was under-strength due to many of its personnel being still on route from Norway. Each regiment could only field about a battalion in the field and it lacked its assault guns.
Even its commander was in hospital for the first 10 days of the battle and the division was commanded by one of its regimental commanders, Oberst Rudolf Langhaüser.  Langhaüser, on the return of the commander Generalmajor Rudolf Bader, must have proved himself because he took over command of 12. Volksgrenadierdivision on 26 December after its commander, Gerhaed Engel, had been wounded fighting on the Elsenborn ridge.

During his command of 560. VGD, Langhaüser had led them with skill and determination breaking through the lines of the US 28th Infantry Division’s 110th and 112th Regiments at Sevenig and Heinerscheid. They had reached Houffalize before encountering stiffening resistance west of St. Vith. They eventually were forced back to Houffalize.

The US counter offensive hit them on 3 January 1945 and they continued to fighting around the St. Vith sector, with more of their men finally arriving from Norway. They fought at Echternach in February, before falling back over the river Pruem.
On 25 February 1945 he got wounded by schrapnel (woundcode 31b) at Holzfeld.

Langhaüser, who had rejoined the division, commanded the survivors in the Ruhr Pocket before they went into captivity with its surrender in April 1945.

It comes with 2 award documents;

- EK 2, for bravery shown during the battles in the Ardennes. The document has been signed by Generalmajor and divisional commander Rudolf Bader. (DKIG 8-10-1943)

- Wounded badge in Silver, for a single wounding wich led to an amputation.
- Hospital papers wich mentioned the place where he got wounded (Holzfeld) and the amputation.

Good used condition.

code: B24262