Wehrpass Hoch Gebirgsjager Pionier Btl. 818 – Monte Cassino EK 1

Wehrpass first issue + cover to Feldwebel Ernst Roesling.

Born on 6-8-1914 in Stuttgart.

Proffession: Doctor

The Wehrpass was issued at 15-6-1936

On 24-4-1940 he became part of 1./Sanitats ersatz Kompanie 13.

After his basictrainings he became part of Gebirgsjager Regiment 99 of the 1. Gebirgsjager Division from 22-7-1942 onwards.

With the 1. Gebirgsjager Division he was active on the Easternfront.

During the battles in the east he was awarded;

- EK 2,   16-1-1943

- Wounded Badge in Black,  24-3-1943

- Infanterie Sturmabzeichen in Silber,  23-12-1942

On 10-1-1944 he became part of Hoch Gebirgs Pionier Kompanie 818 wich became a Battalion on 1-4-1944.

The unit was active around Monte Cassino during the 1. and 2. Abwehrschlacht. (written on page 32)
For bravery shown during these battles he was awarded the EK 1!

The Hoch Gebirgsjager Battalion 818 withdrew northwards to Rome, Assisi, Perugia, Arezzo to the Calla-Pas.

In 1945 it surrendered to the Allies.

The commander of the 1. Kompanie were he was part of was Josef Scheungraber who became known for being prosecuted in one of Germany’s last bigger trials after the war for war crimes committed on Italian civilians.

“Scheungraber, at the time the commander of 1. /Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 818, a mountain infantry battalion, had been charged with 14 counts of murder and one of attempted murder. He was only convicted of 10 murders because of a lack of evidence.”

It is most likely that Feldwebel Ernst Roesling must have known Scheungraber.

The Wehrpass is in heavy used condition, one page is loose but it’s complete.

Hard to find unit with EK 1 for the Monte Cassino battles!

code: B24230