Trying to learn location of Heer 34th Infantry Division during September 1943

[dpast32]

Hello Folks, I'm coming along nicely with my Documenting my recently mentioned Wehrpass, but I have encountered what appears to be a very confusing issue regarding the person' assigned unit, which at the particular time period I'm interested in was, '1. N 34', which I 'assume' indicates the
1st Kompanie of the 34th Reconnaissance Battalion, although I could be wrong on this assumption ? I've included the Link to my initial Post pertaining to this Web roads if anyone wishes any background information. ( LINK: forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=265344&p=2415667#p2415667 ) The Soldier was transferred to the 34th Fussilier Kompanie during December of 1943, but my interest lies with his relative location on, or about 30 September 1943, the date of his receiving his E.K. II Decoration. I added his complete Wehrpass to the above Link, if anyone wishes to confirm my assumed date of his Award ? Basically, I would like to know where his unit was when he performed whatever he did to merit his E.K.II, but I am not coming up with any firm information on the 34th during my period of interest, September - October 1943. Other than the Wikipedia series entries, which are no help whatsoever, I simply can't find anything ? If anyone has any information concerning what I'm seeking, & or where I might look for it, I would deeply appreciate hearing from them !! Just to note, it appears as if the 34th Infantry Division was transferred from their prior parent command of the 2nd Panzer Armee, 43rd Armee Korps, to anyone command of which I can't seem to determine ? ANY assistance will be most appreciated. THANK YOU,

Best regards, Dom P.

[GregSingh]

Use Lage Ost daily maps (eg. from John's server) or check out https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de.

I'm not sure you have the correct unit, but anyway in mid-September, 34.ID was in the area of Popowka (now Popivka), East of Lubny, in Poltava Oblast. By the end of September it was pushed back all the way to Tscherkassy area, where it stayed in October as well.

[dpast32]

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THANK YOU Greg, Very much !! Yes, the locations you noted were indeed exactly where he was just prior to, & later when he was KIA on 13 February 1944, during the 'Korean Pocket Breakout'. Here's my notation from my Ancestry Page on him;

TINOWKA, UKRAINE, RUSSIA [ AKA: 'Korsun Pocket Breakout' ]

SERVED w/ 4. KOMPANIE, FUSSILIER SQUADRON 34, FROM 16 DECEMBER 1943 - TO - 13 FEBRUARY 1944, WHEN HE WAS K.I.A. in

I have also included 2 relevant pages from the man's Wehrpass so you may view the notations mentioned as to where he was both prior to when he was receiving his Iron Cross 2nd Class on 30 September 1943, & also his 'Gefallen' notation for his loss on 13 February 1944. Naturally, if you happen to be able to add anything of interest here, I would deeply appreciate hearing about it. So basically, what you have so kindly provided pretty much confirms my information as to where he was killed, & at least now due to your contribution, I will be able to follow up on his E.K. II circumstances. THANKS AGAIN

Best, Dom P.

[DirkAH]

Hello,

1. N 34 means 1./Nachrichtenabteilung 34 (1st company of signals btl. 34 of 34. Inf.Div.). This also matches his previous unit 5./Nachr.Ers.Abt. 33 (5th company of signals replacement btl. 33).

[dpast32]

Just in case anyone wishes to view the above discussed Wehrpass, I'm including the relevant Link to my previous Post which includes it in its entirety. THANK YOU

LINK: forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=265344&p=2415667#p2415667

Best regards, Dom P.

[2KILFA]

The 34. Infanterie Division was transferred from the 9. Armee (not 2. Panzerarmee) of HG Mitte and sent to the 4. Panzerarmee of HG Sud in August 1943.
On 15 August, the division began the withdrawal from the front south of Karachev for departure to HG Sud. On 17 August, it was loaded up on trains in Bryansk and departed for HG Sud. On 18 August, first elements arrived to HG Sud area at Poltava. By 24 August, 2/3 were at the front, northwest of Zin’kiv, 1/3 near the front at Birky.
Here's an excerpt from the situation map on 12 September 1943, with division being circled in red- I've got tons of these daily maps.

[Steve E]

My Father was killed in the defense of Oposhnja on the 14th of November 1943. he served in the 5th (gepanzerte) (armoured) Kompanie (Company), II Battalion, 6th Schützen (Rifle) Regiment, 7th Panzer (Tank) Division.

Here is part of my Biography:

On the 14/09/1943 he lost his live in the bitter street fighting in Oposhnja against the Russian 20th Guards Rifle Corps from 4th Guards Army.
His body was never recovered and there was no grave or any other information, just a letter from his company stating he had died after having been shot in the head. Some month later one of his comrades (who was himself killed later in the war) send us a letter dated 08/01/1944 stating he was shot and lying in the street. The Germans had to retreat and couldn’t recover his body.

Here is an excerpt from a letter from one of my Dad’s close friends in his company about his death:
On the morning of the 14th our battalion and a battalion of the Grossdeutschland division had orders to defended the city of Oposhnja to enable the units to our left to retreat. When they were unable to do so, Grossdeutschlands battalion was pulled out of our sector and moved to support our neighbour. Now we had no hope of retaining our position, we fought desperately. At 9-30 AM I asked Otto what was happening and he replied “the Russians are 20 metres in front of our position”. Half an hour later the enemies attacked and we were forced to retread. At that moment I saw Otto and his Squad Leader sprint across a street. They were the last to leave our position, they fought to the last moment.
I took shelter in a nearby house where our squad leader joint me presently. I asked him straightaway “where is Eckardt” and he answered sadly “Otto is dead, he was killed by a bullet to the head, he is lying in the street”.
We tried to counterattack with the remnants of our squad but could not advance to the street where Otto was lying. Just then our squad leader was killed as well.
The comrade who send this letter sadly lost his life a few month later as well.

Regards
Steve Eckardt.

[dpast32]

Good Morning Steve, I THANK YOU very, very much for your poignant & informative reply, it's most appreciated. Quite sadly, as we have all noted, ever so many Soldiers were inadvertently left behind by their Comrades, & almost always it was due to circumstances beyond their control. I can only imagine literal flood of official correspondence between a unit's HQ's Company, as forwarded up the Command chain in an effort to report all overwhelming number of casualties the Wehrmacht was suffering in Russia. As a Researcher / Historian, I've also noted a distinct frequency of the use of the description, 'GSW to Head', as being listed for the 'Cause of Death' within official documents. Perhaps it was in fact an accurate & true statement, although others, along with myself believe it may have been introduced for the sake of brevity when referring to some fatal casualties ? ( Not that it really matters all that much, but it is relevant enough to mention. ) I wish you my sincere condolences in reference to your Father's being 'Killed in Action', & truly appreciate your kind reply. Take care,

Best regards, Dom P.