Germany - Third Reich: The interesting set of documents relating to the award of the Knights Cross to Major in the General Staff Alfred Germer, Officer in Command of 3rd Company, 171st Engineer Battalion, 71st Infantry Division, then 2nd and 4th Engineer Demonstration Battalion, and Commanding Officer 171st Engineer Battalion, 71st Infantry Division. Finally 3rd GSO (Ic), Headquarters, VI Army Corps, who was famously involved in the capture of Panzerwerk (Casemate) 505 in the Maginot Line on 18-19th May 1940.
This is a very rare document group belonging to Alfred Germer who was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross on 26th May 1940 for an act of outstanding bravery and leadership during the successful attack on Casemate (Panzerwerk) 505 in the Maginot Line on 18th-19th May 1940. The group consists of two VII Army Corps Order of the Day (one of which congratulates the 71st Infantry Division and its Engineers/Infantrymen on the successful attack on Casemate 505 (Panzerwerk), a Divisional Order of the Day which congratulates all those in the Division who took part in the successful attack on Casemate 505, a Battalion Order of the Day which congratulates the Battalion on its performance during the initial stages of the Campaign in France and in particular those who took part in the Attack on Casemate 505, two copies of ‘Der Landser’, a Wolfgang Willrich postcard signed in ink by Germer, 5 photos and a ‘Happy Division’ privately produced book (limited edition) containing the story of the 71st Infantry Division’s participation in the Campaign in France 1940.
Documents:
1. Corps HQ, 19th May 1940 VII Army Corps Order of the Day (certified as a correct copy of the above Order by the Leutnant and Adjutant of 171st Engineer Battalion on 25.5.1940.‘The 18thof May has brought a historical victory to VII Army Corps. It has succeeded in taking the first Maginot Line Casemate by storm. Engineers and Infantrymen of the 71stInfantry Division under the decisive command of Oberleutnant Germer, 171stEngineer Battalion, have overcome the strongly defended casemate. I express my special recognition and thanks to the brave men! You have proved that the German soldier is the best soldier in the world!’This is the first paragraph of the order which continues to shower praise on all units, men and commanders who took part in this attack. At the same time he remembers all those who lost their lives in combat. The original order was signed by Ritter von Schobert as General of Infantry and Corps Commander.
2. Divisional HQ, 19th May 1940 71st Infantry Division Order of the Day.(certified as a correct copy of the above Order by the Leutnant and Adjutant of 171st Engineer Battalion on 25.5.1940) Soldiers of the 71stInfantry Division’18.5.1940 is entered in the war history as a glorious day of the 71st Infantry Division. German soldiers have for the first time captured a casemate of the Maginot Line and overcome a cornerstone of the enemy fortified front. This heroic act was carried out in a bold surprise coup by an assault Company assembled from 191 Infantry Regiment and 171st Engineer Battalion under command of Oberleutnant Germer which took the strongly defended Casemate 505 from the enemy after a violent struggle.The last combat days were particularly difficult and tough for the fighting elements of the Division to the south of the Chiers as well as for Artillery and Engineers. Each location and each hill had to be wrested from the enemy in a heated struggle. It has proved again in these battles that not only the weapons and equipment but also above all your fighting spirit is far superior to the enemy.Thanks to your superb achievements, the Division has gained a success which has found particular recognition in the Armed Forces Report in front of the whole of the German people. Through this you have brought glory to your Lower Saxon homeland.I thank you all for your operational preparedness and your sacrifice. Tough battles still lie ahead.’The original order was signed by Weisenberger as Generalleutnant Divisional Commander
3. Battalion HQ, 26th May 1940 171stEngineer Battalion Order of the DayEngineers! The first action of the Battalion at the Sauer, for 3rd (motorised) Company and the Bridging Column at the Saar and Mosel on 10thMay was the prelude to our great proud success which the Battalion has achieved. Already all soldiers have proved there that our tireless keen training in the Winter 1939/40 is crowned with success. This success which all higher commands have completely acknowledged, would not have been possible without the magnificent spirit and conduct of all members of the Battalion. The further advance through Luxembourg and Belgium from 11th to 14th May and afterwards the crossing of the Chiers on 15thMay were memorable days again for the Battalion. But proudest of all is the storming of the Casemate 505 on 18thand 19thMay by the 1stCompany reinforced by considerable elements of the 2nd and 3rd(mot) Companies under command of Oberleutnant Germer after the MG pillboxes on the east and southern edge of Villy were taken in the afternoon by assault detachments of 2nd and 3rd(mot) Companies. Through this the name of the Battalion has found an honourable reputation. Our families in the homeland admire our proud achievements. We bow in silent sorrow in front of our fallen comrades. We also remember our wounded comrades. We will not forget them and vow to keep fighting until the final victory and if it does not work out, we will act in the same way as they did before us.I say my deep felt thanks to all soldiers of the Battalion for the enthusiasm, for the courage and valiant conduct with these battles.I promote with immediate effect for particular bravery in front of the enemy: 9 names The Divisional Commander has awarded the Iron Cross 2ndClass in the name of the Fuhrer to the following: 25 names In addition the following are promoted to Unteroffizier: 11 names ’The order was signed in ink by Krumsick as Battalion Commander.Krimsick served in the same Engineer Battalion (the 19th) as Germer before WW2 and was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 20.3.1942 as a Major and CO 49thPanzer Engineer Battalion, 10th Panzer Division.
4. Corps HQ, 29thMay 1940.VII Army Corps Order of the Day. The Fuhrer and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross to Oberleutnant Germer171stEngineer Battalion‘ With this brave act of the Assault Detachment Commander and his men find the highest recognition! VII Army Corps is proud of this, that this decoration was granted to one of ours. I express my heartiest best wishes Oberleutnant Germer, his exemplary assault detachment and all troops of the 71stInfantry Division who were involved. Facsimile signature of von Schobert General of Infantry
5. Battalion Report about the Attack on Casemate (Panzerwerk) 505. This is a very rare A4 size 6 page undated comprehensive contemporary WW2 report signed in ink by the Battalion Commander – Hauptmann Albert Krumsiek. This fascinating report covers the preparations for the attack, the actual attack itself and the lessons learnt from the whole operation. It also has a map trace of the area with place names that are mentioned in the report – Casemate (Panzerwerk) 505 and barbed wire entanglements are written in red. A translation of the final paragraph with a mention of Alfred Germer is as follows:‘The Company Commander of 1/171 Engineer Battalion, Oberleutenant Germer, was the right Commander with this attack of his Company and his subordinated elements’
6. Der Landser – Oberleutnant Alfred Germer. The ‘Landser’ is a post war A5 size paperback magazine which was produced to publicise authentic experiences reports for the History of the 2ndWorld War. It was produced and issued by serial numbers. Two copies came with this document group dedicated to the life story of the Knights Cross Holder Oberleutnant Alfred Germer – both civil and military. They in particular describe his act of bravery during the assault and capture of Casemate (Panzerwerk) 505 in the Maginot Line which led to his award of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross- they are as follows:Issue 649 – This issue was printed in 1970 and consists of 88 pages with 7 pages with 14 photos. Pages 45/88 his life story and pages 11/44 with an account of the action which led to his award of the Knights Cross.Issue 991 – This new later edition was printed in 1988 and consists of 74 pages with 6 pages with 11 photos (including a good photo of Germer in uniform wearing his Knights Cross). Pages 43/60 his life story and pages 11/42 with an account of the action which led to his award of the Knights Cross
Signed Post Card:
A very good Wolfgang Willrich coloured post card (Series E6) depicting Alfred Germer in combat dress wearing his Knights Cross. It is a copy of the original painting of Germer which was produced in 1940. Alfred Germer has signed the postcard in ink.Photographs:
There are 5 Post War copies of good WW2 photos of Alfred Germer. Two of the presentation ceremony of his award of the Knights Cross, three of him wearing his Knights Cross (one feeding himself, one with a Hauptfeldwebel and a good one of him facing the camera with no head-dress but wearing his Knights Cross, EK1 and the General Assault Badge..A Privately produced Book about ‘The Happy Division’ in France 1940.A 72 page quality hardback titled ‘The Happy Division’ (Die gluckhafte Division) with the Capture of Fort 505 to Verdun and Nancy’ which covered the part played by the 71stInfantry Division during the 1940 campaign in France. Its author Dr Werner Lahne (a Sonderfuhrer) wrote a Foreword in the field during December 1941 to this special private limited edition of 300 which was produced for the Maximillian Gesellschaft with the permission of the German Armed Forces High Command. It was printed in Berlin in 1942 and this copy has the number 189. It contains 8 collotype illustrations by Theo Matejko and a campaign map diagram.
Alfred Germer was born on 7thMay 1914 in Strasbourg and was reported as Missing in Action during March 1945 in the Elbing area in East Prussia as the 3rdGSO (Ic) HQ, VI Army Corps. He was a career soldier who joined the 19thEngineer Battalion on 28.10.1935 and was commissioned in 1.1.1938. he was posted as Adjutant to 171stEngineer Battalion on 26.8.1939 and given command of 1stCompany on 10.5.1940 on the first day of the 1940 Campaign in France. It was during this campaign that he was awarded the Knights Cross for outstanding bravery and leadership during the assault on Casemate 505 in the Maginot Line. He continued with this command until 10.9.1941 when he was posted to the Engineer School II. He was then a Company Commander in 2 & 4 Engineer Demonstration Battalions before returning to command his old 171stEngineer Battalion. After a relatively short period in command he was posted to the War Academy in Hirschberg/Silesia/ Having completed his General Staff training he was transferred to the Corps of General Staff Officers on 1.9.1944 as the 3rd GSO (Ic) in HQ VI Army Corps – a post in which he served until he was reported as Missing in Action in March 1945.Alfred Germer saw active service in the West in 1939, the France in 1940, South Russia (including Kiev) in 1941, Northern Italy in 1942, the Balkans in 1943 and in East Prussia in 1944-45.
