Germany – Third Reich: The Moscow counter-attack Iron Cross 2nd Class and Battle of the Nevel Iron Cross 1st Class document group awarded to Wachtmeister Heinrich Siebert, 6th Battery, 152nd Artillery Regiment, 52nd Infantry Division, who initially saw service on the Western Front on the West Wall before taking part in the Invasion of France where his division attacked through the Ardennes before advancing to the Swiss Frontier. He would subsequently take part in the invasion of the Soviet Union and as part of Army Group Centre would advance via Vilnius and Bobruisk during the initial stages of the operation. As part of the 4th Army he would see fighting during Operation Typhoon the attempted capture of the Soviet capital, before being heavily engaged in the consequent Red Army counter-attacks in front of Moscow. It was during this period he would be awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. His unit would remain as part of Army Group Centre during 1942-43 seeing fighting around Spass-Demensk and in action along the Nevel, where it would later be rendered combat ineffective during October 1943 before being disbanded. It was during the heavy fighting at the Nevel that the recipient would perform an act of gallantry resulting in the award of the Iron Cross 1st Class.
Award Certificates:
1) West Wall Medal issued at Wiesbaden on 20th March 1940 as a Gefreiten, Signed by a Colonel and Regimental Commander.
2) Iron Cross 2nd Class issued by Divisional HQ on 15th February 1942 as an Unteroffizier, 6/Artillery Regiment 152. Signed by Generalleutnant Lothar Rendulic, Generalleutnant and Commanding Officer of the 52nd Infantry Division.
Rendulic was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 26th December 1941 as Generalmajor and Commanding Officer of the 52nd Infantry Division, the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross on 6th March 1942 as Generalleutnant and Commanding Officer of the 52nd Infantry Division, 271st Oakleaves on 15th August 1943 as General der Infanterie and Commanding Officer of the XXXV. Armeekorps. 122nd Swords on 18th January 1945 as Generaloberst and Commander in Chief of the 20th Mountain Army. He was also awarded the Golden Party Badge on 19th September 1944.
3) Iron Cross 1st Class issued by Divisional HQ on 11th October 1943 as a Wachtmeister, 6/Artillery Regiment 152. Signed by Generalleutnant Rudolf Peschel, Commanding Officer of the 52nd Infantry Division.
Peschel was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross on 20th January 1944 as Generalleutnant and Commanding Officer of the 6th Luftwaffe Field Division.
Documents:
1) 20 Minute Swimming Certificate dated 25th June 1935 from the 11. Batterie, Artillerie Regiment Fulda
2) Discharge certificate dated 11th October 1935 covering his service from 12th November 1934 until 12th October 1935.
3) Diary for 1940, but the first page handwritten dated 1942, many entries presumably covering his time on the Eastern Front during that year along with his division.
4) A second diary for 1942, also with numerous entries.
5) A typed diary for the period 16th December 1941 until 23rd January 1942 covering the period of heavy defensive fighting against the severe Red Army counter-attacks that were taking place
6) A newsletter ‘Mitteilungen fur die Truppe’ dated November 1942 from the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.
7) A typed notice from the 6th Batterie, dated ‘in the east, 1st February 1943’ detailing the history of the battery whilst on the eastern front and eulogising the service of the unit, plus listing some of the casualties and those who had carried out acts of bravery during the time in Russia.
8) A notice from the Commander of Artillery Regiment 152 dated 24th October 1943 thanking the members of the Regiment for their brave fighting in the battles around Smolensk which led to the eventual disbandment of the Division a short time later.
9) A notice wishing Happy Christmas to Dear Soldiers and Work Colleagues dated November 1943
Photograph:
Postcard Photograph of Seibert in uniform
Heinrich Seibert saw a short period of pre war service with the Artillerie Regiment Fulda from 12th November 1934 until 12th October 1935 when he would be discharged. He would re-join in time to serve on the Western Front taking part in the defensive fighting over the winter of 1939-1940 and then during the fighting in France where he Division formed part of 12th Army and took part in the offensive through the Ardennes and later towards the Swiss Frontier. Upon the conclusion of the campaign his unit formed part of the occupation force.
The Regiment as part of the Division would then form part of 2nd Army with Army Group Centre during the initial fighting on the Eastern Front where it would see action at Vilnius and in the heavy fighting around Bobruisk, before it took part in the offensive towards Moscow – Operation Typhoon.
As part of what was now 4th Army Seibert fought in front of Moscow during the latter stages of the German offensive and then was in position at the beginning of the Red Army’s counterattack in the area suffering heavy losses. It was during the heavy winter fighting that Seibert would perform an act of gallantry which would lead to the award of the Iron Cross 2nd Class. He would remain fighting in the central sector of the Eastern Front during the year of 1942 fighting in the area of Spass-Demensk and Orel, before ending the year fighting near Newel.
His unit would would remain in the Newel area throughout most of 1943 until it was caught up in the heavy fighting near Orsha during the Battle of Newel in October 1943 being awarded an Iron Cross 1st Class on 11th October 1943 as a result of an act of gallantry during the fighting. By the end of the fighting the 52nd Infantry Division of which the 152 Artillery Regiment was a part was dissolved having been reduced to nothing more than a combat group due to its heavy losses in the fighting.
It is unclear what happened to Seibert after this, but the Division would be reconstituted in December 1943 as the 52nd Training Division under the command of Generalmajor Albert Newiger. In April 1944 the Division was again renamed as 52nd Security Division still under command of Newiger.
The Division would be stationed at Baranovichi in 1944 and then eventually in Festung Libau (Liepaja in Latvia) in the Courland Pocket where it would surrender in May 1945.
