Soldbuch – Grenadier-Eratz-Btl. 365 (Nijmegen!) – Grenadier-Regiment 1130 – Ardennes

Original Soldbuch which was issued to Alfred [surname difficult to read], born 14 April 1922 in Kassel. His personal details are recorded on the opening pages, including blood group AB, height approximately 1.76 m, and his physical characteristics.

Service history

The book contains several interesting unit entries, including:

• Grenadier-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 365 in Nijmegen (Holland) !
• 4. Kompanie/ Grenadier-Regiment 1130
• A location entry for Nijmegen (Holl.), placing the soldier in the Netherlands during the later war period.

The Soldbuch also contains an extensive Bekleidungs- und Ausrüstungsnachweis documenting issued clothing and equipment, with numerous original handwritten entries, stamps and corrections.

The Grenadier-Regiment 1130 belonged to the 560. Volks-Grenadier-Division.

Grenadier-Regiment 1130

Grenadier-Regiment 1130 was formed on 1 August 1944 at Moss, Norway, for the newly established 560. Grenadier-Division. Following the division’s redesignation on 10 August 1944, the regiment became part of the 560. Volks-Grenadier-Division.

In November 1944 the division was transferred from Denmark to the Western Front. During the Ardennes Offensive, the regiment was committed from the area of Dahnen, with the initial objective of forcing crossings of the Our River in the area of Kalborn and Ouren.

The regiment subsequently advanced with the division through Tavigny towards Houffalize and continued fighting in the direction of Gouvy, before encountering heavy resistance around Samrée, Dochamps and Marcouray.

By 23 December 1944, the regiment had reached the furthest point of its offensive operations and was unable to make further gains.

During the fighting in January and February 1945, the 560. Volks-Grenadier-Division suffered increasingly severe losses. The remnants of Grenadier-Regiment 1130 were among the last remaining infantry elements of the division. Following further fighting around the Prüm position, Meckel and the Kyll, the division was reduced to only a few hundred men.

On 6 March 1945, the approximately 150 surviving men of the 560. Volks-Grenadier-Division were incorporated together with remnants of the 352. and 212. Volks-Grenadier-Divisions, under the command of the 352. Volks-Grenadier-Division.

A particularly interesting document for collectors of German Army Soldbücher, Grenadier units, late-war service and the 1944 fighting in the Netherlands/Nijmegen area.

An original, untouched wartime Soldbuch with photograph and documented service history — a great addition to a WWII German document collection. 

The Soldbuch remains complete and very attractive as an original wartime document, complete with photo.