6x Award Docs – Grenadier-Regiment 680, 122 & 123 – Soviet Union, Poland, Norway Fighter

A highly interesting original Wehrmacht document grouping belonging to Leutnant der Reserve Hans-Georg Pfennig, documenting his military service from the outbreak of the Second World War through 1944. The grouping is particularly attractive because it combines original award certificates with service documentation and uniform procurement papers, allowing Pfennig’s wartime career to be followed across several years and different formations.

The earliest document is a Führungszeugnis, dated 13 July 1940, concerning Gefreiter Hans-Georg Pfennig, who is recorded as having belonged to his unit since 26 August 1939. The document praises him as a conscientious and capable soldier and records participation in the Polish Campaign, the campaign in the West and the fighting in Norway. The accompanying Feldpost reference 27821 A corresponds to the staff of II./ Infanterie-Regiment 359 during this period. Infanterie-Regiment 359 formed part of the 181. Infanterie-Division, which was deployed to Norway during the 1940 campaign.

Two original certificates document Pfennig’s receipt of the Ostmedaille – Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 in 1942. One is dated 5 August 1942 and is made out to St. Pfennig, while the second, dated 20 August 1942, names Leutnant Johann Georg Pfennig and bears the stamp of Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 306, with the certificate authenticated by a Major und Bataillonskommandeur. The presence of the two contemporary certificates, including the variation between “Hans-Georg” and “Johann Georg” in the documents, is an interesting feature of the grouping and is consistent with the period’s sometimes varying use of first names on military paperwork. Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 306 was based in the Wehrkreis VI system and served as an Ersatz formation for the 211. Infanterie-Division.

Particularly interesting is the original Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber certificate recording a wound sustained on 23 July 1944. The document identifies Pfennig as Leutnant d.Res. Hans-Georg Pfennig, 13./ Grenadier-Regiment 123, and states that, on the basis of his third wound, the Silver Wound Badge was awarded. The certificate was issued on 5 August 1944 and bears the signature of the Oberst und Regimentskommandeur. At this time Grenadier-Regiment 123 belonged to the 50. Infanterie-Division, which had been rebuilt in the Perleberg area after the destruction of the original division in the Crimea.

A second original Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz certificate records an earlier wound sustained on 7 September 1943. This document was issued considerably later, on 19 June 1944, by Reserve-Lazarett Braunlage, and again identifies Leutnant d.Res. Hans-Georg Pfennig serving with Grenadier-Regiment 680 of the 333. Infanterie-Division.

The grouping also contains an original Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber possession certificate for Leutnant d.Res. Hans-Georg Pfennig, 13./ Grenadier-Regiment 123, dated 28 September 1944. The document was issued at the Regimental Headquarters (Rgt. Gef. Std.) and is signed by the Oberst und Regimentskommandeur. The 13th Company was part of Grenadier-Regiment 123 of the 50. Infanterie-Division. The regiment had been destroyed during the fighting in the Crimea and was rebuilt from June 1944 onwards in the Perleberg area before returning to the Eastern Front.

The highlight of the grouping is arguably the original Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse certificate, awarded to Leutnant Hans-Georg Pfennig, Stab I./ Grenadierregiment 122, on 23 August 1944 at the Divisions-Gefechtsstand. The certificate is signed “Haus, Oberst” with the notation m.d.F.b. (“mit der Führung beauftragt”). This signature can be attributed to Oberst Georg Haus, who was at this time entrusted with the leadership of the 50. Infanterie-Division. Haus had taken over the division’s leadership in 1944 and was still an Oberst at the time of this certificate; he was promoted to Generalmajor only in October 1944.

The grouping is further strengthened by several original Uniform-Bezugsscheine from 1944. These documents record Pfennig’s entitlement to uniform items and materials, including material for a Feldbluse, material for a Mantel and trousers. One bears Feldpostnummer 08574, the regimental staff Feldpostnummer of Grenadier-Regiment 123, while another bears Feldpostnummer 32291, corresponding to the 13. Kompanie of Grenadier-Regiment 123. These supply documents provide useful supporting evidence for Pfennig’s connection with Grenadier-Regiment 123 during 1944 and are an excellent addition to the award documentation.

Taken together, the documents provide an unusually coherent picture of Hans-Georg Pfennig’s wartime career: service beginning before the outbreak of war, participation in the Polish and Western campaigns and the 1940 Norwegian campaign, the Ostmedaille for the winter campaign of 1941/42, repeated wartime wounds, advancement to Leutnant der Reserve, the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silver, and finally the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse during the 1944 fighting with the 50. Infanterie-Division. The connection with both Grenadier-Regiment 122 and Grenadier-Regiment 123, together with the contemporary uniform documentation, makes this considerably more interesting than a simple collection of loose award certificates.

Condition: The documents remain in original wartime condition, with typical age toning, foxing, light staining, folds and handling/storage wear. Several certificates show horizontal folding from period filing or storage, while the uniform vouchers display more pronounced handling and edge wear. Importantly, the documents retain their original stamps, signatures and period annotations. The EK2 document was cut at the button. Documents were denazified.