German Army Officer Soldbuch Oberleutnant Wilhelm Röttger Pi.Btl.254 Dunkirk & Kharkov

Original German Army Soldbuch to Oberleutnant Wilhelm Röttger. Röttger began military service as an NCO as Feldwebel in August 1939 he grew to climb the ranks and promote as an officer. His unit Pioneer Battalion 254 was attached to 254th/54th Infantry Division. In May 1941 he was transferred to Dunkirk and fought the BEF. It was during this fighting he recieved the Iron cross in second and first class. He also recieved the Schutzwall medal. In June 1942 the division was moved to the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. In January 1943 the Division would see action again on the eastern front and was moved to the southern sector in February. The Division fought at Izium and later the battle of Kharkov. By July 1943 Röttger’s division took part in operation citadel. The unit was then on the retreat after the failed invasion of the Soviet Union. It’s worth noting at this point by the end of 1943 Röttger had been injured four times, and on the 31/12/1943 recieved the wound badge in Silver as well as the General Assault Badge. Röttger struggled to recover from his wounds recieved in late December 1943 and was not discharged from hospital until the end of February 1944. He rejoined his unit at the Battle of the Dnieper river. By September the unit was overrun by Soviet forces and surrendered. Oberleutnant Röttger was taken into Soviet captivity as a prisoner of war from the end of summer 1944 until the end of the war.

The Soldbuch has a huge number of entries however it is also worth noting he used the Walter PPK on his weapons training. The front of the Soldbuch shows reference to his captivity by the Soviets. A really nice piece.

Code: 1408