Wehrpass - Decorated Machine Gunner, KIA Moscow 1941

2nd edition Wehrpass for Gefreiter Franz Falkenbacher. He joined the Heer in March 1940, serving mainly with Infanterie Regiment 301 (part of 206. Infanterie Division). He was trained to use the Gewehr 98k, MG 08, MG 34 and Pistole 08. He appears to have served in machine gun companies. He was awarded the Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (Inf. Sturmabzeichen Silber) and the Eastern Front Campaign medal (awarded after his death). He served in occupied France in 1940, before participating in Operation Barbarossa. He fought in the battle of Minsk, battle of Smolensk and fought extensively in the assault on Moscow, seeing action around Vyazma and Kalinin. He was killed on December 31st 1941, dying from being shot in the chest (Brustschüss Geschoss). Interesting Wehrpass for a hardened veteran machine gunner who died in a historical battle.