Wehrpass / OT grouping - Machine gunner, KIA Demyansk 1942

ID / document grouping for Günther Breidenbach, a member of Organization Todt (a paramilitary labour organization responsible for constructing and maintaining fortifications and infrastructure) and later a Heer soldier who was killed in Russia fighting around the Demyansk pocket in 1942. Includes:

-2nd edition Wehrpass issued to Schütze (private) Günther Breidenbach, who was born in February 1921 in the city of Wuppertal. He was inducted into the army in early February 1941. He began serving with Inf. Ers. Batl. 412 Bonn, a homefront training unit, remaining with them until September 30 1941. He continued to serve on the homefront until late December 1941, when he transferred to a machine gun company that was part of Infanterie Regiment 552 (4./(M.G.) Kp. Inf. Rgt. 552), serving with them until his death on April 3rd 1942. He was trained to use the standard Karabiner 98K rifle, the Pistole 08 “Luger” and the MG34 machine gun. His battle records state the he fought from March 21st 1942 until April 3rd south of Lake Ilmen in Northern Russia (Kämpfen südlich des Ilmensees). His regiment was taking part in the Battle of the Demyansk Pocket, breaking through to encircled Wehrmacht troops in Demyansk, successfully liberating the trapped soldiers in late April. An entry indicates that he was killed by a bullet to the head (Kopfschuss) and his burial site is written in the Wehrpass (uncommon). The Wehrpass comes with a photocopy of an official Wehrmacht letter confirming his death, dated December 1942, as well as a handwritten letter by his Leutnant und Kompanie führer. The letter confirms that he was killed during a Russian attack, suffering a headshot wound which was immediately fatal. The letter is dated April 8th 1942.

-Organization Todt (OT) service book (Dienstbuch) for Günther Breidenbach. He began serving with OT in June 1939, his service ending in late November 1940. He worked as a steel worker (Eisenflechter), being stationed in Düren and St. Wendel, towns that are close to the Franco-German border. He likely worked on constructing the Westwall border defenses and / or preparing infrastructure for the Wehrmacht’s 1940 France campaign. 

Interesting ID pairing, uncommon to see groupings for Wehrmacht soldiers who served with Organization Todt.