Wilhelm Dertinger

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:31 pm

Can anybody tell me about this gentleman? All I know is that he was a Pionier in Stalingrad. After the battle he was sent to a gulag, and later died of Yellow Fever. I only have these photos because his friend survived the Gulag and brought them back to Dertinger's wife. Through the photos, I can tell he was a gefreiter, unteroffizier, and oberfeldwebel. He was also awarded the Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, and the Iron Cross 2nd Class. I believe he was originally in the infantry, do to the waffenfarbe in the formal greatcoat photo. He was also part of the Hitlerjugend.

Any more information?

Can anybody tell me about this gentleman? All I know is that he was a Pionier in Stalingrad. After the battle he was sent to a gulag, and later died of Yellow Fever. I only have these photos because his friend survived the Gulag and brought them back to Dertinger's wife. Through the photos, I can tell he was a gefreiter, unteroffizier, and oberfeldwebel.

Any more information?

Thanks

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:38 am

Nobody?

Maigewitter · Post by **Maigewitter** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:40 am

The Volksbund lists one

Wilhelm Dertinger:

Rank: Obergefreiter

Born on the: 30.01.1910
in: Schwabbach

Date of Death: 22.08.1942

Location of Death: H.V.Pl. 1.Sanko. 125 m. Nowo Dmitriyews-Kaja,12 Km.s.o.Nawropolskaja

Could he be that?

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:33 am

Nah. He died in a Gulag of either Yellow Fever or being hung/suspended by meathooks. He died in..I think 1957 [?] a few months before the Stalingrad prisoners were released.

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:38 am

[Sorry for the double post, the edit button isn't working for me]

This is second hand information, so it may be a bit confusing. His last name could have been SCHMEHL

Maigewitter · Post by **Maigewitter** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:51 pm

Are you sure about the story with the gulag?

Here is a Wilhelm Schmehl who died in Stalingrad:

Nachname: Schmehl
Vorname: Wilhelm
Dienstgrad: Funkmeister
Geburtsdatum: 24.03.1915
Geburtsort: Dillenburg-Niederscheid
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 01.01.1943
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Stadt Stalingrad

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:00 pm

Now that you show me that information..I'm not exactly sure.

I was told he died in a Gulag, but now I ponder that.

Thanks for the information!

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:26 am

If he had "Died" on the first of January 1943, is it possible that he could have been captured on that day, and in the chaos that was occuring, the Wehrmacht pronounced him dead?

Do you think you could identify his uniform as well?

Many thanks,
Hans

Maigewitter · Post by **Maigewitter** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:58 am

Maigewitter wrote:
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 01.01.1943
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Stadt Stalingrad

Sorry for the missing translation.

Todes-/Vermisstendatum = date of death or missing
Todes-/Vermisstenort = location of death or missing

So he didnt have to be dead on the 01.01.43, he also could be missing since this date, which means in my opinion that no corpse has been found.

And which uniform do you mean?

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/ ... tinger.jpg

Here he is wearing a Heer uniform (not sure about the exact type, but it must be a earlier model, M40 would be my guess), rank NCO and the EK II. The Waffenfarbe is hard to identify, but it seems to be quite dark, so it might be black if its right what you have written that he was a sapper. On the other photo with the flowers he is also wearing this uniform if im not wrong.

best regards

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:51 am

Thankyou! I don't believe any corpse was found. His friend who survived stated that the Gulag guards casted him into a mass grave - which explains it.

What about the uniform without the green collar? [9th one down]

Thanks so much,
Hans

Maigewitter · Post by **Maigewitter** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:28 pm

The collar of an enlisted mans M40 uniform did have a different kind of style than the one of a NCOs uniform - the one of an enlisted man had a more simple collar, if im not wrong. So my guess would be that this picture might be an earlier one, when he had a lower rank.

best regards

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:12 pm

Thanks. What about the cap? And what was the specific job of a Pionier? I think he was a Sturmpionier

Maigewitter · Post by **Maigewitter** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:00 am

The cap was the standard cap in the earlier war years. I just dont know the exact Mxx designation but it was nicknamed "Schiffchen" ("small ship"). At the cap you can also see that he was a Pionier - the dark line around the "circle".

The job of a Pionier wasnt different from what it is today. Building destroyed bridges up, destroying bridges, plant mines, clear mines, building defence work.. and so on.

A Sturmpionier was a specific kind of Pionier. His objects were much more offensive - like destroying bunkers, smoke out bunkers and other stuff with flame throwers, cross over rivers with assault boats.

But by the way the Volksbund listed him as a Funkmeister (radio operator).

best regards

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:49 am

Could radio operators be classified with pioniers/sturmpioniers or would they be specifically with communications?

Maigewitter · Post by **Maigewitter** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:04 am

I ask myself the same, but im not sure. I think that it might be possible.