Gefreiter Wilhelm Gaumann - 110. Infanterie-Division
On June 22, 1941, the German Wehrmacht invaded the Soviet Union. The attacking force was spread into three parts; Army Group North, Army Group Center and Army Group South. Army Group Center was the strongest and best equipped, and had the ultimate strategic goal of capturing Moscow. It saw extraordinary successes during the first weeks of the war as it covered vast distances while overrunning and defeating whole Soviet armies. Nonetheless, the Wehrmacht saw its share of casualties with thousands killed and wounded during the first month alone. Among the soldiers fighting with Army Croup Center at the time, and employed as a stretcher bearer who attended to the Army Group’s various casualties, was Gefreiter Wilhelm Gaumann of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 110, 110. Infanterie-Division.
110. Infanterie-Division was formed in northern Germany in late 1940 and saw action in the East during the first weeks of Operation Barbarossa. It was subordinate to Panzergruppe 3, Army Group Center and participated in the Wehrmacht’s first significant envelopment of Red Army troops in an around Smolensk. The German attack, which began on July 10th, was comprised of Heinz Guderian’s Panzergruppe 2 to the south and Hermann Hoth’s Panzergruppe 3 in the north. The two armies essentially ran parallel to one another in an attempt to trap numerous Soviet armies. Only after vicious fighting and multiple, concentrated Red Army counterattacks did the Germans close the gap, on July 27th.
It was during this fighting to the north of Smolensk, that Gaumann distinguished himself while recovering the wounded in the face of the enemy. He was decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class on July 30, 1941 and was, until that time, the only one to be awarded the Iron cross from his unit. His award was authorized by Generalleutnant Ernst Seifert, division commander.
Some weeks later however, on September 6, 1941 and during the division's fighting east of Smolensk, Gaumann was killed in action. He was hit by anti-tank fire in the upper thigh and abdomen while trying to carry his wounded squadron chief to safety. A letter recorded by a doctor, quite possibly Gaumann’s commanding officer, detailed his heroics and death and was sent home. The letter, dated October 8, 1941, reads as follows:
Honored madam, honored Mr. Gaumann!
Now after one month has passed since your son died, and you may be over that first great pain that the news of the hero’s death brought, I would also as Abteilung doctor like to send you a few words in recognition of your son’s achievements which will be some words of comfort at the same time. Your son gained outstanding achievements as a stretcher bearer in the recovery and care and first aid for the wounded, which he sometimes had to retrieve under enemy fire, ordered by no one, relying on himself and obeying his conscience. For his courageous behavior he was the only one to be awarded the EK from the Abteilung.
His squadron chief was wounded during a renewed attack on a village. He together with a comrade got a stretcher to bring the squadron chief back. He was killed with this comrade while carrying the stretcher and carrying out his soldierly duties by the same Russian anti-tank cannon that had wounded his chief. He was to all of us and especially myself a dear comrade. I feel myself bound to you in our joined pain.
signed
Dr. Adam
Gaumann’s documents appear to have been mounted and framed by his family and are shown below. The letter from the doctor is a copy, or Abschrift, and was signed or notarized by the mayor of his town in January 1944. Note that Gaumann’s award number and associated Verleihungsliste, or award list, is recorded on his actual award document. His Iron Cross Second Class, as shown above, was manufactured by Moritz Hausch AG of Pforzheim.
110. Infanterie-Division was formed in northern Germany in late 1940 and saw action in the East during the first weeks of Operation Barbarossa. It was subordinate to Panzergruppe 3, Army Group Center and participated in the Wehrmacht’s first significant envelopment of Red Army troops in an around Smolensk. The German attack, which began on July 10th, was comprised of Heinz Guderian’s Panzergruppe 2 to the south and Hermann Hoth’s Panzergruppe 3 in the north. The two armies essentially ran parallel to one another in an attempt to trap numerous Soviet armies. Only after vicious fighting and multiple, concentrated Red Army counterattacks did the Germans close the gap, on July 27th.
It was during this fighting to the north of Smolensk, that Gaumann distinguished himself while recovering the wounded in the face of the enemy. He was decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class on July 30, 1941 and was, until that time, the only one to be awarded the Iron cross from his unit. His award was authorized by Generalleutnant Ernst Seifert, division commander.
Some weeks later however, on September 6, 1941 and during the division's fighting east of Smolensk, Gaumann was killed in action. He was hit by anti-tank fire in the upper thigh and abdomen while trying to carry his wounded squadron chief to safety. A letter recorded by a doctor, quite possibly Gaumann’s commanding officer, detailed his heroics and death and was sent home. The letter, dated October 8, 1941, reads as follows:
Honored madam, honored Mr. Gaumann!
Now after one month has passed since your son died, and you may be over that first great pain that the news of the hero’s death brought, I would also as Abteilung doctor like to send you a few words in recognition of your son’s achievements which will be some words of comfort at the same time. Your son gained outstanding achievements as a stretcher bearer in the recovery and care and first aid for the wounded, which he sometimes had to retrieve under enemy fire, ordered by no one, relying on himself and obeying his conscience. For his courageous behavior he was the only one to be awarded the EK from the Abteilung.
His squadron chief was wounded during a renewed attack on a village. He together with a comrade got a stretcher to bring the squadron chief back. He was killed with this comrade while carrying the stretcher and carrying out his soldierly duties by the same Russian anti-tank cannon that had wounded his chief. He was to all of us and especially myself a dear comrade. I feel myself bound to you in our joined pain.
signed
Dr. Adam
Gaumann’s documents appear to have been mounted and framed by his family and are shown below. The letter from the doctor is a copy, or Abschrift, and was signed or notarized by the mayor of his town in January 1944. Note that Gaumann’s award number and associated Verleihungsliste, or award list, is recorded on his actual award document. His Iron Cross Second Class, as shown above, was manufactured by Moritz Hausch AG of Pforzheim.
