Unteroffizier Hermann Ahlfeld - 295. Infanterie-Division
295. Infanterie-Division was formed in February 1940 in Blankenburg, a town in the Harz Mountains area in Saxony-Anhalt. During the drive on France and the Low Countries in the spring of 1940, the division was held in OKH reserve. It saw its first combat the following summer during Barbarossa and the invasion of the Soviet Union. Specifically, it served with 17. Armee and Army Group South until it was transferred to 6. Armee in August 1942. Among the troops serving with the division through the winter campaign of 1941/42 was Obergefreiter Hermann Ahlfeld of 5. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 517. He won the Infantry Assault Badge on May 15, 1942, likely the result of participating in at least three different infantry attacks over the previous months.
During the drive on the city of Stalingrad in September, 295. Infanterie-Division was subordinate to LI. Armeekorps and was tasked with pushing to the River Volga on the north side of the Tsaritsa along with 76. Infanterie-Division as well as 71. Infanterie-Division. During the latter half of September it engaged in a back-and-forth slugfest for Mamayev Kurgan, the ancient Tartar burial mound and highest point in the city. The hill changed hands several times and was the scene of bitter fighting. Both the Germans and Soviets knew the importance of controlling Mamayev Kurgan as it offered control over the entire city.
By early October, 295. Infanterie-Division held the majority of Mamayev Kurgan but had been bled white in the process. All of its battalions were considered weak or exhausted, a state that was representative of all German units fighting in the city at the time. By October, the main offensive operations of 6. Armee were in the factory areas, primarily north of the division’s sector. At this time, 295. Infanterie-Division maintained contact with enemy in and around the area of the Mamayev Kurgan and the industrial areas immediately to its east and northeast. It was located between 100. Jäger-Division to its left and 71. Infanterie-Division to its right, but generally sustained a defensive position fighting off probes and attacks from 284th Rifle Division as well as 95th Rifle Division.
By the middle of the month, however, 295. Infanterie-Division began more aggressive activity. Despite being severely limited in strength, it expanded its enemy contact with increased reconnaissance and patrolling. Ahlfeld, who was wounded in late August as the division was moving up to the city, appears to have returned to his unit by this time. Following a promotion in rank to Unteroffizier, Ahlfeld was recognized for his bravery; probably for fighting in the vicinity of Mamayev Kurgan and beyond in October. On October 24, 1942, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class. His award document was rendered at division headquarters and signed by Rolf Wuthmann, Generalmajor und Division Kommandeur.
295. Infanterie-Division was ultimately destroyed, along with the rest of 6. Armee. Ahlfeld, however, appears to have survived the Stalingrad inferno. His division was reformed in 1943 and stationed in Norway for garrison duty. Ahlfeld went on to serve with the staff of I. Batallion, Infanterie-Regiment 517. He is believed to have survived the war.
During the drive on the city of Stalingrad in September, 295. Infanterie-Division was subordinate to LI. Armeekorps and was tasked with pushing to the River Volga on the north side of the Tsaritsa along with 76. Infanterie-Division as well as 71. Infanterie-Division. During the latter half of September it engaged in a back-and-forth slugfest for Mamayev Kurgan, the ancient Tartar burial mound and highest point in the city. The hill changed hands several times and was the scene of bitter fighting. Both the Germans and Soviets knew the importance of controlling Mamayev Kurgan as it offered control over the entire city.
By early October, 295. Infanterie-Division held the majority of Mamayev Kurgan but had been bled white in the process. All of its battalions were considered weak or exhausted, a state that was representative of all German units fighting in the city at the time. By October, the main offensive operations of 6. Armee were in the factory areas, primarily north of the division’s sector. At this time, 295. Infanterie-Division maintained contact with enemy in and around the area of the Mamayev Kurgan and the industrial areas immediately to its east and northeast. It was located between 100. Jäger-Division to its left and 71. Infanterie-Division to its right, but generally sustained a defensive position fighting off probes and attacks from 284th Rifle Division as well as 95th Rifle Division.
By the middle of the month, however, 295. Infanterie-Division began more aggressive activity. Despite being severely limited in strength, it expanded its enemy contact with increased reconnaissance and patrolling. Ahlfeld, who was wounded in late August as the division was moving up to the city, appears to have returned to his unit by this time. Following a promotion in rank to Unteroffizier, Ahlfeld was recognized for his bravery; probably for fighting in the vicinity of Mamayev Kurgan and beyond in October. On October 24, 1942, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class. His award document was rendered at division headquarters and signed by Rolf Wuthmann, Generalmajor und Division Kommandeur.
295. Infanterie-Division was ultimately destroyed, along with the rest of 6. Armee. Ahlfeld, however, appears to have survived the Stalingrad inferno. His division was reformed in 1943 and stationed in Norway for garrison duty. Ahlfeld went on to serve with the staff of I. Batallion, Infanterie-Regiment 517. He is believed to have survived the war.
A modern day image of Mamayev Kurgan from the air, with memorial to the fighting at Stalingrad. The image shows the hill in relation to the factory district to the northeast and the Volga beyond.
Sources:
MacLean, French L. Stalingrad, The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing Ltd 2013
Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. German Order of Battle, Volume Two, 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books 2007
Walsh, Stephen Stalingrad 1942-1943, The Infernal Cauldron New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martins Press 2000
Lexicon der Wehrmacht http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnis1.htm
MacLean, French L. Stalingrad, The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing Ltd 2013
Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. German Order of Battle, Volume Two, 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books 2007
Walsh, Stephen Stalingrad 1942-1943, The Infernal Cauldron New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martins Press 2000
Lexicon der Wehrmacht http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnis1.htm