Stalingrad

German Squad Leader Whistle found at Stalingrad

In the din of battle, signals could be heard much easier from a whistle than by voice. Two blasts from a whistle for a combat engineer squad might signal to get up and quickly move forward ten meters. Today, many militaries think of command and control as sophisticated computers, but for the infantryman on the ground, life and death can be determined by understanding quickly what your squad leader wants you to do.

German Squad Leader Whistle found at StalingradThe Fifth Field2015-09-08T15:42:09-05:00

German Infantry Assault Badge from Stalingrad

German Infantry Assault Badge

German Infantry Assault Badge in Silver found after the war in a former German position at Stalingrad. Anecdotal evidence indicates that some German soldiers at Stalingrad intentionally broke the wreath surrounding the badge to show their private opposition to the campaign. While this badge is missing part of the wreath at that described location, it is not possible to determine the cause of the damage.

German Infantry Assault Badge from StalingradThe Fifth Field2015-09-08T15:42:45-05:00

Remembrance Card of Soldier Who Died at Stalingrad

Remembrance Card

Jäger Josef Steinbacher was born on December 21, 1923 at Schildorn, near Eberschwang, in Austria. He was killed in the fighting for Hill 102 at Stalingrad on September 28, 1942, while a member of the 8th Company in the 227th Infantry Regiment of the 100th Jäger Division. Josef Steinbacher, whose remains were never found for proper burial, is listed in the remembrance book at the German Military Cemetery at Rossoschka. By showing a remembrance card (Sterbebild) for as many days as possible, we hope to show that while for Germany, perhaps 250 soldiers died on a particular day, for this particular family it was a tragedy beyond compare. These cards are one type of German World War II relic that are not outrageous in price.

Remembrance Card of Soldier Who Died at StalingradThe Fifth Field2015-09-08T16:00:23-05:00