David Goody

I am in receipt of a response from the Red Cross on the fate of Hauptmann Fritz Buschmann. The provided Appraisal report dated 19 January 1979 concludes that ‘it is very likely that he died on May 9. 1944 in the fighting in Crimea.’ The cover letter states his unit as ‘Flieger-Gerate-Ausgabestelle 52/XI und 53/XI’, Google translate states this means ‘Aviation Equipment Issuing Point 52/XI and 53/XI’. This appears to be a logistical unit. I was very surprised to receive this information as the last unit he was part of to my knowledge was the 9th Luftwaffe Field Division based near Leningrad. Unfortunately the Red Cross did not provide any details on their investigation so I am at a loss to understand how he moved from one end of the eastern front to the other. Sadly both the 9th Field Division and his Luftwaffe unit in Crimea were pretty much destroyed around the same time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. P.s. I tried to upload the original German Red Cross Appraisal report however it would not upload due to the size. The translated version was prepared by me using Google translate.

I have received a response from the Bundesarchiv in Berlin who appear to have taken over the duties & records of the WASt. The covering letter mentions there is a message dated 24 May 1941 in the unit Horstcompanie Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur Konigsberg/Nm. erfasst (Bundesarchivsignatur: B 563/03945 Seite 053). The covering letter also states the next of kin is Rosl B. with the address Berlin-Lankwitz, Tautenburgstr. 24. Attached to the letter is an index card concerning Fritz Buschmann. I will place a copy here with my attempt at translation & would greatly appreciate any advice on its contents please, my reading is that he was assigned to the 9 Luftwaffe Field Division on 15/9/43 and was at Nikolskoye 60 km from Leningrad. There appears to be a date 23 May 1951 with reference to May 1944, which I assume relates to him being killed or missing. Many thanks. Front of card follows. Reverse of card

Thank you. The albums are primarily photos & postcards of Australian soldiers in the Middle East & North Africa. Looking at the albums it appears there were captions in pencil that were overwritten in pen. The albums are definitely Australian, I suspect he obtained the German photos from perhaps Intelligence Officers at the HQ he was guarding, the battle field or perhaps at one of the POW ‘cages’ he guarded. Unfortunately there are no clues in his war diaries which I have transcribed.

My brother & I have been bequeathed our late great uncle’s effects including his personal military diaries & photograph albums from his service in the Second World War. Included in the albums are photographs taken by German soldiers in North Africa and Crete. We have decided to display them here so that they are not lost to history. By way of background our great uncle was Private Thomas William Cure NX15442, A Company, 2/1 Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion. His company was assigned to the headquarters of the 9 Australian Division. He served from 17 May 1940 to 19 November 1945 in Palestine, Libya including the siege of Tobruk, Syria, Egypt including the battles of El Alamein, New Guinea & Netherlands East Indies. We don’t know how he obtained the photos, & some of his captions I suspect are not accurate. We invite any feedback on the photos.

I agree that he may have fallen on 22 January 1944. I note that there is a post on the Axis History Forum concerning division commander Generalmajor Ernst Michael dated 30 December 2018 that states ’According to a report filed by Abwicklungsstab in NARA T-78 R-139, the command of 9. Lw-FD in Tuganizy was blown up (probably a bomb planted by partisans) on 22 January 1944. The DivFhr, Oberst Michael, and several officers were killed. Oberst Geerkens of JagRgt 17 (L) was mortally wounded in the explosion and died the next day (that would have been 23 January). Of course he could NOT take over the command. Command fell to Major Scheler of PzjgAbt 9 (L) until 26 January, when Oberst Nebel of AR 9 (L) took over.’

Thank you both for your very informative replies. I will keep this thread up to date as I learn more. An early war period photograph Thank you again so much Gordon. Pardon my lack of knowledge, would you please let me know what the WAF is? Thanking you David

I have been researching the military career of Major Heinrich Fritz Buschmann, full details to date are in the section titled ‘Germany: Third Reich: Awards, Decorations & Medals (Wehrmacht)’. I suspect he went missing during the Soviet breakout from the Oranienbaum pocket in early 1944 whilst serving in the supply units of the 9.Felddivision(Luftwaffe). From what I have read on the internet the division was pretty much destroyed in that action. I have been unable to find any detail on that critical time. Would anyone be able to assist me please on further understanding the fate of the division, especially the rear echelon soldiers?

It seems likely Fritz Buschmann was reported missing in early 1944 during the Soviet offensive from the Oranienbaum pocket. It also appears he was in the supply arm of the 9 Luftwaffe Field Division. I have been unable to find much on the web about the fate of the division except it was pretty much destroyed in the path of the offensive. Would anybody be able to further enlighten me please on this period of the division’s service, especially the fate of rear echelon division members?

I apologise for the late response, I have been using Google Translate & various on line German military abbreviation lists to translate as best I can the 10 pages from the Bundesarchiv, Department Military archives. All the documents are from 4 May to 17 July 1943 and concern his redeployment to the 9 Luftwaffe-Feld Division. Whilst this is a very short snapshot of his military career, it shows that he survived the Stalingrad airlift and his ultimate fate was likely in the Baltic states/ north west Russia area. Page 1: Bundesarchiv file cover page for Hptm. D. R.z. V. Fritz Buschmann Geb. dat. 4.10.91, Lw. Page 2: Appears to be a Luftwaffe file front page, no other information other than above. Page 3: Copy of Battalion Leader School, B Educational Group, 5 Infantry Educational Department Evaluation dated 4.5.1943 on Hauptmann Buschmann. It concerns his participation in the battalion leader course from 12.4.43 to 8.5.43. States his unit was Feld Ausb. Regt. 1 (Field Training Regiment 1). His career includes the term R.D.A. (M.Ord.Nr.) 1.1.42. I. Outer Appearance and Attitude: Great appearance, good attitude, very flexible II. Rating as a person, troop leader and instructor: Has worked with attention. On a tactical level is missing any basis to build with success on it. Infantry understanding is very low. III. Final Judgment: Not suitable for battalion leader. IV. Statement of the Instructor Commander: There is no infantry basis. Troop assessment did not exist. V. Statement of the Commander of the School: Agreed Page 4: Evaluation reports cover page dated 10.6.43 from High Commander Field Training Regiment and Training Battalion Luftwaffe, Boelckestr. 12 Braunschweig to The Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Air Force, Leipziger Str. 7 Berlin. Concerns evaluation notes for officers who took part in the 8th Battalion Leader course in Antwerp. The evaluation reports were for Oberstlt. (Erg.O.) v Hullesheim (Friedrich), Hauptmann (d.R.z.V.) Buschmann (Fritz), Hauptmann (d.R.) Gribl (Wilhelm) Page 5 & 6: Original evaluation at Page 3 signed Lieutenant Colonel and Head of the Education Department, and by Lieutenant Colonel Training Commander, and by Colonel and Commander. Page 7: War assessments cover page dated 27.7.1943 to the 1.8.1943 over officers of the Reserve Luftwaffe Field Units. From Air Fleet Command 1 to the Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Air Force. The attached war evaluations about the following officers of the Luftwaffe Field Units for submission. Hptm. Buschmann, Fritz 9. Lw.Feld-Div., Hptm. Drobek, Richard 10. Lw. Feld.Div., Hptm. Hoffmann, Friedrich 9. Lw. Feld-Div., Hptm. Wilde v. Wildemann, Lothar A.R. 9 (L). Signed Lieutenant Colonel for the Air Fleet Command The Chief of the General Staff. Page 8 & 9: War assessment to the 1.8.43 dated 6 July 1943 from the 9. Luftwaffen-Felddivision, Divisional Command Post for Hauptmann (d.R.z.V.) Fritz Buschmann, married, civil profession businessman, able bodied for war. Since 10.5.43 admission as Divisional Supply Leader, Konigsberg/Nm. Berlin VIII. Short Assessment: Decent character, ambitious, restraint in some situations is the case. He is a National Socialist and passes on this thought. He had no opportunity to be saved from the enemy. He had worked with great interest in the tasks of the unit, it is expected he will fill this post later. He is averagely gifted and physically capable. He could not acquire infantry experience here. He is suitable as the leader of covered columns, because he brings with him the necessary know how. Summary Judgment: Average. Signed by Major General and Division Commander, and the Commanding General of the III Luftwaffe Field Corps on 18 July 1943. Page 10: Addendum to the assessment dated 17.7.43 from 9. Luftwaffen Felddivision for Hauptmann Buschmann. Hauptmann Buschmann as part of the briefing as divisional supply leader also commanded for 8 days. A judgment about his fitness cannot be given after this short time. However it is possible with mental ability that he will prove himself after further instruction. Signed Colonel and Depury Division Commander. I trust you find this interesting and welcome any observations from this evidence about the military career of Hauptmann Buschmann. I am still awaiting any records that may be located by Deutsche Dienststelle.

Pierce was right. I have received records from the Bundesarchiv, Department Military Archives. They have him recorded as Hptm. d.R.z. V. Fritz Buschmann, date of birth 4.10.1891. I am translating the records consisting of 10 pages which deal with him being trained as a battalion leader in the 9. Luftwaffe-Felddivision in 1943. I am totally surprised that the Luftwaffe would transfer a pilot to an infantry unit.

Thank you, Do any of the ribbons in the attached photo match the award please?

Thank you very much. This research project is becoming more & more intriguing. Are you able to give me any background please on the basis of it being awarded to a German. Heinrich Buschmann was a pilot, could this be a clue? Kind regards David

I trust this assists. Kind regards David

Thank you very much John for your advice & insight. I am optimistic I will learn more & will update the forums as that occurs. Kind regards David Thank you Paul. I know the son Dieter was born in Lübeck in 1929, so will ask the granddaughter to authorise a birth certificate search which I see can be done on line through the German government. If the certificate is there it should give me a birth year or age at Dieter’s birth of Heinrich Buschmann. Dieter worked for the U.S. occupation forces in Bavaria after the war (he & his mother were evacuated to live there with relatives after their Berlin home was destroyed). Do you have any thoughts please whether U.S. archives would hold any records on Dieter that may give clues about his father? Kind regards David

Hello John 4 October, unfortunately the granddaughter does not know the year. Considering he served in World War 1 I would think around the mid 1890s. Kind regards David

Hello Pierce Thank you very much for your research & suggestion. I don’t think this is the officer I am researching but I can’t rule it out. My interpretation of this officer’s service indicates he was assigned to a Luftwaffe Field Corps, whereas Heinrich was a transport pilot. It seems to be a waste of talent to transfer a pilot to a field unit. Then again perhaps it was a punishment. He was very critical of Hitler. His granddaughter recently told me a story that her father Dieter won a ski award presumably in the HJ. It was either presented by Hitler or signed in his name. When his father Heinrich was home on leave he tore it up and threw it at Dieter. I am hopeful my search requests with the Bundesarchiv and WASt will provide me with further information & I will keep these forums updated. Again, many thanks. David

Thank you for your advice. I have posted on some other forums including Luftwaffe & am hoping for further clues about him. As I learn more I will keep the forums updated. His granddaughter told me an interesting story about his character when I last visited her. She said that her father, Dieter, won a ski award that was either presented by Hitler or the certificate was signed by him. When his father was home on leave and became aware of it he tore it up and threw it at Dieter. This must have been very upsetting for Dieter, but with my current maturity and age I feel I can understand Major Buschmann’s reaction, he had clearly seen a lot & the direction the war was going for Germany. Dieter was called up for service later in the war, he was born in 1929, & joined the Luftwaffe. I assume the fact that his father had been a Luftwaffe officer played a part in this. Dieter told me many years ago he was being trained as a pilot, luckily for him he was called up too late to be ready for combat and he survived. He never returned to Germany after migrating to Australia in the 1950s, it must have been very hard on his mother. I imagine he had a great deal of trauma & disappointment, he lost his father, the family home in Berlin & career opportunities. The family were well off before the war, a detached house in Berlin with yard, a car, nanny. All this lost. The bombing in Berlin was so bad apparently Major Buschmann’s wife had turned grey in hair colour while she was in an air raid shelter. Thank you. Hopefully my request for records from the German archives will bear fruit & will clarify the matter. I will update the forums as I learn more.

I am researching this soldier for his granddaughter and myself as I grew up with his son’s family. During the last week I have been on the Germany: Imperial: The Orders, Decirations and Medals of the Imperial German States forum as his granddaughter has some of his World War 1 medals. Most things I know and have learned are on that forum. In summary he served Germany in World War 1 including as a pilot, was in the Freikorps where he was awarded the Baltic Cross and Randow Cross, and was called up to serve in the Luftwaffe where he served as a transport aircraft pilot and progressed up the ranks to Major. He was reported as missing in action at the time of the Stalingrad airlift. I have applied to the Department Military Archives Das Bundesarchiv and Deutsche Dienststelle for any records held by these agencies. Would anyone on this forum be able to further assist me please including suggestions on further research I can conduct? A picture is worth a thousand words. I suspect this was taken after he was called up to serve in the Luftwaffe.

I am researching this Luftwaffe officer for the granddaughter of Major Buschmann and myself as I grew up with his son’s family. During the last week I have been on the Germany: Imperial: The Orders, Decorations and Medals of the Imperial German States as his granddaughter has some of his World War 1 awards. Most things I know and have learned are on that forum. In summary he served Germany in World War 1 including as a pilot, was in the Freikorps and was called up to serve in the Luftwaffe where he served as a transport aircraft pilot and progressed up the ranks to Major. He was reported as missing in action at the time of the Stalingrad airlift. I have applied to the Department Military Archives Das Bundesarchiv and Deutsche Dienststelle for any records held by these agencies. Would anyone on this forum be able to further assist me please including suggestions on further research that I can conduct?

Thank you. The granddaughter told me her father told her Major Buschmann had many more medals and badges but when Major Buschmann’s widow passed away in the early 1970s the relatives in Germany (presumably siblings, nephews, nieces) allegedly helped themselves to the best of his decorations. Dieter was an only child, migrated to Australia in the 1950s and never returned home. Again presumably these would have been awards from his service in the Luftwaffe. I have seen a photograph of Major Buschmann with Leutnant insignia so I assume he was called up in 1939/ 1940, served until missing in action in late 1942 and worked his way up to Major. Do you have any thoughts please on typical awards a Transport Pilot would have earned in this time period?

Unfortunately the son of Major Buschnann, Dieter, passed away 20 years ago. I suspect the shoulder straps & collar patches were removed by him from one of his father’s tunics & perhaps the EK II & Honour Cross were separate. It’s unfortunate the ribbon rings were removed presumably by Dieter, I agree it looks like it was done for display purposes. The granddaughter is very proud of Major Buschmann so I will be discrete how I explain the display to her. Thank you. When I next see the granddaughter I will seek a better photo including the reverse.

Thank you for your prompt response and advice. The ribbon bar is quite faded with age which I imagine makes it harder to identify. I will research Turkish medals of that era for the first ribbon. It looks orange in colour with white borders. The other ribbon bars now make sense as they match the medals in the frame. His granddaughter told me her father removed these items from one of his father’s tunics as it was moth eaten. Thank you Thank you also, I will advise his granddaughter to turn around the ribbon bar in her display.