Post Numéro: 1 de Myrdun 30 Aoû 2013, 11:31
BONJOUR - dear all,
at first i would like to apologize for my non-french speaking.
I am the grandson of a German soldier, Helmut Friese, *15.8.1913, who died at the beginning/middle of September 1944 near of Cusset/Villeurbanne and is now buried at the German military cemetery of Dagneux.
He served at least in the II. Bataillon of the Flieger-Regiment 71, 10th Kompanie, Rank: Leutnant, Nr.: 17 A 1.A./Fl.Ausb.Rgt.71 (“Erkennungsnummer”).
He took part of the retreat of the German forces from Southern France (Montelimar, Valence, Lyon…), from 19.August-September 1944).
The German units were divided into different marching groups, the unit of my grandfather was part of the group under the command of the IV. Luftwaffen-Feldkorps. These units retreated (from Carcassonne) over the west bank of the river Rhone to Lyon. At Lyon (around the 29/30.August 1944) was formed a fighting group under the command of Generalleutnant von Schwerin (189. Reserve Infanterie Division) to build up and defend a bridgehead southeast, east of Lyon.
My grandfather was with high probability part of the belonging II. Bataillon of the Flieger-Regiment 71 (“Kampfgruppe Simon”) under the subcommand of Oberstleutnant Fritz Simon (*23.08.1892). This “Kampfgruppe Simon” consisted of about 400 soldier and 3 officers. They struggled against US-American Troops, i suppose the 36. Infantry Division, especially the 142nd and the 143rd US-Infantry Division. The KG Simon was attacked between 01.-12.09.1944, maybe also by tanks (191 or 753th US-tank bataillon) about 15 km east of Lyon. Mostly all man were killed, some of them were captured as prisoners of war. The leader of this unit, Oberstleutnant Fritz Simon (*23.08.1892), was probably captured by American troops on 11th of September 1944.
However, Cusset/Villeurbanne was occupied by the FFI/Maquis and the 36th American Infantry Division (142/143rd infantery regiments) already on the 3th of September 1944...
Meanwhile (on his 100th anniversary) I attend the ancient cemetery of Villeurbanne, where he was buried first (on 16th of September 1944). There I found in a cemetry document (notice of grave locations) interesting informations…. Amongst the entries (all there named german soldiers are buried near by my grandfather at the german military cemetery Dagneux) is a unknown person (my grandfather is not explicit mentioned in the notice) with the following description:
Unknown Person, Age 31 Years, Clothes [Uniform] of a german soldier, location of found: Canal de Jonage
I suppose my grandfather was heavy wounded or killed and felt (and maybe drowned) into the Canal Jonage, maybe near of the bridge at Décines or Meyzieu, perhaps more far, Jonage or Jons (this bridge was destroyed in 1944) around the 1st-12th of September. So his dead body could had been found around the 12th September 1944 near Cusset/Villeurbanne (maybe at the hydro-electric power station) at the Canal de Jonage.
To know about the fate of my grandfather, especially the last few days (between taking Villeurbanne at 03.09 by FFI and the committed time of death (13.09) could be reconstructed, i have some questions:
- Does somebody know antything about fights of the 36th US-Infantry Division (142nd, 143th Infantry Regiments, 191, 753th tank bataillons) or French Units (for instance the 1st French Tank Division, Maquis etc.) with the Kampfgruppe Schwerin, especially with the Kampfgruppe Simon (remnants of the II. Bataillon Flieger-Regiment 71)?
- Does somebody know anything about the fate of Oberstleutnant Simon (leader of the II. Bataillon Flieger-Regiment 71), especially details of interrogation (G2, G2, G3-protocols, after actions reports etc.)?
- Does somebody know anything about the fate of my grandfather, for instance lists of prisoners, death lists, interrogation protocols?
- Does anybody have some informations about a body founded in the canal des Jonage at this time?
Merci and thank you for your attention and support.
Best regards
Sven