Wehrpass Gefreiter Infanterie 96.ID MIA Northern Russia Ladoga

(D22161)
Heinrich Melchior, Lance Corporal (Gefreiter) Territorial Army and Army Infantry

Wehrpass, 26.9.39.

Entitled to: Wound Badge in Black (6.10.42).

Butcher and cook born 1907 in Schifferstadt Speyer living in Dortmund. He served: Jun.-Aug.40 with Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 412 in Thorn; Aug.40-Jun.41 with Landesschützen-Bataillon 717 based in Army District XX (probably Schönsee); Jun.-Oct.41 with Landesschützen-Ersatz-Bataillon 11 in Bergen near Celle; Oct.41-May 42 with Landesschützen-Bataillon 738 based in France; May 42 again 10 days with Landesschützen-Ersatz-Bataillon 11 in Bergen and three days with Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 348 in Hameln; May-Jun.42 with Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 96/2, field replacements unit of the 96.Infanterie-Division in Northern Russia (Wolchow, Newa); Jun.42-Jan.43 with Infanterie-Regiment 287 also of the 96.Infanterie-Division active in Northern Russia. He was on 29.8.42 shot through his right upper arm but stayed with his unit. He was (as mentioned on page 34 of the Wehrpass) MIA, missing in action, on 18.1.43 south of lake Ladoga. There is not more information entered in the pass after that date and he is not listed at the German War Casualties Organzation (yet). So he can have been taken POW by the Russians 18.1.43 or was KIA at that date.