Wehrpass Gefreiter Kosaken-Kavallerie-Division KIA 1944 Croatia

(D21979)
Kurt Prasse, Lance Corporal (Gefreiter) rider Army cavalry, cossack cavalry unit

Wehrpass, 24.2.42.

Weaver born 1924 in Langenbielau. He served: Oct.42-Feb.43 with Reiter-Ausbildungs-Schwadron 8 in Oels Schlesia; Feb.-Apr.43 with the marching unit of Kavallerie-Ausbildungs-Regiment 8; Apr.-Jun.43 with marching unit of Aufklärungs-Ersatz-Abteilung 8. Jun.43-Aug.44 he served with Don-Kosaken-Reiter-Regiment 1 of the 1.Kosaken-Division (also named 1.Kosaken-Kavallerie-Division). The 1st Cossack Cavalry Division was a Russian Cossack division of the German Army. It was created on the Eastern Front mostly out of Don Cossacks already serving in the Wehrmacht, those who escaped from the advancing Red Army and Soviet POWs. The division was active in Croatia under the command of the Second Panzer Army used to protect the railroad line from Austria through Zagreb to Belgrade. The unit was also used to fight partisans. While in Croatia the division quickly established a reputation for undisciplined and ruthless behavior, not only towards the partisans but also the civilian population, prompting Croatian authorities to complain to the Germans and finally to Adolf Hitler personally. Besides raping women, killing people and plundering and burning towns suspected of harboring partisans and their supporters, the division used telegraph poles along the railroad tracks for mass hangings as a warning to the partisans and others. Kurt was KIA on 22.8.44. Most probably killed by partisans because the unit was not active yet against the Russian troops (the Cossacks first engagement against the Red Army occurred in Dec.44).

Recent information German War Casualties Organization:
Surname: Prasse
Forename: Kurt
Rank: Gefreiter
Date of birth: 04.06.1924
Place of birth: Langenbielau
Date of death/becoming missing: 22.08.1944
Place of death/becoming missing: Grubisno-Polje
Kurt Prasse has not yet been transferred to a military cemetery set up by the Volksbund.
According to the information available to us, his grave is currently in the following place: Bjelovar – Kroatien

Any documents to cossack units of the Wehrmacht are very rare and much in demand !!