A Large Document Group; Occupation Denmark, Wounded in Belgium 1940, Crimea KIA

A fine large document group to an early war combatant consisting of: 

A Wehrpaß (106x147mm, near extremely fine), dated to Schleswig on April 2, 1937.

A Hinterbliebenensendung (bereaved mail) envelope (345x250mm, near very fine), dated to May 28, 1943 and sent to Kleinwort’s mother. It contains:

An official folder for the honour cemetery of Karagos, Crimea (8 p., 215x304mm, near extremely fine) for the fallen soldiers of Infantry Division 170. Kleinwort’s grave is marked on a layout plan.

A notice (148x210mm, near mint), stating that a picture of Kleinwort’s gravesite can be purchased from photo company Walter Artus in Hamburg.

A letter from a former comrade of Kleinwort’s (209x295mm, very fine), talking about a possible job offer as a government inspector. It is dated to Kiel on February 4, 1942. The signature is indecipherable, the first name is probably Felix.

A photo album (310x227mm, extremely fine), “My war memories”, containing 26 photos showing soldiers in the field or in cities. Several pictures show Kleinwort.

A First War prayer book (106x138mm, extremely fine) called “God with us!”, published in 1914.

A photograph sleeve (70x100mm, near extremely fine) from a photo studio in Bremen called Brockhus, containing a photo of Kleinwort.

A Feldpost card (147x104mm, extremely fine), containing a list of locations of deployment, and on the reverse the names and Feldpost numbers of several soldiers, as well as some home addresses.

A photo of an unidentified soldier (90x138mm, better than very fine), possibly a comrade of Kleinwort’s. The reverse states: As a present from your son Hermann.

Footnote: Wilhelm Kleinwort was born on July 7, 1911 in Holm (north of Hamburg). He volunteered for army service and joined on March 16, 1936. Kleinwort received his training with the 17th (Replacement Machine Gun) Company of Infantry Regiment 46 and was promoted several times before the beginning of the war, to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) of the Reserve in July of 1936, to NCO of the Reserve in March 1937, and to Feldwebel (Sergeant) of the Reserve in August 1938. At the outbreak of the war, Kleinwort initially served with the 4th (Machine Gun) Company of Infantry Replacement Battalion 6 between October and November 1939 before being transferred to the 5th Company of Infantry Regiment 391. He stayed with them until March 1940, but was wounded in the Heimatkriegsgebiet (homeland warzone). In April and May, Kleinwort participated in the annexation and occupation of Denmark, before being transferred to the Western Front. He was wounded during the German army’s advance through Belgium, but was stationed as part of the occupational forces in France between June and October 1940. In September he was also promoted to Lieutenant. Until end of January 1941, Kleinwort’s unit was deployed for coast protection at the English Channel. He then went on to become a platoon leader in the Staff Company of Infantry Regiment 391. From April to June, he was stationed in Romania, from where he then went on to participated in the attack on Russia. As a soldier of high quality and endowed with leader skills, Kleinwort won several awards during this time: The Iron Cross 2nd Class on September 1, 1941, Infantry Assault Badge in Silver on November 13, 1941, the Wound Badge in Black on November 14, 1941, and the Iron Cross 1st Class on January 15, 1942. However, his luck eventually ran out. Kleinwort was killed in action on March 14, 1942 in Kiet, Crimea. On March 1944, he received a posthumous promotion to Senior Lieutenant, effective March 1942.