I managed to obtain another grouping to a soldier who fought at Stalingrad. This is a newly arrived lot from the recent Andreas Thies auction. Erich Walter was a member of Pz. Grenadier Regiment 79 (typo on the card in the photo), part of the 16th Panzer Division. I do not know if Walter survived Stalingrad because he was in the fragments of the division that ended up outside of the pocket or because he was wounded and evacuated out of der Kessel. Either scenario is possible because it is known that 16. Pz Division was split when the Soviet forces encircled the German 6th Army, but on the other hand Walter was the recipient of the Wound Badge in Gold and one of those wounds could have been a life saver that got him evacuated by air out of the encirclement. I intend to do some research and learn more about him. Regardless of how he escaped Stalingrad, he survived the war and lived until 1986. The grouping contains post-war stick pins that he doubtless worn to 16. PD reunions.

This grouping comes from the collection of Richard Kindel who purchased the items from Walter’s son in 2011 (see card in photo). I had the honor of meeting and befriending Herr Kindel when I lived in Germany and was invited to his home to examine his collection during that time. Back then I never imagined I’d be bidding on pieces from his collection at auction many years later.

Click to enlarge the picture