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THBGermany - Third Reich: A rare Eastern Front Army Chemical Warfare Decontamination Unit manÕs 17th Army December 1942 defence of the West Caucasus War
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About Auction
LiveJul 23, 2023
A fine assortment of WWI and WWII Militaria, Comic Books, Art and more. July 23rd 2023 Eagles Corps International INFO@eaglescorps.com
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- Lot Description
defence of the Kuban bridgehead group of award documents to Obergefreiten Wilhelm Kapsa, 609th Troop Decontamination Company (Motorised), 17th Army, who was present out on the Eastern Front with Army Group South, as part of the Chemical Warfare Arm, and serving in a very small unit of which little is known, though they were a part of the Medical Services from 1942 onwards, and operated in trucks or halftracks carrying decontamination chemicals along with pumps and sprayers. A Decontamination Company was intended to be sent wherever high numbers of gas casualties occurred. Capable of decontaminating personnel, clothing and equipment, it carried replacement clothing, and was supposed to be able to decontaminate and re-clothe 150 men per hour. Kapsa was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on 16th December 1942, issued for service during the period that the 17th Army was defending the West Caucasus, and was wounded in action on 26th January 1943, during the withdrawal from the West Caucasus to the Lower Kuban. Having then fought at the Kuban bridgehead from February 1943 until it was abandoned in October 1943, he was awarded the Kuban Shield on 15th July 1944. Comprising in order of award: 1) War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords Award Certificate, issued to: ÔObergefreiten Wilhelm Kapsa, Truppen-Entgiftungskompanie 609Õ, dated 16th December 1942, signed in ink: Ôvon LewinskiÕ for Harald von Lewinski, as Oberst and Adjutant 17th Army on behalf of Generaloberst Ruoff as C-in-C 17th Army. 2) Wound Badge in Black Award Certificate, issued to: ÔObergefreiten Wilhelm Kapsa, Truppen-Entgiftungs-Kompanie (m.) 609Õ, dated 26th July 1943, for a wound received on 26th January 1943, signed in pencil by an Oberstarzt and acting Chief Doctor. 3) Kuban Shield Award Certificate, issued to: ÔObergefreiten Wilhelm Kapsa, Tr.Entg.Komp.(mot.) 609Õ, dated 15th July 1944, facsimile signature of Generalfeldmarschall von Kleist, unit stamp for Military Area HQ VIII. Wilhelm Kapsa saw service as an Obergefreiter with the 609th Troop Decontamination Company (Motorised), 17th Army, and present out on the Eastern Front with Army Group South. The Troop Decontamination Company was composed of medical personnel attached to the General Headquarters pool. It was motorised and was intended to be sent wherever high numbers of gas casualties occurred. Capable of decontaminating personnel, clothing and equipment, it carried replacement clothing, and was supposed to be able to decontaminate and re-clothe 150 men per hour. It is interesting to note that five Decontamination Battalions, part of the Chemical Warfare Arm, were formed in 1939 before being converted to Werfer Battalions in 1942. It is at this time that these decontamination units became part of the Medical Services. The basic company had three sections and a headquarters. Each section had 4 decontamination vehicles assigned. The headquarters had a Kubelwagen, motorcycle and one light truck. While exact personnel were not listed, it is surmised that about 25 men made up each section, the vehicles had a crew of 6, and the headquarters about 8 men for about 80 in total. There are several decontamination vehicle bodies. These are mounted on either trucks or halftracks and carry the decontamination chemicals along with pumps and sprayers. As of 1st April 1943 a decontamination company consisted of 2 officers, 15 Unteroffiziers, and 76 men. Little is otherwise known about these units, and awards to any personnel of the units are rare. During 1942 to 1943 Kapsa was present on operations in the high mountains and west Caucasus. Kapsa was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on 16th December 1942, issued for service during the period that the 17th Army was defending the West Caucasus. Then during the withdrawal from the West Caucasus to the Lower Kuban, he was wounded in action on 26th January 1943, quite possibly from shrapnel, and his award of the Wound Badge in Black being made to him on 26th July 1943. Having then fought at the Kuban bridgehead from February 1943 until it was abandoned in October 1943, he was awarded the Kuban Shield on 15th July 1944.
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