Letter 332

Sad and original death message, written and ink signed by a Senior

Lieutenant and Company Commander to a German father. The killed in action soldier is listed on the German Volksbund website. Private first clas Gerhard Kathner was killed in action age 23 on 24.11.1944. He is still buried in Kammern/France. The text of the letter reads:

Unit leader

fieldpost number 48450 E

Company Command Post, 5.12.1944

dear Mr. Kathner !

as Company Commander, | have the sad duty to inform you, that your son, the private first class Gerhard Kathner suffered the heroic death on

24.11.1944 in Vahl-Ebersingen (Lorraine). On 24.11.1944 at 12.30, a grenade hit the house where you son was in it along with several comardes. Your son was hit by a grenade shrapnel on his head and died immediately. Your son Gerhard was one of my best and most familiar soldier concerning soldierly and comradely regard. While bestowing of all military honors, his comrades buried him at the military cemetery in Kammern (Lachambre) at the St. Avold district. The awareness will bring you the power and the proud to know that you have brought a decisive sacrifice in the period of our battle fore the Fuhrer and the fatherland. | salute you with my deepest sympathy. Heil Hitle..., yours Pomsel, Senior Lieutenant and Company Commander.

Please note: the killed soldier was with the Grenadier Regiment 87. After its total destruction in August 1944, the regiment was new formed and became the 36th Volksgrenadier Division. In december 1944, the Division fought at the Saar against US troops, so it is clear that this soldier was killed by an American grenade. Finally in April 1944, the Division has withdrawn to upper Bavaria and was destroyed by the US Army.