Exceptional set of award documents Belonging to Karl Willenborg, Grenadier
Karl Willenborg served in the 6th Infantry Regiment, 4th Company, subordinate to the 30th Infantry Division, which participated in the Polish and Western campaigns (through the Netherlands and Belgium), before being deployed to the Eastern Front. (https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/30ID-R.htm)
On April 10, 1942, Willenborg was awarded the Black Wound Badge after being wounded on January 31, 1942, in battles near Lake Ilmen, south of Novgorod.
His regiment fought in the northern sector of the Soviet front and around Demjansk. On October 15, 1942, it was redesignated as the 6th Grenadier Regiment.
On May 25, 1943, he earned the Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, likely signed by Georg Koßmala? At that time, he served in the 4th MG Company of the 6th Grenadier Regiment, taking part in combat near Staraya Russa.
On August 22, 1943, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, signed by Generalleutnant Thomas-Emil von Wickede.
On August 16, 1944, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class, signed by Generalmajor Otto Barth.
The Silver Wound Badge dated September 8, 1944, documents his third wound sustained on July 30, 1944, during fighting near Pskov, west of today’s Estonian border.
On February 10, 1945, Willenborg was wounded for the fifth time and consequently awarded the Gold Wound Badge on March 6, 1945. This wound saved his life, because he was evacuated from the pocket. By then, his unit was engaged in the fierce battles of the Kurland Pocket, with heavy losses and eventual surrender to Soviet forces.
All award documents are on A5-sized paper with age-appropriate folds and wear.
This set of documents provides an outstanding, detailed account of Karl Willenborg’s wartime service.
