Place of Residence: Gottingen-Gann. Gronerstr. 39
Gottingen, Germany (Near Hanover)
What it looks like today: Here
Oberleutnant Werner Simon rests in a war grave in Orglandes (France).
Final grave situation: Block 14, Grave 265
He served in the German 7th Army, 265th Infantry Division, 894th Grenadier Regiment, and was CO of 10th Company. They fought in 1944 in Bretagne, in St. Nazaire and Lorient. (Thanks to Hans Wiijers/Axis History for this)
Home Station: Halberstadt, Wehrkries, XI
The 265th was sent to Quimper, Brittany in the summer of 1943 to exchange personnel with the 65th Infantry, since unit integrity was not an issue. In the fall of 1943, two of its’ battalions were sent to Russia (one from the 894th, and the 895th). Later, a battle group from there was sent to Normandy and subsequently destroyed. (This may be the company of Lt. Simon) Other elements were reported to have fought at the siege of Brest, where they were destroyed on September of 1944.
The bulk of the division was surrounded at Lorient, on the Brittany Peninsula, during Patton’s dash to Brest. The Allies surrounded the division, leaving them unable to escape, and isolated until the end of the war. (More to come as information is updated)
Division Commanders:
Lt. General Walther Duvert. (June 1, 1943)
Major General Hans Junck (July 27th, 1944)
Recoverd by my Great Uncle, Sgt. Charles D. Edwards on July 7th, 1944, close to the Lorient, along with a "Winterschlact Im Osten Medal", and a Nazi Armband. Only "Lt. Simon" is legible on the front.
Oberleutnant Simons Diary entries have been TRANSLATED.
Version #1: English (with Explanations) Version #2: German (w/o Abbreviations)