hurrikane18
Member
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Hello!
Let me share with you my original WWII German Panzer map of Rotterdam titled “Defended District of Rotterdam”. First, the brief story:
As I’m told, this map was brought back by Canadian Sgt. K.S. Kennedy (I also have a photocopied version of his diary). As described in his diary, Sgt. Kennedy fought in both World Wars. Towards the end of WWII, after the Germans surrendered, Sgt. Kennedy was sent to deliver the armistice letter to the German leaders in Rotterdam. Accompanied by German soldiers, he apparently used this map to deliver the letter. Sgt. Kennedy recalled the German officers frustration and anger that the Allies would send a lowly Sgt. such as himself to deliver the letter to such high ranking German officers. After the war, this map returned to Canada with Sgt. Kennedy along with other collectible items. After he passed, this map made its way through a few collections before it was gifted to me. Since it has been in my position, it’s been framed in solar protecting glass to help preserve it.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time trying to decipher the map with the help of my Oma and Opa (German grandparents). I will tell you what I THINK I figured out, but I also appreciate any corrections or other information anyone can tell me about this map!
I’ll start from the top: Map no. 50e titled Defended District of Rotterdam. Upper right of the title (in pencil) is the name “Oberst Polster”. Oberst: a military rank equivalent to Colonel. The last name Polster (after searching google), I believe to be Oberst Kurt Polster, who served with the Schützen-Regiment 66 of the 13th Panzer-Division from 1937-42. From 1943-44 he was commander of the Reserve-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 81 of the 179th Reserve-Panzer-Division. This division was disbanded in May 1944 to form the new 116th Panzer-Division in June of 1944 active in Normandy. According to the Wehrmacht rank lists of 1944 he was promoted to Oberst on Jan 10, 1943 and served at that time with Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66 active at the Eastern front. He was in Germany from June-July of 1944 for mental recovery. It is not clear where he served after July 1944. I believe this map belonged to him, though.
Other interesting features of this map: All of the colours you see shaded in this map appear to be done in coloured pencil. I can only imagine the time spent doing this. A lot of the markings and writings appear to be in pencil, coloured pencil, pen, and even marker. According to my Oma and Opa, who are fluent in German, this map contains a lot of acronyms, making it hard for even them to decipher. Pz. seems to be the abbreviation for Panzer, and we have a list of others. I’d love to hear what some of you might be able to translate as well though.
I hope you have enjoyed hearing what I THINK I know about this map, and look forward to hearing any contributions! Now, the pictures:
(Let me know if you want more pictures or closeups of anything)
Let me share with you my original WWII German Panzer map of Rotterdam titled “Defended District of Rotterdam”. First, the brief story:
As I’m told, this map was brought back by Canadian Sgt. K.S. Kennedy (I also have a photocopied version of his diary). As described in his diary, Sgt. Kennedy fought in both World Wars. Towards the end of WWII, after the Germans surrendered, Sgt. Kennedy was sent to deliver the armistice letter to the German leaders in Rotterdam. Accompanied by German soldiers, he apparently used this map to deliver the letter. Sgt. Kennedy recalled the German officers frustration and anger that the Allies would send a lowly Sgt. such as himself to deliver the letter to such high ranking German officers. After the war, this map returned to Canada with Sgt. Kennedy along with other collectible items. After he passed, this map made its way through a few collections before it was gifted to me. Since it has been in my position, it’s been framed in solar protecting glass to help preserve it.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time trying to decipher the map with the help of my Oma and Opa (German grandparents). I will tell you what I THINK I figured out, but I also appreciate any corrections or other information anyone can tell me about this map!
I’ll start from the top: Map no. 50e titled Defended District of Rotterdam. Upper right of the title (in pencil) is the name “Oberst Polster”. Oberst: a military rank equivalent to Colonel. The last name Polster (after searching google), I believe to be Oberst Kurt Polster, who served with the Schützen-Regiment 66 of the 13th Panzer-Division from 1937-42. From 1943-44 he was commander of the Reserve-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 81 of the 179th Reserve-Panzer-Division. This division was disbanded in May 1944 to form the new 116th Panzer-Division in June of 1944 active in Normandy. According to the Wehrmacht rank lists of 1944 he was promoted to Oberst on Jan 10, 1943 and served at that time with Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66 active at the Eastern front. He was in Germany from June-July of 1944 for mental recovery. It is not clear where he served after July 1944. I believe this map belonged to him, though.
Other interesting features of this map: All of the colours you see shaded in this map appear to be done in coloured pencil. I can only imagine the time spent doing this. A lot of the markings and writings appear to be in pencil, coloured pencil, pen, and even marker. According to my Oma and Opa, who are fluent in German, this map contains a lot of acronyms, making it hard for even them to decipher. Pz. seems to be the abbreviation for Panzer, and we have a list of others. I’d love to hear what some of you might be able to translate as well though.
I hope you have enjoyed hearing what I THINK I know about this map, and look forward to hearing any contributions! Now, the pictures:
(Let me know if you want more pictures or closeups of anything)
