Flieger-Regiment 71, Kampfgruppe Simon, August September 1944 France

I am the grandson of a German soldier, Helmut Friese, *15.8.1913, who died at the beginning/middle of September 1944 near of Cusset/Villeurbanne and is now buried at the German military cemetery of Dagneux (Information of WASt-DD). He was buried at the Ancient Cemetry of Villeurbanne first (16.09.1944, first identification at La Doua?) and transfered on the 23rd of December to Dagneux. Cause all personal documents were lost he was identified probably in 1953 only with his identification tag.
He served at least in the II. Bataillon of the Flieger-Regiment 71, Stab, Rank: Leutnant K.O. (I got the remnants of his "Personalakte" from the BA Freiburg), Nr.: 17 A 1.A./Fl.Ausb.Rgt.71 (“Erkennungsnummer”).
He took part of the retreat of the German forces from Southern France (Montelimar, Valence, Lyon…), from 19.August-September 1944). The German units were divided into different marching groups, the unit of my grandfather was part of the group under the command of the IV. Luftwaffen-Feldkorps. These units retreated (from Carcassonne) over the west bank of the river Rhone to Lyon. At Lyon (around the 29/30.August 1944) was formed a fighting group under the command of Generalleutnant von Schwerin (189. Reserve Infanterie Division) to build up and defend a bridgehead southeast, east of Lyon.
My grandfather was with high probability part of the belonging II. Bataillon of the Flieger-Regiment 71 (“Kampfgruppe Simon”) under the subcommand of Oberstleutnant Fritz Simon (*23.08.1892). This “Kampfgruppe Simon” consisted of about 400 soldier and 13 officers (Source "Rhoden Collection T-971, Roll 51, Retreat of the 1. Flieger-Ausbildungsdivision from France). They struggled against US-American Troops, i suppose the 36. Infantry Division, especially the 142nd and the 143rd US-Infantry Division. The KG Simon was attacked between 01.-12.09.1944, maybe also by tanks (191 or 753th US-tank bataillon) about 15 km east of Lyon. Mostly all man were killed, some of them were captured as prisoners of war. The leader of this unit, Oberstleutnant Fritz Simon (*23.08.1892), was probably captured by American troops on 3th of September 1944.
To know about the fate of my grandfather, especially the last few days (between the retreat from Carcassonne and his death beginning of september 1944) could be reconstructed, i have some questions:
- Does somebody know antything about fights of the 36th US-Infantry Division (142nd, 143th Infantry Regiments, 191, 753th tank bataillons) or French Units (for instance the 1st French Tank Division, Maquis etc.) with the Kampfgruppe Schwerin, especially with the Kampfgruppe Simon (remnants of the II. Bataillon Flieger-Regiment 71)?
- Does somebody know anything about the fate of Oberstleutnant Simon (leader of the II. Bataillon Flieger-Regiment 71), especially details of interrogation (G2, G2, G3-protocols, after actions reports etc.)?
- Does somebody know anything about the fate of my grandfather, for instance lists of prisoners, death lists, interrogation protocols?
Thank you for your attention and support.
Best regards
Sven

[kaki3152]

Sven,

You might also try posting your query on "www.wehrmacht-awards.com", which is an excellent site for queries into Luftwaffe ground combat units.

[Revi16]

Found this on Fritz Simon, perhaps not captured.
http://www.ww2.dk/Lw%20Offz%20-%20S-Z%20-%202013.pdf