Original WWII German Wehrpass 352.Panzerjäger-Abteilung - Omaha Beach

The Wehrpass belonged to the 'Obergefreiter Werner Ratay who served in the 352. Panzerjäger-Abteilung.
From November 1943 this unit was based in Bricqueville, about 10 kilometers from Omaha Beach in Normandy. The unit was stationed here to rest after the heavy losses suffered on the

Eastern Front. Werner already fought there among the well known 'Heeresgruppe Mitte On June 6, 1944, at 6:30 am, American soldiers stormed Omaha Beach and

the entire 352. Infantry Division was shaken awake. The 352. Panzerjäger-Abteilung was prepared and deployed under the command of Hauptmann Werner Jahn. The 352. Panzerjäger-Abteilung was armed with a company of 14 Marder III 38's, a company of 10 Sturmgeschütz III's and a company of 9 motorized 3.7

cm FLAK. The unit headed towards the beach and attacked the beachhead but were

suddenly located by a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft. Shortly afterwards they came under heavy fire by the Allied Navy ships and suffered heavy losses.

The survivors of the unit slowly withdrew and again they became involved in fierce fighting with the Americans who managed to get of Omaha Beach. Ultimately, the unit was completely destroyed with only a few survivors. Werner Ratay was one of the survivors and he received the War Merit Cross with Swords on 1 September 1944 for his actions in Normandy.

Code: 54397