WW2 German Death Card

In this video, we take a look at the 2 panel death card of Josef Vogl, a Gefreiter in Kompany 5 of Infantry Regiment 186, part of Infantry Division 73. He appears to have been shot in the back in Steinborg, near Tetingen Luxembourg. This is interesting as Luxembourg surrendered 12 days earlier. Perhaps he was killed by one of the first freedom fighters in Western Europe? Or maybe in a border skirmish with the French? It is impossible to say for sure. #ww2 #militaria
Disclaimer: I collect these items for their historical significance and do not condone or support the ideals, beliefs, or actions of the Third Reich or any other totalitarian regimes.

[@worldwarwill1278]

Hi Humble, interesting example. Looking at other casualty cards, it says Josef was originally buried in the Budersberg Divisional cemetery. Budersberg is a small town in the commune of Dudelange. Looking online the Tetingen is the German spelling of Tétange and this is 2.6 miles from Dudelange. I can't find a reference to Steinberg either, so maybe it is a geographical feature on a Germany map.

[@AHumbleCollector]

Hi Will, thanks for the extra info! I hadn't considered that Steinberg might be a geographic feature, that would make a lot of sense.
Also, I realized I forgot to get back to your other message, but I did end up getting that card. I was lucky, I'd woken up early to let the dog out and saw the email notification shortly after you sent it.

[@worldwarwill1278]

@@AHumbleCollector No worries. A geographic feature is all I can think of. That is great news you managed to get the card.

[@fortyfour8160]

​@@worldwarwill1278 Hi Will, great job with the Budersberg Cemetary. I agree with you that it is/was a geographic feature. I will give you what my explanation is.
I agree with you that south of Tétange, lays Dudelange. I did some searching of Steinborg and subsequently Steinberg and was able to find Rue de Steinberg. Rue de Steinberg is mostly desolate, rundown, and seemingly abandoned. However, alongside/nearby there is a large mine/quarry called "Roche Blanche". That is option #1, option #2 also lays on Rue de Steinberg. I have no idea what it is but it lies on a hill and it really seems like the only thing that could be of interest, I will list coordinates below.
I surmise Josef was just defending a structure/area and got killed by the French.
Roche Blanche Mine: 49.453502165749015, 6.050377587938245
Weird Structure on Rue de Steinberg: 49.4539295769578, 6.036344180559188
I will also be including a, unfortunately, very blurry map of where the 73rd Inf Div was on May 22, 1940. The blue dot is the approximate location of Josef's death, the blue is German front lines, bright red is enemy front lines, and pinkish lines are borders of countries.
Map: imgur.com/a/5Nw4Is5

[@worldwarwill1278]

@@fortyfour8160 Hi fortyfour. Great research and information, thank you for sharing it with us. The weird structure on Rue de Steinberg does look like it could be on top of a small hill, so I could imagine that capturing the high ground would have been seen as an important tactical move. I wonder if we could find any French army records from the time that may help us.

[@ClancyWoodard-yw6tg]

Luxembourg is one country that I do not know much about the war when it comes to the western front especially the early years

[@AHumbleCollector]

I wasn't very familiar with it either, it was interesting to research. I was surprised they actually managed to hold out slightly longer than Denmark.

[@jasonkellar9897]

Could be friendly fire or murder.

[@AHumbleCollector]

It's certainly possible, but usually in unusual circumstances like that the casualty card would note it. For example, I bought a card recently where the records note the soldier was murdered by drunk Estonian soldiers. Off the top of my head I don't think I have a friendly fire example but I imagine it would be similar. The way this one is written seems more consistent with a regular combat/duty related death.