A Service Record To Ss-Rottenführer Otto Osterwald

A Kriegsstammrolle (service record), measuring 211x296mm, extremely fine condition with light scuffing and two punched holes. It is issued to Otto Osterwald and dated to May 31, 1943. It carries several signatures of an SS-Obersturmführer and Battery Chief, the name is
indecipherable.

Footnote:Otto Osterwald was born on June 27, 1920 in Berlin. He was a member of the HJ from 1933 to 1937 before joining the SS on an unknown date. He was trained in the 8th Company of the 2nd SS Training and Replacement Detachment. In August of 1939, Osterwald contracted typhus, and smallpox in December of the same year. From April to May 1940, he completed a training seminar for lower leaders. On October 8, 1940 Osterwald was deployed to the SS Mountain Artillery Regiment of the 6th SS Mountain Division “Nord”. From November 1940 to April 1941, he took part in a seminar for maintenance sergeants. Afterwards, from April to early September 1941, he was stationed to occupy northern Norway. With the attack on Russia, Osterwald and his unit were placed at the northernmost front fighting the Russians and establishing a bridgehead on the river Litsa near Murmansk. In October of 1941, the SS had pushed south and was fighting a defensive battle east of Kiestinki (Kestenga) on Lake Topozero. Osterwald was then redeployed to the 3rd Battery of SS Artillery Regiment “Nord”. In November, he was fighting on both sides of Mount Gankashvaara. Afterwards and until January 1942, more defensive battles east of Kiestinki (Kestenga) followed. Osterwald was then put into the 9th Company and took part in defensive battles in northern Finland from January 1942 to May 1943. During this time, he was awarded the Eastern Front Medal on August 10 and was promoted to SS-Rottenführer (Squad Leader) on December 1, 1942. On June 1, 1943 he was redeployed to Staff Battery III. No further information bout Osterwald is known.