Hill 60

[Chris Boonzaier]

I have an Iron cross group awarded to a German Pioneer officer, awarded the Iron cross 1st class in November 1916 for actions in and around Hill 60.

Is there a good book that delas with these actions?

Thanks

Chris

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Hello Chris, There is a book written by Nigel Cave in the Battleground Europe series, Hill 60. It covers a great deal of the fighting at Hill 60 during the war.

Do you knowwhich regiment the medals came from? This would help to identify the particular actions. Do you know his name? Perhaps further details can be provided by some of the forum members, particularly AOK4 as this area is his expertise and there is little from the Flanders area he does not know.

Ralph

[AOK4]

Hello Chris,

you're looking for the 4. Ersatz-Division holding the line from July 1916 to November 1916, relieved by the 58. Infanterie-Division in September-October (Battle of the Somme), so not all units were transferred. The division held the frontline from the canal Ypres-Comines to Bellewaerde.

Composition:

9. gemischte Ersatz-Brigade: IR 359 - IR 360

13. gemischte Ersatz-Brigade: IR 361 - IR 362

FAR 90 - FAR 91

Pionier-Kompagnie 303 - Pionier-Kompagnie 304 - Pionier-Kompagnie 305

Minenwerfer-Kompagnie 161

In August the infantry was reduced to: 13. gemischte Ersatz-Brigade: IR 360 - IR 361 - IR 362

There are a few books about the units in the division, but I didn't read anything special about the mining on Hill 60, although there is a general reference.

Regards,

Jan

PS: thanks for the kind reference, Ralph.