About the Fate of the Missing Soldier 

Erich Börner, born 16^th April 1921

Missing Soldiers Picture List, volume BS, page 310

  The Missing Soldier belonged to the 5^th Comp., Infantry Regiment 401 of the 170^th Infantry Division. He is missing since the 12^th January 1943. This information from the search application was the basis of our investigation.

  In order to gain knowledge about the fate of the missing soldier, the search application has been included in the Missing Soldiers List collected by the German Red Cross, and finally in the Missing Soldiers Picture List listing all soldiers and also in special lists dealing with the last unit of the missing soldier.

  With the aid of these lists survivors that could be reached in the Federal Republic, in Austria and in neighbouring countries of Germany were asked. Records of the German Office for the Information of Next  Relatives of Fallen Soldiers of the former German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) (WAST) and the Home Place Registers (HOK) were checked.

  No details could be gained with these measures that clarified the fate of the missing soldier. Individual investigations were undertaken until all possibilities were exhausted. Decisive importance was laid on the last combat action of the military unit to which the missing soldier belonged. In the investigation of these combat actions the chances of survival for the missing soldier were carefully weighted. It was especially checked whether German soldiers could have been taken prisoners of war and whether the missing soldier could have been amongst them.

  The gained facts lead to the conclusion that

  Erich Börner

in all likelihood died in action on 12^th January 1943 in the combats south of Petrokrepost (Schlüsselburg)

  As reasons are mentioned:

  Towards the end of 1942 the encircled Soviet Army in Leningrad tried to cross the Neva river to unite with units from the east advancing south of Lake Ladoga. But it was only possible to create a small bridgehead at Dubrowka, 12 km south of Petrokrepost , east of the Neva river.

  The positions of the 170^th Infantry Division in January 1943 ran along the eastern bank of the river Neva from Marino (4 km south of Petrokrepost ) till south of Dubrowka.

  On the 12^th January 1943 a heavy Soviet attack with a two hours long continuous artillery barrage took place that concentrated on the section between Marino close to the Infantry Regiment 401 and Gorodok (4 km south) close to the Infantry Regiment 391.  After the barrage five Soviet divisions attacked across the frozen Neva river. The main attack of the enemy was directed against the meeting point between the 2^nd Battalion of the Infantry Regiment 401 and the Reconnaissance Unit 240. It was here that a breakthrough  was achieved that could only be closed with heavy losses.

  In addition three Soviet regiments attacked out of the bridgehead Dubrowka in northerly and easterly direction. Further attacks were directed against the Infantry Regiment 401, parts of the Bicycle Squadron and against the front line of the Infantry Regiment 399 south of the bridgehead Dubrowka. Heavy fighting governed the Division’s section on the 13^th January. Particularly heavy fighting took place again north of Gorodok. Out of the bridgehead Dubrowka came advances in north-easterly and southerly directions, this time with tanks. In the following days the fighting continued with unbroken intensity. On the 17^th January strong enemy tank forces, accompanied by infantry, took the fire positions of the First Department of Artillery Regiment 240.

  In the meantime the Second Soviet Advance Army had reached Petrokrepost  along Lake Ladoga. When she captured Petrokrepost  on the 18^th January this also influenced the area of the 170^th Infantry Division. Heavy fighting in deep snow and strong frost again caused heavy losses.

  In the period from 12^th to 20^th January 1943 250 soldiers did not return to their units and are regarded since then as missing. It is likely that they died in action without their deaths being observed or reported.

  The former members of the 170^th Infantry Division returning from Soviet imprisonment were asked about the whereabouts of the missing soldier. None of them could give any evidence about him being taken prisoner or staying in a prisoner of war camp. This supports the conclusion gained from the combat situation that the Missing Soldier died in action in the fighting south of Petrokrepost (Schlüsselburg)

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