Thx for the kind replies.
Here is some more:
The War Grave Commission has sent us a picture that shows the tomb slab they have erected for my grandfather with his name on it. That means that everything is in order now.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2378/chisinau1.jpg
New info is available because my grandfather***8217;s sister has given the four letters to us that he had written during his last two months from the Eastern front. He was with his home division of Westphalians on holiday in France end of 1943 but then he was transferred as replacement for an injured medical nco of the doomed 79th Infantry Division to the Ukraine, leaving his old division behind.
What happened back then?
First of all a map, it is the map we used to find the place where they had buried my grandfather, it is from a letter dated June 1944.
From left to right: cities Iasi, Ungheni, Pyrlitsa, Agronomovka, Hristoforofka., Cornesti along the rail road Iasi (Romania) via Kishinev (Moldova) to Odessa (Ukraine). The "X" "Grablage"marks where my grandfather was buried in June 1944 at a road junction by his comrades.
The situation:
From ***8220;David M. Glantz, Red storm over the Balkans. The failed Soviet Invasion of Romania, Spring 1944***8221;:
***8220;In the wake of the March victories, the Stavka decided to exploit this unique opportunity by ordering its 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts to complete destroying the Wehrmacht***8217;s forces in the south-western Ukraine and commence a general advance deep into Romania. In addition to the Black Sea port of Odessa, the Stavka designated the cities of Iasi and Kishinev in Romanian Bessarabia (Moldavia) as the initial objectives of its new strategic thrust. The capture of these cities would prevent Axis (German and Romanian) forces from erecting viable defenses anywhere in northern Romania, thus facilitating future Read Army offensive operations toward Bucharest and the Ploesti oilfields deeper into Romania and the depth of the Balkan region. The Stavka also believed that the capture of these cities would force the Romanian government to renounce its alliance with Hitler and end Romanian participation in the war.***8221;
My grandfather***8217;s section:
[During the latter stages of the successful Uman-Botoshany offensive], ***8220;the 2nd and 6th Tank Army, which were spearheading the advance in this sector, proceeded with relative abandon until German forces halted them on the approaches to Iasi during late March and early April.
For example, Bogdanov***8217;s 2nd Tank Army captured Beltsy and Faleshty, 45 and 30 miles north of Iasi, during the last week of March and then advanced rapidly southward through Todoreshty and seized a section of the Iasi-Kishinev railroad line at Pyrlitsa, 16 miles northeast of Iasi; by doing this, they threatened to split apart the German Eighth Army***8217;s defense. Reacting quickly however, the Eighth Army orchestrated a hasty counterattack with its IV Arm Corps***8217; (Group Mieth***8217;s) 23rd Panzer and Großdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Divisions, which succeeded in recapturing Pyrlitsa on 28 March, bringing the 2nd Tank Army***8217;s attack to an abrupt halt.***8221;
[The fighting in that area commenced for several days until the Red Army went into the defense (end of Uman-Botoshany winter offensive), to launch the 1st Iasi-Kishinev spring offensive (8-23 April 1944) further in the West.]
From the ***8220;war diary of the 79th Infantry division 1939-1945***8221; by Hans Sänger:
***8220;In March 1944, the division was engaged in fighting retreat from Odessa at the Black Sea in the Ukraine to Romania. The Division was transported from Odessa via Tirasopol, Kishinev to Cornesti. The enemy was advancing from north. The division had to try to stop him here.
During a terrible snow storm, End of March until early April, ***8220;the Russian***8221; attacked with far superior forces, but tenacious defense stopped the advance.***8221;
Situation as seen by my grandfather;
23.02.1944:
***8220;Dear Mother and sister,
greetings from Russia.
You certainly will be surprised to hear that I am in Russia now. I too am disappointed that I had to go to Russia. I left Metz (France) on Feb. 9th 1944 at 21.44 pm and arrived here yesterday, Feb. 22 1944 via Germany, Poland and Romania.
I am sure that I am dogged by bad luck this time being sent to Russia.
Why me of all people? But I am sure that I will make it. It is just that it does not suit me that just now as ***8220;A.***8221; (grandmother) is about to give birth I had to go to Russia. That was a cruel blow, but as if anybody would care apart from us. I am hoping that when the little boy or girl arrives now, that you will be able to act for me. The kid may already been born when these lines reach you...
I am hoping that the war is over soon, so that I can get out of this ***8220;dumb country***8221; again.
[?!]
Sunday 27.02.1944 (my father's date of birth):
***8230;
I am now with the 5th company which is the former 1st company as a replacement for an injured comrade. We are in the frontline, on the left bank of the Dnieper river, the Russian on the opposite river bank. At the moment our sector is very quiet. I hope that it will stay like that. If the Russian advances from the North we are ***8220;screwed***8221; (modern English translation).
I am with 2 radio men. We have made the bunker as comfortable as possible. Still, it is a dog***8217;s life, day and night in the bunker. If we leave the bunker during day time, the Russian interferes immediately and shells us with his artillery.
I definitely believe that this war will be over by the end of the year.
09.03.1944:
"***8230;right now we are waiting to be loaded onto trains. The destination is yet unknown but very likely we will be sent to the middle sector of the Front. Bad luck indeed, I am really getting into a mess here! But nothing fazes me anymore and one has to keep the courage.
I am hoping to get a letter soon. I need to know how A. is doing."
Sunday, 03.04. 1944 ( kia on 05.04. 1944):
"Finally I find the time to give a sign of life again. We are in Bessarabia now, near Iasi. But even here the Russian is close on our heels. On Friday, we were almost encircled by them. Just in time we received help from 2 Großdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Divisions and from a panzer reserve to their left. Together we counter-attacked successfully.
I have never experienced such weather in a long time. At some places the snow is 2 metres high.I have not heard from A. yet. I am expecting her letter any day.***8221;