I have posted this biography on my site by permission and courtesy of Justin Warman (Leopold's son-in-law). All material on this page is the property of Justin Warman, and may not be copied or used in any way without his expressed permission.

 

 

Leopold Hoeglinger was a corporal in the 137th Inf Div, he served in Russia from June 1941- May 1945, He was involved with the Battle for Moscow at he beginning of the invasion of Russia and ended the war in the Courland pocket, he told me that he escaped by boat from Riga to a neutral country but was returned to Russia and captivity, he spent a year working in an oil-shale mine in Kolta-Jaerve P.O.W camp in Latvia, caught T.B and was repatriated to Austria in time for Christmas 1946. Based on his diaries it seems he also had to do a lot of driving and to be able to maintain the vehicle too, there are several pages in his notebook in shorthand covering vehicle maintainance. Many of the photos were taken by Leopold's brother Franz who was also a Radio operator but was killed at Stalingrad, he was with 100 Jäger Div which was anihilated during the battles for the Red October Factory there. Leopold was in his early twenties during this time. The diaries tell of endless mechanical problems due to the bad roads and the distances they were travelling which was also hard work for them.

The barracks where Leopold stayed.

A telephone exchange.

Two female signals personnel.

Telephone cable spools.

Setting up a telephone exchange.

 

 

Get those wires up high in that tree.

 

 

More telephone wiring work.

 

 

I can't hear you, repeat again!!!!

 

 

"What do you mean - the Russians are counterattacking?"

 

 

Telephone exchange station.

 

 

Mobile phone service.

Russia: July 1, 1941. This photo was taken at the start of Operation Barbarossa.

 

 

 

 

Russia: Summer 1941. Notice the smoke of battle on the horizon.

 

 

 

 

Another Summer photo in Russia. The 8-meter Kurbelmast is extended.

Strange Soviet tracked vehicles. The "clothing line" looking contraptions are antennas.

Nice interior shot of the radio van, with the Fu.11 S.E. 100 configuration. The 8 meter Kurbelmast was used to raise a long-wave antenna.

 

 

Another interior photo of the van showing two Torn. E. b receivers.

 

 

Another radio van photo. Something is being given to the local children.

 

 

Another radio truck.

 

 

Long-wave antennas extended.

 

 

An idyllic scene in the forrest with the redio truck camouflaged.

 

 

Another wooded area, here with the 8-meter Kurbelmast extended.

 

 

Nice day to relax. Note the snow chains on the tires.

 

 

Enjoying the weather while listening for messages.

 

 

The terrible Winter comes.

 

 

The team listening to an unknown radio set.

 

 

Engine repair for a signals vehicle.