Bieberbach, Ruprecht

Date of birth:: July 31st, 1920 (Berlin, Germany)
Date of death:: August 22nd, 1944 (Tighida, Romania)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Ruprecht Bieberbach was a Leutnant (Lieutenant) and a bataillon & kompanieführer in the 466th Grenadier-Regiment of the 257th Infantry-Division. From September 1943 onwards his unit was engaged in the heavy rear guard fighting during the German retreat over the Dnjepr River in the area between Dnjepropetrovsk and Saporischschja. After many fierce defensive battles in this area, it became clear that this frontline wouldn’t hold much longer and a further withdraw over the Dnjestr River was ordered. Also during this German retreat was Leutnant Bieberbach involved in the subsequent rear guard battles. When the Germans took their new defensive positions at the Dnjestr River a relatively quieter period followed at the part of the Dnjestr frontline where the 257. Infantry-Division had taken up positions. This changed when the Russian Army launched their large offensive on August 20th 1944. When the Russians broke through the frontline in the south of their position on August 22nd, the entire frontline became untenable and a further German withdraw towards the West was ordered. During this withdraw heavy rear guard actions were fought and many soldiers of the 257th Infantry-Division died or became missing in action. Leutnant Ruprecht Bieberbach also belonged to one of the many missing and presumably fallen soldiers.

This resulted in a long search by the family for their loved one. The search already started in the end of 1944 but only came to an end in 2011. In that year they finally received the message that the grave of Leutnant Ruprecht Bieberbach was found near Tighina. (Called Bender nowadays, located in the Republic of Moldova.)

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