Opening of Grossdeutschland Officer Candidate School

On Tuesday, 16 May 1944 a commemoration ceremony was held in Cottbus for the opening of the Offiziersbewerberschule Großdeutschland (Grossdeutschland Officer Candidate School) at a base for the Replacement Brigade of the Panzergrenadier-Division “Grossdeutschland”. The accommodations for the course participation will occur in a camp village. Their structure is similar to makeshift homes. Each individual home can occupy four men and contains a living room, bedroom and anteroom. The construction of the homes was done under the guidance from the party and Wehrmacht. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Schwahn and it shows the inspection of the officer candidate camp. Front row from left to right: Reichsleiter Baldur von Schirach (Gauleiter und Reichsstatthalter in Wien), Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm (Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres), and Ritterkreuzträger Oberst Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus (Kommandeur Ersatz-Brigade Grossdeutschland). Note the "Grossdeutschland" cufftitle being worn by Reichsleiter Baldur von Schirach on his political leaders uniform. Directly over von Schirach's right shoulder is Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel, who was commander of the Grossdeutschland Division from 27 January until 1 September 1944.

Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel (left, Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland") speaking with Reichsleiter Baldur von Schirach (Gauleiter und Reichsstatthalter in Wien) during the inauguration of the Offiziersbewerberschule Großdeutschland (Grossdeutschland Officer Candidate School) at a base for the Replacement Brigade of the Panzergrenadier-Division “Grossdeutschland”, which were held in Cottbus on 16 May 1944.

Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland") speaks in the podium during the inauguration of the Offiziersbewerberschule Großdeutschland (Grossdeutschland Officer Candidate School) at a base for the Replacement Brigade of the Panzergrenadier-Division “Grossdeutschland”, which were held in Cottbus on 16 May 1944. He is definitely wore his 'Afrika' award cufftitle on the incorrect sleeve (his right) directly below his Grossdeutchland cuff. This was a highly unusual practice and against regulations, but who is going to argue with this general and war hero?

Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland") in a picture taken during the inauguration of the Offiziersbewerberschule Großdeutschland (Grossdeutschland Officer Candidate School) at a base for the Replacement Brigade of the Panzergrenadier-Division “Grossdeutschland”, which were held in Cottbus on 16 May 1944.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive
Todd Gylsen photo collection
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