Ritterkreuzträger

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses, Ritterkreuzträger, Recipients, Holders, RKT, Eichenlaub, Schwerter, Brillanten, Oak Leaves, Swords, Diamonds, War Heroes, German, Germany, Nazi, Third Reich, Wehrmacht, Heer, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS, Armed Forces, Army, Navy, Air Force, RAD, Reichsarbeitsdienst, Generals, Admirals, Officers, Soldiers, Soldat, Sailors, Kameraden, Military, World War II, WW2, High quality pictures, Resolution, HD, HQ, pixel,

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Ritterkreuzträger with Feldmütze M43

The Feldmütze M43, also known as the Einheitsfeldmütze 1943, was the standardized field cap introduced by the German Wehrmacht in the second half of 1943 as a practical replacement for the earlier Schiffchen side cap, though the older model continued in limited use until the end of the Second World War. Evolving from the Bergmütze mountain cap worn by Gebirgsjäger units—which traced its roots to Austro-Hungarian ski cap designs of the First World War—the M43 featured a soft wool body in field-grey for Heer and Waffen-SS troops or black wool for Panzer forces, a short cloth-covered visor, and distinctive ear flaps that could be folded down for cold-weather protection or buttoned upward using two metal buttons (or later pressed cardboard versions). Its front typically bore the woven Hoheitssadler national eagle above the Reichskokarde cockade, while SS variants often placed a Totenkopf death’s-head badge at the front with the eagle on the left side; the cap’s teardrop-shaped crown and slightly sloped sides provided a comfortable, helmet-compatible design suited for field service, snipers, reconnaissance troops, and everyday wear. Manufactured in standard wool as well as later simplified HBT drillich and camouflage fabric versions using German or Italian patterns, it proved highly popular among soldiers for its versatility and durability across all fronts. The design’s influence extended well beyond 1945, serving as the basis for post-war headgear in the Bundesgrenzschutz and Bundeswehr mountain units, where similar Bergmütze-style caps remain in service today, and it continues to be widely reproduced for historical and collector purposes.

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LUFTWAFFE

Oberstleutnant Heinrich "Pritzl" Bär (1913-1957), born on 25 May 1913 in Sommerfeld in the Kingdom of Saxony and died on 28 April 1957 in Braunschweig, was a highly successful Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace who flew more than 1,000 combat sorties across the Western, Eastern, and Mediterranean theatres during World War II, claiming around 220 aerial victories (with German Federal Archives records confirming 208, including 16 in the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter). A former mechanic and transport pilot who transitioned to fighters with I./JG 51, Bär achieved his first victory against a Curtiss P-36 Hawk on the French border in September 1939, adding further kills during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain before excelling dramatically on the Eastern Front in Operation Barbarossa with JG 51 under II. Fliegerkorps. His Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes came on 2 July 1941 as Leutnant in 1./JG 51 after reaching 27 victories in the intense opening weeks, notably claiming multiple Tupolev SB bombers on 22 June and five more on 30 June amid JG 51's milestone 1,000th victory day. He received the 31st Eichenlaub on 14 August 1941 as Leutnant (soon promoted Oberleutnant) in 1./JG 51 upon attaining 60 victories, highlighted by an "ace-in-a-day" of six Soviet aircraft on 30 August before being shot down and wounded that same day near Novgorod-Seversky, evading capture by disguising himself as a peasant! Promoted to Hauptmann and appointed Staffelkapitän of 12./JG 51 (later Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG 51), Bär earned the 7th Schwerter on 16 February 1942 for his 90th victory, continuing to amass kills in the Crimea with I./JG 77 and later in North Africa, the Defence of the Reich, and with JV 44, where his independent spirit often clashed with superiors like Hermann Göring, who denied him the Brillanten despite three recommendations; post-war he worked as a test pilot until his fatal crash in a LF-1 Zaunkönig.

Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2020/01/foto-tokoh-third-reich-yang-mengenakan.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=206833

Ritterkreuzträger in Diensthemd / Hemd (Shirt)

The Wehrmacht Diensthemd served as the standard regulation service shirt for all ranks in the German Armed Forces during the Second World War, forming a core element of both the field service uniform and the more formal Dienstanzug worn in garrison or non-combat settings. Typically manufactured from lightweight cotton or a cotton-rayon blend in Feldgrau or, as the war progressed, various olive and greenish shades due to material shortages, it featured a button-front placket (often concealed in pre-war and early wartime examples), long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, and two breast pockets with buttoned flaps whose style varied by production period and quality. Designed to be tucked into trousers, the shirt was most commonly worn beneath the Feldbluse but could also function as an outer garment in warm weather or for lighter duties; its stand-up collar carried sewn-on Litzen collar tabs that displayed the wearer’s Waffenfarbe branch color along with rank indicators for non-commissioned officers and officers, while detachable shoulder straps completed the rank and unit identification. Over time, successive patterns such as the early 1930s models through the simplified 1940 and 1943/44 wartime versions reflected increasing austerity, with reduced pocket detailing, fewer buttons, and lower-quality fabrics, yet the Diensthemd remained a universally issued item that ensured uniformity and practicality across the Heer from private soldiers to senior officers.

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HEER

Major der Reserve Kurt Sunkel (1913-1997) was born on 27 February 1913 and died on 23 May 1997. Serving as an officer in the Heer during the Second World War, he rose through the ranks and by spring 1944 held the position of Oberleutnant und Chef der 3. Kompanie im I. Bataillon of Grenadier-Regiment 107 within the 34. Infanterie-Division. On 14 May 1944 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in recognition of his outstanding leadership and combat performance while commanding this company during intense fighting on the Eastern Front. He later advanced to the rank of Major and assumed command of the I. Bataillon of the same regiment, for which he received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 20 April 1945; additional decorations included the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber, multiple grades of the Verwundetenabzeichen 1939, the Nahkampfspange in Bronze, and both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz. Sunkel’s career exemplifies the demands placed on company and battalion commanders in a frontline infantry division during the final phases of the war in the East.

Source :
https://www.wehrmacht.es/en/wehrmacht-uniforms/89-m42-grey-german-service-shirt.html

Rare Pictures of Ritterkreuzträger (Unusual Photograph)

CLEANING SHOES

Hauptmann Wilhelm Walther (face to the camera, Führer I.Bataillon / Lehr-Regiment "Brandenburg" z.b.V. 800). This picture was taken from the personal photo album of Wilhelm Walther, with original caption as follow: "Deutsche Landser an der Ägäis, 1941. Die griechischen Schuhputzer hatten rasch bemerkt, dass der deutsche Soldat die Reinlichkeit liebt. Hier haben sie auf der Universitäts = Strasse von Athen, einen Ritterkreuzträger Walther „in der Arbeit” (German troops in the Aegean, 1941. The Greek shoe shiners quickly noticed that the German soldier loves cleanliness. Here you have a Knight’s Cross bearer Walther "in the works" on University Street of Athens).

Walther Lucht cleaning his shoes outside his bunkhouse in a POW camp, 24 November 1945. Ritterkreuzträger Walther Lucht (26 February 1882 – 18 March 1949), a General der Artillerie of the Wehrmacht, spent the final years of his life as a prisoner of war following Germany’s defeat in the Second World War. After serving as commander of LXVI. Armeekorps and later briefly leading the 11. Armee during the desperate final campaigns of 1945, Lucht surrendered to American forces in May 1945. As one of Germany’s senior generals and a holder of both the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and Eichenlaub, he was placed in Allied captivity during the occupation period. Unlike many German officers captured by the Soviet Union, Lucht remained in Western Allied hands, where conditions were generally less severe and where he was subjected primarily to interrogation and administrative detention rather than long-term punitive imprisonment. During his captivity he witnessed the collapse of the military system to which he had devoted more than four decades of service, beginning in the Imperial German Army and continuing through the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht. Released from American captivity in 1948, he returned to civilian life in post-war Germany, but his freedom was short-lived. On 18 March 1949, less than a year after his release, Lucht was killed in a motor vehicle accident near Heilbronn.

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PUSHING CARS

Generalmajor Hasso von Manteuffel (foreground, Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division) in an attempt to push a stuck-up Kübelwagen out of the mud. Eastern Front, end of 1943. In the autumn previously, the battered division withdrew to the Dnieper position, crossing the river at Kremenchug. The division then fought in the defensive Battle of Kiev and the German counterattack at Zhitomir. During these battles, the division was twice cited for distinguished conduct. After this, the division fought in a series of heavy defensive battles during the long retreat across the Ukraine. On 20 November 1943, 7th Panzer Division possessed 47 tanks, of which only 16 were operational! Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.

Source :
"Brandenburger: Wartime Photographs of Wilhelm Walther" by Anthony Rogers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Walther_Lucht_cleaning_his_shoes_outside_his_bunkhouse_in_POW_camp_(cropped).jpg

Anti-Nazi Ritterkreuzträger

The anti-Nazi conspiracy within the Wehrmacht encompassed a loose but determined network of German military officers and officials who sought to overthrow or assassinate Adolf Hitler and dismantle the Nazi regime from inside the armed forces during the Second World War, driven by a mix of strategic opposition to Hitler's reckless expansionism, moral revulsion at the regime's escalating war crimes and genocide, and a desire to negotiate an honorable peace before total defeat. Roots of the resistance traced back to the late 1930s, when conservative officers such as Generaloberst Ludwig Beck, who resigned as Chief of the General Staff in August 1938 over the planned invasion of Czechoslovakia, collaborated with Abwehr chief Admiral Wilhelm Canaris and his deputy Oberst Hans Oster in plots to arrest Hitler during the Sudeten crisis and install a military government, efforts that formed part of the informal Schwarze Kapelle circle and involved figures like Generalmajor Henning von Tresckow. These early schemes faltered due to the rapid success of Hitler's foreign policy gambles and the regime's tightening grip, but resistance persisted into the war years through scattered assassination attempts, including Tresckow's and Fabian von Schlabrendorff's March 1943 plot to bomb Hitler's plane en route from Smolensk, which failed when the explosive device did not detonate. The conspiracy reached its climax in 1944 under the leadership of Oberst Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a decorated but critically wounded staff officer who had joined the inner circle after service on the Eastern Front and who coordinated with General der Infanterie Friedrich Olbricht and others to adapt the existing Operation Walküre contingency plan for deploying the Ersatzheer to seize key Berlin installations and arrest Nazi leaders once Hitler was eliminated. On 20 July 1944, Stauffenberg planted a briefcase bomb at the Wolfsschanze headquarters during a military conference, killing several officers but only lightly wounding Hitler; the subsequent failure to fully activate Walküre in Berlin, compounded by communication breakdowns and hesitation among some participants, allowed loyalist forces under Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm to suppress the coup within hours. Prominent Wehrmacht conspirators included Generalfeldmarschall Erwin von Witzleben, Generaloberst Erich Hoepner, and others from aristocratic and professional military backgrounds who had grown alienated by Nazi interference in command structures and the conduct of the war, though the plot's scope remained limited and did not extend to widespread enlisted support or coordination with foreign Allies. The plot's collapse triggered ferocious reprisals ordered by Hitler, with the Volksgerichtshof under Roland Freisler conducting show trials that led to the execution of dozens of officers by hanging or firing squad, while hundreds more faced arrest, dismissal, or suicide, including the forced death of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel due to his tangential associations; this purge effectively crushed organized military opposition for the remainder of the war, underscoring both the courage of a principled minority within the Wehrmacht officer corps and the formidable totalitarian controls that ultimately prevailed until Germany's unconditional surrender in 1945.

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HEER

General der Artillerie Fritz Lindemann, born on 11 April 1894 in Berlin-Charlottenburg and who died on 22 September 1944 in Berlin from gunshot wounds sustained while resisting arrest, was a General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht whose senior positions and extensive travels enabled him to play an active role in the military resistance against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. After distinguished frontline service including command of the 132. Infanterie-Division on the Eastern Front, Lindemann was appointed Chief of Staff of the Artillery in the Oberkommando des Heeres in October 1943, a post that required frequent journeys between Berlin, the Führer Headquarters, army group commands and deputy general commands at home; he deliberately used these opportunities to establish and coordinate contacts with fellow conspirators, functioning as an important liaison and coordinator within the inner circle of the anti-Nazi military opposition. He developed particularly close ties with General Hellmuth Stieff, a longtime friend and fellow plotter, and also maintained links to civilian resisters such as Hjalmar Schacht, who later described him as one of the most capable and active men in the officers’ resistance circle. As part of the preparations for Operation Valkyrie, Lindemann was specifically tasked with reading the conspirators’ proclamation to the German people over the radio immediately after the successful assassination of Hitler on 20 July 1944; however, he did not appear at the Bendlerblock military headquarters in Berlin that day. Following the failure of the plot he went into hiding, initially with relatives in Dresden before moving to Berlin, but was located by the Gestapo on 3 September 1944; during the arrest he attempted to escape by jumping from a third-floor window and was shot in the leg and stomach, after which he was taken to the Berlin police hospital, operated upon in preparation for interrogation and torture, and died nine days later from his injuries without ever standing trial.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_resistance_to_Nazism

Ritterkreuzträger in White Camo Winter Jacket

During World War II, the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS employed white camouflage uniforms primarily to achieve concealment in snowy terrain, most notably during the brutal winters on the Eastern Front following the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. In the catastrophic first winter of 1941–1942, when standard field-gray uniforms and greatcoats offered little protection or camouflage against deep snow and sub-zero temperatures, troops resorted to widespread improvisation by draping white bedsheets, pillowcases, or captured Soviet winter garments over their clothing, while some units painted helmets and equipment white for basic snow blending. By the winter of 1942–1943, more standardized reversible winter camouflage suits known as Wintertarnanzug or Schneetarnanzug were introduced and issued in greater numbers; these two-piece outfits typically featured a hooded parka or jacket paired with matching overtrousers made from lightweight cotton fabric, often lightly padded or lined for added insulation, with one side plain matte white for optimal snow camouflage and the reverse side printed in disruptive patterns such as the Heer’s Splintermuster (splinter pattern) or, for Waffen-SS units, distinctive designs like Eichenlaubmuster (oak leaf), Platanenmuster (plane tree), or later Erbsenmuster (pea dot) to provide seasonal versatility. Accompanying items included white or reversible helmet covers to disrupt the distinctive shape of the Stahlhelm, as well as occasional white armbands or capes for quick adaptation. These garments proved highly effective in reducing detection during operations in Russia, Ukraine, and other snow-covered regions from 1942 through 1945, and select units even utilized them during the Ardennes Offensive in late 1944, though practical drawbacks included rapid soiling of the white side (turning it grayish and less effective), bulkiness that hindered mobility, inconsistent warmth without proper underlayers, and uneven distribution due to wartime shortages, which forced many soldiers to continue relying on ad-hoc or captured solutions even in later years.

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WAFFEN-SS

SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer (1910-1961), born on 23 December 1910 in Jerxheim, Lower Saxony, and who died on 23 December 1961 in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, was a Waffen-SS officer who rose to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS, serving primarily with the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler before taking command roles in the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" and becoming widely known by his nickname "Panzermeyer" for his daring and aggressive leadership in multiple campaigns. He entered the SS in 1931, transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in 1934, and commanded the 14. Panzerabwehr-Kompanie during the 1939 invasion of Poland before leading the SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung of the LSSAH in France, the Balkans, and the Eastern Front. On 18 May 1941, as SS-Sturmbannführer and commander of the SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes after demonstrating exceptional initiative on 13 April 1941 during the Balkans campaign by reconnoitering toward Kastoria via the Klisura Pass, where his battalion achieved a breakthrough that decisively cut off the retreat route for major elements of the Greek northern wing and facilitated the rapid capture of Kastoria, actions that built upon his earlier success commanding a Vorausabteilung in the western campaign. On 23 February 1943, as SS-Obersturmbannführer still commanding the reconnaissance battalion of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler during the Third Battle of Kharkov, he received the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for orchestrating a bold and ruthless assault on the village of Jefremowka on 20 February 1943, in which his forces overran Soviet positions, inflicted approximately 1,500 enemy casualties, and took no prisoners amid intense close-quarters fighting. Finally, on 27 August 1944 as SS-Standartenführer and commander of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" — having assumed divisional leadership after the death of SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Witt on 14 June 1944 — he was awarded the Schwerter zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub as the 91st recipient for his tenacious and aggressive leadership throughout the Normandy campaign, including rapid counterattacks against Canadian forces near the beaches on 7 June 1944, the establishment of a forward command post at Ardenne Abbey, sustained defensive operations around Caen despite over 60 percent divisional casualties in the first month, and his role in leading the remnants of the division in a fighting breakout from the Falaise pocket before his capture in early September 1944.

Source :
Bundesarchiv photo collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_World_War_II_camouflage_patterns

Ritterkreuzträger with Panzervernichtungsabzeichen (Tank Destruction Badge)

The Panzervernichtungsabzeichen, officially designated the "Sonderabzeichen für das Niederkämpfen von Panzerkampfwagen durch Einzelkämpfer", was a highly prestigious World War II German military decoration instituted by Adolf Hitler on 9 March 1942 to honor individual soldiers of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS who had single-handedly destroyed or disabled an enemy tank or armored fighting vehicle in close combat using hand-held weapons. The award applied retroactively to actions from the opening of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941 and was strictly limited to personal feats of bravery by infantrymen or close-combat troops employing infantry anti-tank weapons such as the Panzerfaust, Panzerschreck, Hafthohlladung magnetic mines, satchel charges, bundled hand grenades, rifle grenades, or Molotov cocktails; dedicated anti-tank gun crews were explicitly ineligible, as the badge emphasized individual initiative against superior armored threats rather than crew-served equipment. Initially issued only in a silver version for each confirmed destruction and worn pinned then sewn onto the upper right sleeve of the tunic, the badge consisted of a rectangular embroidered field approximately 88 mm by 33 mm featuring a blackened 42 mm by 18 mm silhouette of a Panzer IV tank on a silver background bordered by thin black stripes; on 18 December 1943 a gold class was introduced for the single-handed destruction of five tanks, after which the recipient retained the four prior silver badges while wearing the gold one, with additional silver badges added below subsequent gold ones for every further set of five destructions. Approximately 18,500 silver and around 400 gold examples were awarded throughout the war, with the most prolific recipient being Oberstleutnant Günther Viezenz, who earned an extraordinary twenty-one badges, often through repeated acts of extreme courage on the Eastern Front where Soviet armor posed a constant threat. The Panzervernichtungsabzeichen symbolized the desperate heroism required of individual German soldiers in the later stages of the conflict and remained one of the most respected close-combat awards in the Wehrmacht, distinct from the earlier General Assault Badge that had sometimes recognized similar feats before its creation.

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1 PANZERVERNICHTUNGSABZEICHEN

Leutnant Josef Glatz (1920-1991), known as "Sepp", was born on 3 November 1920 and died on 14 January 1991. During the Second World War he served in the Heer as a member of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 46, which formed part of the (44.) Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister. He earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, the Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen in der I. Stufe, the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, the Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber and the Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber before receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 7 August 1944 while serving as Leutnant in the I. Abteilung of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 46. On 12 January 1945, still holding the rank of Leutnant, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as Führer der 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 46 for his outstanding leadership and combat achievements in that role during the final stages of the war. His last rank remained Leutnant.

Source :
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderabzeichen_f%C3%BCr_das_Niederk%C3%A4mpfen_von_Panzerkampfwagen_durch_Einzelk%C3%A4mpfer
https://www.tracesofwar.com/awards/98/Panzervernichtungsabzeichen.htm

Josef Priller Smoking Cigars

A rarely seen picture of Hauptmann Josef "Pips" Priller (Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" ). Picture taken by Rolf Schröder, III./ JG 26 Technical Officer, in the summer 1942. During this period Priller flew the Fw 190A, leading the Gruppe in operations over the English Channel and occupied France against the RAF. He scored his 70th victory on 5 May 1942 and reached 81 victories by the end of 1942.

Source :
JY Lorant photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10244438610928208&set=gm.1030128112920821&idorvanity=399005652699740

The 1000th Mission of Stuka Ace Hans-Ulrich Rudel

Oberleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel (Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann") and Hauptmann Martin Möbus (Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann") enjoying the meal that was organized to celebrate the return of Oberleutnant Rudel from his 1000th mission, 10 February 1943.

On 10 February 1943, flying from an airfield near Tatsinskaya in the Voroshilovgrad region, Oberleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel (Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann") completed his 1000th combat mission (Feindflug). He thus became the first pilot in history to reach this extraordinary tally. The sortie took place amid operations near Izyum (Roven'ky-Horlivka area), where StG 2 supported ground forces in defensive and counter-attacking actions following the Soviet winter offensive.

Details of the specific target for this milestone flight are not extensively documented, consistent with the routine nature of many ground-attack missions - likely involving strikes on Soviet troop concentrations, artillery positions, or armored vehicles. What made the occasion remarkable was the sheer volume of sorties flown in under two years of active combat, a testament to the high sortie rate demanded on the Eastern Front and Rudel's exceptional endurance.

His comrades in StG 2 celebrated the achievement with traditional Luftwaffe gestures of good luck: a chimney sweep figure and a pig, along with an honor goblet filled with milk (reflecting Rudel's known abstinence from alcohol). The milestone received widespread coverage in German media, turning Rudel into a propaganda icon. It symbolized the Luftwaffe's commitment and the individual prowess of its pilots amid the grinding attrition of the war in the East.

Shortly after, Rudel was promoted to Hauptmann. He was granted leave, during which the propaganda apparatus further amplified his image as a model Stuka ace.

The 1000th mission served as a springboard for further innovations. Following this milestone, Rudel became involved in testing and developing the anti-tank variant of the Ju 87, the Ju 87G (Kanonenvogel), equipped with two 37 mm Bordkanone BK 3,7 cannons under the wings. He participated in experiments with this platform and later achieved notable successes against Soviet armor, including during the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, where he claimed multiple tank kills in single sorties.

In the months after February 1943, Rudel continued flying with StG 2 (later redesignated SG 2). He sank numerous landing craft in the Kuban bridgehead and destroyed his first tanks with the new weaponry. His awards accumulated rapidly: the Eichenlaub followed in April 1943, presented personally by Adolf Hitler. By the end of the war, Rudel had flown over 2,530 missions, claiming 519 tanks destroyed, among other targets, and received the unique Ritterkreuz mit Goldenem Eichenlaub.

Rudel's 1000th mission occurred during a critical phase of the Eastern Front war. After Stalingrad, German forces were on the defensive but still mounted major operations like the one at Kharkov. The high number of sorties reflected both the pilot's dedication and the desperate need for close air support in a theater where air superiority was increasingly contested.

While Rudel's achievements were heavily promoted by the Nazi regime, they also came at great cost. Many Stuka crews were lost to flak and fighters. Rudel himself was shot down multiple times but survived through skill and luck until late in the war. His post-war activities, including emigration to Argentina and involvement in far-right circles, remain controversial and separate from his wartime record.

Source :
© Willibald Wanderer/ECPAD/Defense
DAA 2705 L02A and DAA 2705 03
https://www.facebook.com/groups/222855636020791/posts/1305392441100433/?__cft__[0]=AZY3VicK_ZkeKETYJJNL64YVlBP65CwBezyTwmiBZWm9Tdl0NGZuMKAXz53JE7fvXY4e8UoykKRJm8cMBMCqGDYg400JBiwob0ogWA2i2HGh67ZyNjp_Z1_gBhPCSs7F8_eBVVdxduq6L4zKrhARZj6yItHkte-VlDdcSHWbDY53qv7cISRaBrjAbAI3ZOF_OGKUnnkkUgs0bud-267bCZWW&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Major Hans Christern in Black Panzer Uniform

Oberst Hans Christern (1900-1966), born on 24 January 1900 in Lauenburg and deceased on 17 June 1966 in Georgenhof, was served with distinction from his early days in the German Army through both world wars, ultimately commanding the 7. Panzer-Division in the final months of the conflict before surrendering it to British forces northwest of Berlin in May 1945; after the war he returned to civilian life as a farmer and became active in the CDU political party, even running unsuccessfully in the 1949 West German federal election. His most notable recognition came with the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 January 1941 as Major and Kommandeur of II./Panzer-Regiment 31 within the 5. Panzer-Division for his extraordinary leadership during the Battle of France, where, following the breakthrough of French border fortifications on 17 May 1940, the Maubeuge Fortress with its heavy guns threatened the right flank and advance of the division; demonstrating bold initiative, Christern led a Panzer thrust directly into the fortress in a daring coup-de-main, overrunning enemy tanks, anti-tank weapons, and infantry to seize the citadel on 18 May 1940, thereby neutralizing flanking fire, preventing the destruction of the vital Sambre bridge, repelling counterattacks, and securing the position for full capitulation with supporting troops, actions that exemplified ruthless courage and enabled continued momentum in the subsequent fighting through Flanders.

Source :
Stefan Karl photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122134256403061887&set=gm.1316835996622744&idorvanity=222855636020791

Karl Schnell Studio Portrait

Feldwebel Karl Schnell (1914-1978), born on 13 June 1914 in Wetzlar in the Rhine Province and who died on 4 January 1978 in the same city, was a German soldier who served in the Heer during the Second World War and rose to the rank of Feldwebel as Kompanietruppführer of the 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 423 within the 212. Infanterie-Division. Serving as the company troop leader responsible for coordinating headquarters elements and supporting the Kompanie in combat, Schnell distinguished himself through repeated acts of courage and decisive leadership amid the intense defensive fighting of 1944 on the Eastern Front in the Baltic region, where German forces struggled to stabilize lines against powerful Soviet offensives. His Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes was awarded on 2 September 1944 in recognition of his exemplary performance in critical situations, where he helped maintain unit cohesion, repel enemy assaults, and contribute to holding key positions despite overwhelming pressure, earning him one of the highest military honors for non-commissioned officers through demonstrated bravery and tactical skill in the face of superior enemy forces. Prior to this, Schnell had already been decorated with both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz for earlier service, reflecting a career marked by frontline reliability in one of the Wehrmacht's infantry formations that later transitioned into the 212. Volksgrenadier-Division, and his actions exemplified the steadfast endurance required of experienced NCOs in the later stages of the war before he survived the conflict and returned to civilian life in his hometown.

Source :
Stefan Karl photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122134917837061887&set=gm.1322155279424149&idorvanity=222855636020791

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Major Erich Löwe in a Studio Portrait

Erich Löwe (24 September 1906 – 23 December 1943) rose to the rank of Major and was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant, earning both the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and the Eichenlaub as a highly experienced panzer commander, particularly noted for his leadership of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 equipped with Tiger I tanks on the Eastern Front. Born in Mühlhausen, he joined the Reichswehr in 1923 initially as a Kraftfahrer, was commissioned Leutnant in 1935, and served as Hauptmann and Chef 3./Panzer-Abteilung 65 during the 1940 French campaign where his Ritterkreuz was awarded on 4 September 1940 for decisive actions as vanguard leader of a reinforced Kampfgruppe, including securing intact river and canal bridges over the Oise after bitter street fighting on 17 May, playing a key role in capturing the staff of the French 9th Army at Le Catelet the next day, and later forcing a path through the heavily defended village of Doullens with his Kompanie on 20 May to enable continued advances. He subsequently commanded I. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 11, receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold in March 1943, before taking over schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 in September 1943; in December 1943 near Witebsk his Abteilung supported the 14. Infanterie-Division (mot.) in fierce defensive and counterattack operations, notably during the fighting around Losovka on 20 December where despite harsh winter conditions and infantry struggling to keep pace, the Tigers destroyed numerous Soviet tanks and guns, with Löwe personally leading assaults by transferring from tank to tank after his own Tiger received two hits, maintaining command momentum until he was mortally wounded by enemy artillery fire on 23 December 1943. For his sustained exemplary leadership, personal bravery under fire, and the battalion's critical impact in staving off Soviet thrusts along the Rollbahn to Welisch, he was posthumously awarded the 385th Eichenlaub on 8 February 1944.

Source :
Ltn Rackow photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/groups/222855636020791/posts/1325973089042368/?__cft__[0]=AZbNz9H5y8KP0BUUhiHvUxftlkGY6NHOEGoNTf5LoX_Nd3A_SSm7VpnXYiygtu3t6A81NI9IkzTUCYIx2TUYk0R_8QSTWc1FXxd63R_5Ened9HNVdvfqg9qQwi91dcEdPveW0NvV8yfko8YuCLOVVChWU7jbZ1MGf_UwS_iOMBTdaQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Erich Löwe with His Sons

Major Erich Löwe with three of his five children. The photo is privately owned by the family. Erich Löwe (24 September 1906 – 23 December 1943) rose to the rank of Major and was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant, earning both the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and the Eichenlaub as a highly experienced panzer commander, particularly noted for his leadership of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 equipped with Tiger I tanks on the Eastern Front. Born in Mühlhausen, he joined the Reichswehr in 1923 initially as a Kraftfahrer, was commissioned Leutnant in 1935, and served as Hauptmann and Chef 3./Panzer-Abteilung 65 during the 1940 French campaign where his Ritterkreuz was awarded on 4 September 1940 for decisive actions as vanguard leader of a reinforced Kampfgruppe, including securing intact river and canal bridges over the Oise after bitter street fighting on 17 May, playing a key role in capturing the staff of the French 9th Army at Le Catelet the next day, and later forcing a path through the heavily defended village of Doullens with his Kompanie on 20 May to enable continued advances. He subsequently commanded I. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 11, receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold in March 1943, before taking over schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 in September 1943; in December 1943 near Witebsk his Abteilung supported the 14. Infanterie-Division (mot.) in fierce defensive and counterattack operations, notably during the fighting around Losovka on 20 December where despite harsh winter conditions and infantry struggling to keep pace, the Tigers destroyed numerous Soviet tanks and guns, with Löwe personally leading assaults by transferring from tank to tank after his own Tiger received two hits, maintaining command momentum until he was mortally wounded by enemy artillery fire on 23 December 1943. For his sustained exemplary leadership, personal bravery under fire, and the battalion's critical impact in staving off Soviet thrusts along the Rollbahn to Welisch, he was posthumously awarded the 385th Eichenlaub on 8 February 1944.

Ritterkreuzträger of 11. Panzer-Division

The 11. Panzerdivision, known as "Gespensterdivision" (Ghost Division), was formed on 1 August 1940 in Wehrkreis VIII at Sagan from the 11. Schützen-Brigade and Panzer-Regiment 15 drawn from the 5. Panzer-Division, and elements of the 231., 311., and 209. Infanterie-Divisionen, with most personnel originating from Silesia. Its first combat came during the April 1941 invasion of Yugoslavia, where it advanced through Bulgaria to assist in the capture of Belgrade. Transferred to the Eastern Front with Army Group South for Operation Barbarossa, the division distinguished itself in the Battle of Kiev, the drive toward Moscow where it faced fierce resistance from Soviet rifle divisions amid harsh winter conditions, and later in Case Blue operations including the capture of Voronezh and intense defensive tank battles along the Chir River in late 1942, during which under General der Panzertruppe Hermann Balck it destroyed dozens of Soviet tanks in engagements against the 5th Tank Army while supporting relief efforts near Stalingrad and the defense of Rostov. In 1943 it participated in the Battle of Kursk and subsequent retreats, suffering near-destruction in the breakout from the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket in February 1944 before refitting in France with personnel from the 273. Reserve-Panzer-Division. Redeployed to southern France, it conducted a fighting withdrawal up the Rhône corridor after the Allied invasion in August 1944, engaged in Alsace including the Battle of Arracourt and defense of the Belfort Gap, and later fought in the Saar and at Remagen with dwindling strength of around 4,000 men, 25 tanks, and 18 guns. Commanded successively by officers including General der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell, General der Panzertruppe Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck, General der Panzertruppe Hermann Balck, and finally Generalleutnant Wend von Wietersheim, the division ended the war retreating southeast and surrendering to American forces near Passau on 2 May 1945, with remnants under von Wietersheim capitulating to the US 90th Infantry Division at Všeruby on 4 May 1945, its ghost insignia symbolizing the elusive and resilient armored warfare it conducted across multiple fronts throughout World War II.

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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER

General der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell (1892-1958) was a German army officer who rose to the rank of General der Panzertruppe and played a prominent role in the early campaigns of the Second World War, most notably as commander of the 11. Panzer-Division and later the Afrika Korps. Born in Dortmund, he joined the Royal Prussian Army in 1911, served with distinction as a junior officer in the First World War earning both classes of the Iron Cross and the Hanseatic Cross, and remained in the Reichswehr before transferring to the Wehrmacht in 1935. He assumed command of the 11. Panzer-Division in August 1940 as Generalmajor and led it with outstanding success during the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, where he personally directed operations from the lead elements of his division. Despite adverse weather and difficult terrain, Crüwell orchestrated a rapid breakthrough of Yugoslav border positions in the Nišava valley, captured Niš on 9 April, and reached Belgrade by 13 April, contributing decisively to the collapse of Yugoslav resistance by smashing multiple enemy divisions, taking around 40,000 prisoners along with significant quantities of artillery, aircraft, and materiel, actions for which he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 May 1941. The division then participated in Operation Barbarossa as part of Panzergruppe 1 in Heeresgruppe Süd; on 10 July 1941 near Berditschew a massive Soviet counteroffensive encircled the 11. Panzer-Division with ten rifle and two tank divisions, yet under Crüwell’s determined leadership the unit conducted four days of intense defensive fighting along the Teterew river before breaking out on the fifth day, a battle-deciding performance that earned him promotion to Generalleutnant and the 34th Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 1 September 1941. In July 1941 he took command of the Afrika Korps under Erwin Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika, assuming full operational control in mid-September and rising to General der Panzertruppe in December, before being captured by British forces on 29 May 1942 when his aircraft mistakenly landed near enemy troops during an inspection flight in Libya; he spent the rest of the war as a prisoner, first in Britain and later in the United States, and after his release settled in Essen where he chaired the veterans’ association of the Deutsches Afrikakorps until his death in 1958.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Panzer_Division
http://www.old.axishistory.com/axis-nations/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/4089-11-panzer-division

Unit Ritterkreuzträger

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HEER

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LUFTWAFFE

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KRIEGSMARINE

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WAFFEN-SS

Ritterkreuzträger of Waffen-SS

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Ritterkreuzträger with Hausorden von Hohenzollern (House Order of Hohenzollern)

The Hausorden von Hohenzollern, more formally the Königlicher Preussischer Hausorden von Hohenzollern, was a dynastic Prussian order of chivalry whose military grades continued to be worn by numerous German officers throughout the Second World War, even though fresh awards had ceased after the abolition of the monarchy in 1918. Originally instituted in the mid-nineteenth century by the House of Hohenzollern for both military and civilian merit, its most prominent wartime version during the First World War was the Ritterkreuz des Königlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern, which served as an important intermediate decoration for Prussian junior officers between the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse and the Pour le Mérite, recognising outstanding leadership and bravery in combat with more than eight thousand such crosses bestowed between 1914 and 1918. Many recipients who earned this honour while serving as Leutnants or Hauptleute in Imperial German Army units later rose to prominent commands in the Wehrmacht, including generals of the Panzertruppe and higher formations, and they proudly displayed the order on their uniforms as part of their accumulated decorations alongside newer awards such as the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes or the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. Records on tracesofwar.com frequently list the Königlicher Preussischer Hausorden von Hohenzollern among the awards of officers who fought in both world wars, sometimes noting an original bestowal from the 1914-1918 period together with references to later clasps or continued wear in the Wehrmacht era, while Wikipedia and associated military histories identify figures such as General der Panzertruppe Hermann Balck and Generaloberst Ludwig Beck as examples of senior officers who retained and wore the order as a visible link to their earlier service. Although the Nazi regime generally favoured its own decorations, Wehrmacht uniform regulations still permitted long-serving career officers to display certain pre-1933 imperial orders like this one on the medal bar or as a neck decoration, with the distinctive cross featuring swords and the Hohenzollern eagle or crest adding historical prestige to the chests of veterans during campaigns from the invasion of Poland in 1939 through to the final battles of 1945.

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RIBBON

General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (1892-1964), who later rose to the rank of general in World War II, began his military service in 1910 and fought throughout the First World War primarily with the Infanterie-Regiment „Markgraf Karl“ (7. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 60 and the Infanterie-Regiment „Hessen-Homburg“ Nr. 166, where he commanded machine gun companies, served as battalion and brigade adjutant, and participated in intense combat including the Battle of Nancy-Epinal, repeated engagements on the Somme, the Battle of Verdun, the Third Battle of Flanders, fighting on the Eastern Front such as the Battle of Kovel, and the final defensive battles of 1918 between the Somme and Aisne as well as in Flanders and the Hermannstellung. In recognition of his leadership and bravery across these fronts, Breith was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 10 September 1914 and the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 30 July 1916, the Hanseatenkreuz Hamburg on 16 April 1917, and notably the Ritterkreuz des Königlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern on 28 October 1918, one of the most prestigious Prussian decorations for officers demonstrating exceptional merit in combat.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Order_of_Hohenzollern
https://www.germanmilitaria.com/Imperial/01Imperial3.html

Ritterkreuzträger of Panzergrenadier (Mechanised Infantry)

During World War II, the German Panzergrenadiers formed the mechanized infantry component of the Wehrmacht’s armored forces, evolving directly from the Schützen regiments integrated into Panzer divisions from 1937 onward; these troops escorted and protected tanks from enemy infantry, conducted reconnaissance, and launched assaults either mounted or after rapid dismounts in tightly coordinated combined-arms operations designed to sustain the momentum of armored breakthroughs and exploitations. Initially equipped primarily with the Sd.Kfz. 251 armored half-track for troop transport and suppressive fire from its machine guns, they fought from vehicle hatches or portholes when mounted, though chronic shortages of armored carriers meant the great majority of units operated as motorized infantry reliant on unarmored trucks, carrying standard infantry weapons including rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank equipment while shifting fluidly between mounted and dismounted tactics. In 1942, following Hitler’s order renaming infantry regiments “Grenadier” regiments in homage to Frederick the Great, Schützen and motorized infantry units attached to armored formations were redesignated Panzergrenadier regiments, their uniform piping changing from rose-pink or white to meadow-green (though many veteran units retained rose-pink piping until the war’s end). Panzergrenadier divisions, created in growing numbers from 1943 by converting motorized infantry divisions and some regular infantry formations, were balanced combined-arms units typically built around two or three Panzergrenadier regiments (six infantry battalions total), supported by a tank or assault-gun battalion (often StuG IIIs), artillery, reconnaissance, engineer, anti-tank, and anti-aircraft elements; on paper they possessed one fewer tank battalion but two additional infantry battalions compared with standard Panzer divisions, making them especially valuable for both offensive and defensive roles. By September 1943 only about 11 percent of the 226 Panzergrenadier battalions across the Heer, Luftwaffe, and Waffen-SS were fully equipped with armored half-tracks, underscoring the severe logistical constraints of the later war years. Their doctrine stressed close cooperation with tanks for flanking maneuvers, rapid exploitation, and holding captured ground, proving highly effective in the early blitzkrieg campaigns yet adapting successfully to prolonged defensive fighting on the Eastern Front, in Italy, and in Normandy; prominent examples included the elite Heer Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland and converted formations such as the 3rd, 10th, 15th, 16th, 20th, 25th, and 29th Panzergrenadier Divisions, alongside powerful Waffen-SS units like the 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and the 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Division Totenkopf, several of which were later upgraded to full Panzer divisions. Detailed organizational, equipment, and historical information on these forces appears extensively on Wikipedia, while TracesOfWar.com preserves numerous personal accounts, regimental histories, and records of individual Panzergrenadier commanders and soldiers that illuminate their combat experiences across all fronts.

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SCHWERTERTRÄGER

Generalmajor Horst Niemack (1909-1992) was a German officer who served in the Wehrmacht from the late 1920s through the end of World War II, rising from cavalry roots to command armored reconnaissance and infantry units before later serving as a Brigadegeneral der Reserve in the Bundeswehr, and he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, the Eichenlaub, and the Schwerter through repeated demonstrations of bold leadership in critical combat situations. As Rittmeister and Kommandeur of the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 within the 5. Infanterie-Division, he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 July 1940 for his decisive actions during the Western Campaign; specifically, at midday on 11 June 1940 he led his unit in a daring thrust into the rear of enemy forces at Damery on the Marne river when a frontal advance proved impossible, an aggressive envelopment that demoralized the opposing troops and enabled friendly forces to cut off major enemy elements while swiftly reaching the river line. For his outstanding leadership of the same Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 during the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa under the 5. Infanterie-Division / V. Armeekorps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte, he was awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 10 August 1941 (the 30th such award); on 22 June 1941, commanding the divisional Vorausabteilung, he took a calculated detour off the main road to cut through Serijai and reach the Niemen river at Krikstonjai, and on 27 June he thrust toward the Niemen at Orla, where his Reiterschwadron advanced via Szczara through Korole into the area northeast of Piaski while the rest of the Abteilung moved via Korole, seizing Hill 132 south of Korole in addition to the assigned objectives and helping to seal off the escape routes of Soviet forces trapped in the Bialystok-Grodno pocket. Finally, as Oberst and Kommandeur of the Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment „Großdeutschland“ of the Panzer-Grenadier-Division „Großdeutschland“ / LVII. Armeekorps / 8. Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd, he received the Schwerter on 4 June 1944 (the 69th such award) for repelling a major Soviet assault east of the Sereth that began on 2 May 1944; when a group of 34 enemy tanks suddenly appeared near his command post and threatened a vital crossroads, Niemack had only his staff, communications platoon, and some drivers available, yet he personally led this small force into close combat, destroying eight tanks including personally dispatching the Soviet command tank and its leader, an action that broke the momentum of the enemy attack in that sector and earned him the distinction as one of the earliest recipients of the Swords. These successive awards reflected Niemack’s consistent pattern of taking personal initiative at decisive moments across the Western and Eastern Fronts, later culminating in his command of the Panzer-Lehr-Division in early 1945.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzergrenadier

Ritterkreuzträger of 5. Infanterie-division / 5. leichte Division / 5. Jäger-Division "Ulmer-Infanterie-Division"

The 5th Infantry Division (5. Infanterie-Division), later redesignated the 5th Light Infantry Division (5. leichte Infanterie-Division) and finally the 5th Jäger Division (5. Jäger-Division), known as the “Ulmer-Infanterie-Division” after its strong association with the city of Ulm, was formed in October 1934 under the cover name Wehrgauleitung Ulm / Kommandant von Ulm and officially activated as a standard infantry division in 1935. Its troops were garrisoned primarily in Konstanz, Ulm, and Freiburg, with an initial organization comprising Infanterie-Regimenter 14, 56, and 75, Artillerie-Regiment 5, I./Artillerie-Regiment 41, and supporting units. Mobilized on 25 August 1939 as a 1st-wave division, it remained on the Western Front in the Oberrhein sector during the 1939 Polish campaign and saw only light action in the 1940 Battle of France with the Second Army before performing occupation duties in France until March 1941. In April 1941 the division moved to East Prussia and participated in Operation Barbarossa with Army Group Center, enduring heavy fighting around Vyazma until the end of the year; it was then withdrawn to France in late 1941/early 1942 for refit and reorganization as the 5. leichte Infanterie-Division (with Infanterie-Regiment 14 detached), returned to the Eastern Front in 1942, fought at Demyansk (March–April) and around Staraya Russa until late 1943, and was reorganized and redesignated the 5. Jäger-Division in July 1942 to operate as a lighter, more mobile formation suited to difficult terrain. It continued on the Eastern Front through the retreats via Vitebsk, Kovel, and the Narew in 1944, defended in Pomerania near Neustettin and Dramburg in early 1945, and fought its final actions around Freienwalde on the Oder during the Battle of Berlin before surrendering to the Red Army at Wittenberge on 8 May 1945. Long-serving commanders included Generalleutnant Wilhelm Fahrmbacher, General der Infanterie Karl Allmendinger (who oversaw much of the 1940–1943 period), and General der Infanterie Helmut Thumm, among others.

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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER

Generalmajor Horst Niemack (1909-1992) was a German officer who served in the Wehrmacht from the late 1920s through the end of World War II, rising from cavalry roots to command armored reconnaissance and infantry units before later serving as a Brigadegeneral der Reserve in the Bundeswehr, and he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, the Eichenlaub, and the Schwerter through repeated demonstrations of bold leadership in critical combat situations. As Rittmeister and Kommandeur of the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 within the 5. Infanterie-Division, he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 July 1940 for his decisive actions during the Western Campaign; specifically, at midday on 11 June 1940 he led his unit in a daring thrust into the rear of enemy forces at Damery on the Marne river when a frontal advance proved impossible, an aggressive envelopment that demoralized the opposing troops and enabled friendly forces to cut off major enemy elements while swiftly reaching the river line. For his outstanding leadership of the same Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 during the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa under the 5. Infanterie-Division / V. Armeekorps / 9. Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte, he was awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 10 August 1941 (the 30th such award); on 22 June 1941, commanding the divisional Vorausabteilung, he took a calculated detour off the main road to cut through Serijai and reach the Niemen river at Krikstonjai, and on 27 June he thrust toward the Niemen at Orla, where his Reiterschwadron advanced via Szczara through Korole into the area northeast of Piaski while the rest of the Abteilung moved via Korole, seizing Hill 132 south of Korole in addition to the assigned objectives and helping to seal off the escape routes of Soviet forces trapped in the Bialystok-Grodno pocket. Finally, as Oberst and Kommandeur of the Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment „Großdeutschland“ of the Panzer-Grenadier-Division „Großdeutschland“ / LVII. Armeekorps / 8. Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd, he received the Schwerter on 4 June 1944 (the 69th such award) for repelling a major Soviet assault east of the Sereth that began on 2 May 1944; when a group of 34 enemy tanks suddenly appeared near his command post and threatened a vital crossroads, Niemack had only his staff, communications platoon, and some drivers available, yet he personally led this small force into close combat, destroying eight tanks including personally dispatching the Soviet command tank and its leader, an action that broke the momentum of the enemy attack in that sector and earned him the distinction as one of the earliest recipients of the Swords. These successive awards reflected Niemack’s consistent pattern of taking personal initiative at decisive moments across the Western and Eastern Fronts, later culminating in his command of the Panzer-Lehr-Division in early 1945.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_J%C3%A4ger_Division_(Wehrmacht)