Ritterkreuzträger

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Sunday, June 21, 2026

Ritterkreuzträger of 12. Infanterie-Division / 12. Volksgrenadier-Division

The 12. Infanterie-Division was established in October 1934 in Schwerin as Infanterie-Division Schwerin and formally redesignated the 12. Infanterie-Division on 15 October 1935 as part of the Wehrmacht expansion, initially organized with three Infanterie-Regimenter, an Artillerie-Regiment, and supporting Aufklärungs-, Panzerjäger-, Pionier-, and Nachrichten-Abteilungen in the standard pre-war Infanterie-Division structure; it participated in the Invasion of Poland in September 1939 and the Battle of France in 1940 before being committed to Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 as part of Army Group Center, where it fought in the battles of Smolensk, the advance on Moscow, the Rzhev salient, and subsequent defensive operations on the Eastern Front, enduring heavy casualties that necessitated multiple reorganizations and reductions in manpower and equipment over the following years; following further severe losses in 1944, the division was withdrawn to Germany and reformed in September–October 1944 as the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division, a late-war infantry formation typically featuring a simplified two-Grenadier-Regiment structure with enhanced automatic weaponry, younger conscripts, and Volkssturm reinforcements, and it was then deployed to the Western Front where it fought in the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest and the Ardennes Offensive under the 5. Panzer-Armee before retreating into central Germany and ultimately being destroyed or captured during the final collapse of the Reich in the spring of 1945.

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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER

Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (1892-1961) was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 August 1940 as Oberst and Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 89 within the 12. Infanterie-Division for his outstanding leadership during the campaign in France, where, despite having been wounded by a shell splinter in the earlier Polish campaign, he personally led his Bataillone from the foremost line with exceptional boldness and disregard for enemy fire, most notably during the successful attack across the Scarpe river at Monchy east of Arras on 23 May 1940 that enabled his regiment to achieve its objectives rapidly and with minimal losses. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 21 October 1941, the 37th such award, still serving as Oberst and Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 89 now subordinated to the 16. Armee of Heeresgruppe Nord, for his decisive actions during the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, including breaking through the Soviet border fortifications east of Schoßbach and leading his regiment on a rapid 65-kilometre advance to reach the objective at Szeszupa, forming a bridgehead over the Njemen during the assault on Kowno while capturing two forts against determined resistance from Soviet Kyrgyzstani and Tatar regiments, distinguishing his unit in hard fighting near Putoschka on 15–16 July 1941, and subsequently securing the line Nikitina–Kokotschina from which he repelled repeated Soviet tank-supported breakthrough attempts, thereby contributing significantly to the encirclement of several enemy divisions near Newel. Lützow later commanded the 12. Infanterie-Division and was taken prisoner by Soviet forces during Operation Bagration near Bobruysk in 1944.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)

Ritterkreuzträger with Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz (Mecklenburg-Schwerin Military Merit Cross)

The Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz, formally known as the Militärverdienstkreuz des Großherzogtums Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was a military decoration established on 5 August 1848 by Großherzog Friedrich Franz II. of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and awarded in two classes for bravery or distinguished military merit in wartime without regard to rank; the 1. Klasse was a Steckkreuz worn as a pinback decoration while the 2. Klasse was suspended from a ribbon, both consisting of a bronze gilt cross pattée modeled on the Prussian Iron Cross but featuring a crown on the upper arm, the intertwined initials “FF” in the center, and the campaign year on the lower arm of the obverse, with the reverse of the 2. Klasse inscribed “Für Auszeichnung im Kriege”; the standard combatant ribbon was light blue with narrow yellow and red edge stripes, while a variant red ribbon with light blue and yellow edges was used for non-combatant recipients, and the cross was issued in dated versions for campaigns including the First and Second Wars of Schleswig, the German-Danish War of 1864, the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, the Boxer Rebellion of 1900–1901, various colonial conflicts, and especially World War I with the prominent 1914 version reauthorized in 1915; it remained in use until the abdication of the last grand duke in November 1918 and continued to be worn during the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich, serving as one of the smaller German states’ equivalents to the higher Prussian awards and recognizing the contributions of Mecklenburg soldiers as well as allied personnel across multiple conflicts of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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HEER

Generalleutnant Karl von Graffen (1893-1964) was a German officer born on 6 June 1893 in Plön who rose through the ranks of the artillery in the Imperial German Army, Reichswehr and Wehrmacht to achieve the rank of Generalleutnant by January 1943 and who commanded the 58. Infanterie-Division as Generalmajor and Führer from late March 1942 before assuming full command in July of that year; he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 August 1942 in recognition of his exemplary leadership of the 58. Infanterie-Division during intense and prolonged defensive fighting and protracted retreats on the Eastern Front that summer, where his effective command contributed to maintaining unit cohesion under heavy pressure; earlier in the war he had served as Artillery-Commander 18 with the 129. Infanterie-Division and was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 24 December 1941 for prior service, while his later career included appointment as Höherer Artillerie-Kommandeur 316 and brief leadership of the LXXVI. Panzer-Corps in April 1945 before his capture by American forces near Belluno in Italy in May 1945 and release from captivity in March 1948, after which he lived until his death on 1 November 1964 in Grödersby.

Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2022/12/foto-tokoh-third-reich-peraih-medali.html

Ritterkreuzträger with Shoulderboard Straps (Offiziersanwärter-Schulterklappen)

Wehrmacht Offiziersanwärter-Schulterklappen were the distinctive shoulder straps worn by officer candidates (Offiziersanwärter) in the German armed forces during World War II, serving as visible markers of their transitional status between enlisted or non-commissioned ranks and full commissioned officers while they underwent training at Kriegsschulen or in field units; in the Heer these Schulterklappen typically featured a wool or cloth base in the branch-specific Waffenfarbe color, edged with aluminum braiding or Litzen, and displayed rank through one or more silver or gold pips (Sterne) placed centrally, with Fahnenjunker wearing a single pip on an officer-style board, Fähnrich and Oberfähnrich progressing to two or more pips while retaining the aspirant designation until promotion to Leutnant, and the overall design differing from standard enlisted Schulterklappen (which used simpler cloth construction and buttoned loops) and from full officer boards by emphasizing the candidate phase through specific braiding patterns and the absence of certain officer-only embellishments until final commissioning; similar systems existed in the Luftwaffe with their own Waffenfarben and in the Kriegsmarine with naval-style gold braiding on dark blue or black bases, often worn on the field blouse (Feldbluse), greatcoat (Mantel), or service tunic to denote the wearer’s progress through the rigorous Offiziersanwärter program that combined practical leadership experience with formal schooling, and these insignia played a key role in unit hierarchy by signaling both authority over enlisted men and the ongoing evaluation period before full officer rank was granted.

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GENERAL-CANDIDATE

Source :
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dienstgrade_der_Wehrmacht

Ritterkreuzträger of Infanterie (Infantry)

German infantry units during World War II constituted the primary combat formations of the Heer and were structured around the Infanterie-Division, which in its 1939–1941 configuration typically comprised three Infanterie-Regimenter, each with three Bataillone plus a schwere Kompanie and a Panzerjäger-Kompanie, supported by an Artillerie-Regiment of three Abteilungen, an Aufklärungs-Abteilung, a Panzerjäger-Abteilung, a Pionier-Bataillon, and various supply and signals elements, giving the division a nominal strength of approximately 15,000 to 17,000 men equipped largely with horse-drawn transport and light infantry weapons; as the war extended into the Eastern Front and other theaters, mounting casualties prompted repeated reorganizations, including the reduction of many divisions to two regiments, the redesignation of Infanterie-Regimenter as Grenadier-Regimenter from late 1942 onward, and the creation of specialized variants such as Jäger-Divisionen optimized for mobile operations in forests and rough terrain with lighter equipment and higher mobility, Gebirgsjäger-Divisionen trained and equipped for mountain warfare with specialized mountain artillery and pack animals, and late-war Volksgrenadier-Divisionen that featured simplified two-regiment structures, increased allocation of automatic weapons like the Sturmgewehr 44, and greater integration of Volkssturm personnel to offset severe manpower shortages; within these units the rank structure followed standard Heer patterns, with enlisted personnel progressing from Schütze and Gefreiter through Obergefreiter and Unteroffizier to senior non-commissioned officers such as Feldwebel and Oberfeldwebel, while commissioned officers commanded at company level as Leutnant or Oberleutnant, at battalion level as Hauptmann or Major, and at regimental or divisional level as Oberstleutnant, Oberst, or Generalmajor, emphasizing small-unit tactics centered on the Gruppe of ten men led by a Gruppenführer and coordinated fire-and-maneuver supported by heavy weapons companies and attached artillery.

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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER

Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (1892-1961) was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 August 1940 as Oberst and Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 89 within the 12. Infanterie-Division for his outstanding leadership during the campaign in France, where, despite having been wounded by a shell splinter in the earlier Polish campaign, he personally led his Bataillone from the foremost line with exceptional boldness and disregard for enemy fire, most notably during the successful attack across the Scarpe river at Monchy east of Arras on 23 May 1940 that enabled his regiment to achieve its objectives rapidly and with minimal losses. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 21 October 1941, the 37th such award, still serving as Oberst and Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 89 now subordinated to the 16. Armee of Heeresgruppe Nord, for his decisive actions during the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, including breaking through the Soviet border fortifications east of Schoßbach and leading his regiment on a rapid 65-kilometre advance to reach the objective at Szeszupa, forming a bridgehead over the Njemen during the assault on Kowno while capturing two forts against determined resistance from Soviet Kyrgyzstani and Tatar regiments, distinguishing his unit in hard fighting near Putoschka on 15–16 July 1941, and subsequently securing the line Nikitina–Kokotschina from which he repelled repeated Soviet tank-supported breakthrough attempts, thereby contributing significantly to the encirclement of several enemy divisions near Newel. Lützow later commanded the 12. Infanterie-Division and was taken prisoner by Soviet forces during Operation Bagration near Bobruysk in 1944.

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RITTERKREUZTRÄGER

Oberleutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert (1920-1944) was a German Wehrmacht officer who began his service on 15 November 1938 as Kanonier in the 4. / Artillerie-Regiment 70 (motorisiert) at Niederlahnstein, advanced through the enlisted ranks to Unteroffizier on 1 February 1941 and Feldwebel on 1 June 1942, and was commissioned as Leutnant der Reserve in June 1942 before taking command of the 5. / Infanterie-Regiment 124, which was later redesignated Grenadier-Regiment 124. On 15 January 1943, as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer of the 5. Grenadier-Regiment 124, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his courage and personal initiative in assuming command of a company whose commander had been wounded at a decisive moment and continuing the attack to seal off an enemy breakthrough, actions that also earned him the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 31 December 1942 as Chef of the same company; he was later promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve and remained in frontline service on the Eastern Front until he was killed in action on 9 August 1944 near Glazow in Poland.

Source :
https://www.avalanchepress.com/BehindCounters2.php

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