Sunday, December 17, 2017

Ritterkreuzträger with Artur Axmann at Reichsjugendführung (2)


In 3 November 1942, a big delegation of Ritterkreuzträger (German Knight's Cross recipients) visited the Reichsjugendführung, doing inspections of training places and communications with young Hitlerjugend members. This picture was taken when they met the HJ leader, Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann. The identification as follow: (1) Oberleutnant Günter Klappich (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 60 [motorisiert] / 16.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]. Ritterkreuz on 31 July 1942), (2) Hauptmann Erich Löffler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 57 / 9.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 7 October 1942), (3) Hauptmann Wilhelm Spindler (Chef 13.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 / 1.Gebirgs-Division. Ritterkreuz on 21 December 1940), (4) Hauptmann Max Sachsenheimer (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1942), (5) Hauptmann Hans-Gotthard Pestke (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 176 / 61.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 November 1941), (6) Generalleutnant Friedrich Herrlein (General der Infanterie beim Oberkommando des Heeres. Ritterkreuz on 22 September 1941), (7) Oberleutnant der Reserve Richard Grünert (Kommandeur 3.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 7 / 7.Panzer-Division. Ritterkreuz on 14 October 1941), (8) Oberleutnant Peter Kiesgen (Führer 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 239 / 106.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 5 October 1941), (9) unidentified, (10) Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann, (11) Oberleutnant Hans Guhr (Regimentsadjutant Infanterie-Regiment 513 / 294.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 10 September 1942), and (12) Generalmajor Friedrich-Jobst Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach (Stellvertretenden Inspekteur der Inspektion des Erziehungs- und Bildungs-Wesens im Oberkommando des Heeres. Ritterkreuz later on 26 March 1944).

Studio Portrait of Friedrich-Wilhelm Bock

SS-Oberführer Friedrich-Wilhelm Bock (6 May 1897 - 11 March 1978) was an outstanding Waffen-SS artillery officer who during his career commanded three SS-divisions: 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division (20 October 1943 - 19 April 1944), the Latvian 19. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (15 March 1944 - 13 April 1944), and 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen" (31 July 1944 - 29 August 1944). He participated in anti-partisan actions following the invasion of Poland, and took part in Operation Barbarossa and the siege of Leningrad during the winter of 1942-43. He was also a winner of the following medals and decorations: 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (27 July 1917); Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918 (1934); 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (21 August 1941); 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (16 September 1941); Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (1942); Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz; and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (28 March 1943) mit Eichenlaub #570 (2 September 1944).


Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich-Wilhelm_Bock
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/403775922822272585/
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/55673658_german-cross-recommendation-for-friedrich-wilhelm-bock

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

General der Infanterie Ferdinand Neuling

General der Infanterie Ferdinand Neuling (22 August 1885 - 20 February 1960) joined the Kaiser's army as ensign in 139th Infantry Regiment in 1905. A year later he was promoted to Leutnant. He served in World War I and, after 1918, continued his service in the Reichswehr. In 1929, he was promoted to major, in 1933 to colonel. In the same year, he took command of Infanterie-Regiment 23. On 1 January 1939 he became Generalmajor and three months later took command of Landwehr in Oppeln. On the eve of World War II he was ordered to create the 239. Infanterie-Division, basing on Landwehr soldiers. The Division's battle value was considered very low and the unit was scheduled to be used as reserve. On 2 September 1939, his division crossed German-Polish border in Gierałtowice. The troops marched towards Ornontowice, then Mikołów. On 3 September, following the retreat of Polish Army from Upper Silesia, Neuling entered Mikołów. A day later, he seized Katowice, where was warmly greeted by German citizens and fiercely attacked by Poles. Three days later, his soldiers burned down the synagoge in Katowice. After capturing Upper Silesia Neuling's division headed east. In October 1939 they guarded the German-Soviet border on Bug River, which was created after the fall of Poland. In 1940 Neuling's men took part in the offensive against France, stormed the Maginot Line, and captured Colmar and Strasbourg. After that, he was put into army's reserve. Since 1942 he commanded LXII ArmeeKorps in France. On 18 August 1944, his corps was crushed by advancing units of the US Army. Neuling was taken prisoner and transferred to the POW camp in Clinton, Mississippi. He returned to Germany in 1947 and died in Hildesheim in 1960. He never faced any charges concerning crimes committed during the war. Neuling received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 28 February 1942 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 239.Infanterie-Division. Other medals and ceorations that he receives: Ritterkreuz I. Klasse des Königlich Sächsischen Albrechts-Ordens mit Schwertern (14 October 1917); Ritterkreuz des Königlich Sächsischen Militär St. Heinrichs-Ordens (9 September 1918); 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918; 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (17 November 1939) und I.Klasse (15 June 1940); Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I.Klasse; Rumanian Ordinul Mihai Viteazul 3rd Class (19 September 1941); and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (19 December 1941).

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Neuling
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=210856

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Himmler and the Ritterkreuztrüger from Panzertruppen

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler and the Ritterkreuzträger from Panzertruppen: This picture was taken on April 1942 by Bildberichter Haine and showing, from left to right: Hauptmann Artur Wollschlaeger (Ritterkreuz on 12 January 1942 as Oberleutnant and Chef 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4.Panzer-Division), Hauptmann Hans-Günther Bethke (Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 11 / 6.Panzer-Division), Heinrich Himmler (Reichsführer-SS und Chef der deutschen Polizei), and Hauptmann Wilhelm Renner (Ritterkreuz on 5 August 1940 as Oberleutnant and Chef 8.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 2 / 2.Panzer-Division).


Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35837/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Karl Wiegand After He Received the Ritterkreuz

Oberleutnant Karl Wiegand (4 December 1918 - 19 January 2006) after receiving his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 May 1942 as Chef 2.Batterie / I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 18 (motorisiert). He joined the Luftwaffe in 1937, after the completion of his labor service obligation, as a Fahnenjunker in the II.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 14 in Cologne. In 1941 he came to Africa as a Batteriechef (battery chief) of the Flak Regiment 18 (mot.). Here he received the Ritterkreuz from the hands of Erwin Rommel. Wiegand had excelled in many fights and, during a fierce battle at Saunu, in spite of the most severe enemy shelling, intervened decisively in the battle with his artillery. So many times he had fulfilled his mission and were distinguished by a special leadership skills and exemplary personal bravery. His last rank at the end of the war was Hauptmann. Other medals and decorations: Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Flakkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe; Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber; Medaglia commemorativa della campagna italo-tedesca in Africa; and Ärmelband Afrika.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35714/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=7015&searchword=wiegand
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Wiegand,_Karl
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/40857/Wiegand-Karl.htm?c=aw