Luftwaffe Ace Helmut Lent in a Car

Luftwaffe night fighter ace Helmut Lent in the backseat of a car.

Source :
Rich Deveau-Maxwell photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=546677746105076&set=p.546677746105076&type=1

Oberst Herbert Ewert

Herbert Ewert received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 18 August 1942 as an Oberst and Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 104 / 21.Panzer-Division. Ewert’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows…

“After reaching the stone slopes that led from El Alamein to Qatarra, on the 01.07.1942 the Division received the mission of cutting off strong enemy forces located in the El Alamein position (specifically at Quaret el Abd and further south of there) through a thrust of its own towards Alam Nayil.

The Division thrusted past the identified enemy forces located near Deir el Shein. As Oberst Ewert was marching towards the area northeast of Deir el Shein with the spearhead of his Regiment, he received continuous bombardment from the east and southwest. He realized that the well-constructed and heavily-manned enemy strongpoint at Deir el Shein was far larger and extended farther to the east that had been previously supposed.

Immediately recognizing that the completion of the Division’s mission through a further swing to the east was not possible because of an extended fieldwork that flanked the advance, Oberst Ewert decided to suspend the march and capture the strongpoint of Deir el Shein through a surprise attack. This bold decision led to a total success for the Division. Personally led by Oberst Ewert, the foremost elements of the Regiment swiftly entered into the enemy’s fieldwork (which was protected by mines and barbed wire) despite the strong hostile resistance. Over the course of the day this was captured in close combat: About 1500 prisoners, 25 artillery pieces, 15 anti-tank guns, 2 self-propelled guns, 57 vehicles as well as numerous anti-tank rifles, MGs and mortars were captured. With this the first redoubt of the Alamein position fell into German hands.

Over the course of previous operations Oberst Ewert has shown himself to be a very brave and prudent leader of his Regiment. His personal and bold actions led to noteworthy successes by his Regiment during the thrust towards the sea west of Acroma, the storming of Tobruk and the defensive battles near Sidi Muftah.”

Source :
ECPAD Archive
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1728158044141689/

Generalleutnant Otto Drescher

Otto Drescher received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 6 April 1944 as a Generalleutnant and Kommandeur of 267. Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for the achievements of his Division during the time period 21.-29.02.1944. According to a Wehrmachtbericht excerpt from the 01.03.1944 he and his Division had held out during all this time against much larger attacking forces, and defeated all hostile breakthrough attempts despite the difficult terrain and weather conditions. The 4. Armee specially recognized the Division for its efforts during the time period 22.02.-02.03.1944, during which it withstood the main effort of the Soviet offensive and prevented an enemy breakthrough to Stary Bischoff and Mogilev. It is also known that Drescher saved the frontline from being torn open a total of three times during this period, all through his own independent actions. He particularly distinguished himself when the Soviets were pushing back a neighbouring Division. On this occasion Drescher removed one of his Grenadier-Regiments from the frontline and dispatched it along with some artillery in such a way that contact to the neighbouring Division was maintained. This action also secured an important road/railway junction. He also achieved a major tactical victory on the night of the 25./26.02.1944, when the Soviets tried to infiltrate through the line. They succeeded, however Drescher was able to eliminate this force with his last reserves (comprised of remnant and security units).

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/country.asp?countryid=56
https://zihuatanexo.livejournal.com/2372809.html

Bio of SS-Hauptscharführer Willi Eßlinger

Willi Esslinger was a Zugführer in Wiking’s tank destroyer battalion during the first half of 1943. At sometime during this fighting, while en-route to refuel his Marder tank destroyer, he heard about a Soviet tank assault supported by infantry. He rushed to the scene and prepared to face the enemy. He destroyed 3 Soviet tanks, after which the Russians switched their main effort to their infantry and artillery. By constantly repositioning his gun, Esslinger was able to knock out important targets and eventually brought the Soviet attack to a halt. For this action he would receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 19 June 1943 as SS-Hauptscharführer and Zugführer in 3.Kompanie / SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking". By the time of his death in 1944, he was credited with over 25 Russian tanks destroyed.

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/eddda8ce-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2264074#p2264074
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/30031/E%C3%9Flinger-Willi.htm

Bio of Generalleutnant Friedrich-Georg Eberhardt

Friedrich-Georg Eberhardt (15 January 1892 – 9 September 1964) was a German Generalleutnant who commanded the following divisions during World War II; the 60th Infantry Division, 38th Infantry Division, 174th Reserve Division, and 286th Security Division. He was sent four times to the Führerreserve. From December 1944 on, he was judge at the Reichskriegsgericht under Roland Freisler. He commanded the German forces in one of the opening battles of World War II, the Battle of Westerplatte. Eberhardt received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 December 1941 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 60. Infanterie-Division.

The following wartime excerpt describes why Eberhardt would be awarded the Ritterkreuz:

"General Eberhardt made the bold decision to not be merely content to follow his orders and provide security against the enemy. Instead he decided to also attack them in order to fully eliminate the threat. He smashed the enemy and hunted down the survivors all the way past Nowo Tscherkask. His reconnaissance subsequently reached the western edge of the city unimpeded. Thus, through his bold initiative and the successful conduct of his actions, General Eberhardt made a phenomenal contribution to the victory near Rostov.”

The following excerpt provides further details as to this action and its significance…

“Generalleutnant Friedrich Georg Eberhardt, an East Prussian, was recently awarded the Knight’s Cross by the Führer. He and his Infanterie-Division had the mission of securing the flank of his Korps, which was meanwhile being used for an attack against a strong Bolshevik position. He dispensed with his security mission and went over to the attack on his own initiative, even though it was known that a much larger enemy force was in front of him. His goal in doing so was to eliminate the flank threat to his Korps once and for all while simultaneously supporting the attack that the remaining Korps’ units were making. His decision was conduct with audacity and swiftness, and it led to a total success. General Eberhardt smashed the enemy and pursued the survivors back. This action made it possible for the remaining units to reach their intended objective.”

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich-Georg_Eberhardt
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2050208#p2050208
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/29872/Eberhardt-Friedrich-Georg.htm

Bio of Generalleutnant Werner Ehrig

Werner Julius Clemens Ehrig was born 22-04-1897 in Eibenstock, entered the Army as a volunteer and Fahnenjunker in the 108th Rifle Regiment. With this regiment he went into the fields of the first war and was wounded in hospital from 21-08-1915 to 23-11-1915. He was two times wounded in hospital again from 10-04-1916 to 13-08-1916 and from 22-07-1918 to 06-12-1918. He ended the war as a Company Leader of the 108th Regiment. Ehrig was retired on 15-03-1920 and reactivated on 01-01-1924, under Generalmajor der Infanterie Hans Sponeck (Kommandeur der XLII Armeekorps). At the beginning of World War II he was in the Führer Reserve  to 25-10-1939. He was Battalion Commander in the 216th Infantry Regiment and Chief of Operations in the Staff of the 164th Infantry Division 164th Infanterie-Division under General Josef Folltmann. Again in the Führer Reserve and delegated with the leadership of the 340th Infantry Division to 01-01-1944. The division now under command of Generalleutnant Theodor `Tolsdorff. 'The Mad` Tolsdorff   fought in the Battle of the Bulge, as part of I SS Panzer Corps  under command of SS-Obergruppenführer Hermann Priess,  and then retreated into Germany as part of XIII SS Corps, under command of SS-Gruppenführer Max Simon, before finally being destroyed in the Ruhr pocket in April 1945 (Max Simon survived the war and died 01-02-1961 aged 62). Ehrig was in the infamous Reserve again from 16-06-1944 to 15-07-1944 and got the command of the 544th Grenadier Division, he succeeded General Erich Hofmann (Commander of the 506th Volksgrenadier Division). As commander of the 544th Volksgrenadier Division, fighting in the Ruhr pocket, where Generalfieldmarschall der Infanterie, Walter Model committed suicide. He on 08-05-1945 landed in Allied captivity to March 1948. Living after the war in Oldenburg, he died at the old age of 83, on 31-01-1981 and is buried with his wife Gerda, born Thaden, who died at the very old age of 96, on 17-08-1997, on the Stadtfriedhof of Oldenburg. Also buried there is Generalmajor der Infanterie Moritz Drebber.

Source :
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Signed-photo-amp-letter-Heer-Generalleutnant-Werner-Ehrig-Knights-Cross-recipient-/202906199086?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160323102634%26meid%3D8e8e413945694f15856e84155dadcf76%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D254159119875%26itm%3D202906199086%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWeb&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=M16dOt9ywpkI%252FQuEn9s8E2D6eEI%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc
https://ww2gravestone.com/people/ehrig-werner-julius-clement/

Color Picture of Oberfeldwebel Martin Hrustak

Oberfeldwebel Martin Hrustak (born October 17, 1913 at Tschechen/Sudetenland), platoon leader in 7th Company/Grenadier-Regiment 162 of the 61st (East Prussian) Infanterie-Division. Knight's Cross awarded December 11, 1943, for distinguishing himself while commanding a Zug of infantry during the Third Battle of Lake Ladoga, near Mga. He and his men repeatedly gave a good account of themselves at the focal points of the fighting; Oakleaves awarded May 14, 1944. During the fighting on the Narva front in February 1944, Oberfeldwebel Hrustak was able to ensure that the Soviet bridgehead at Kriwasoo could be contained. Over the course of several counterthrusts and patrols, he succeeded in preventing the expansion of the bridgehead with the few soldiers available to him and thereby made a decisive contribution towards the holding of the Narva front. Martin Hrustak (nicknamed "Der Kleine" -the small one- since he was of comparatively small size) died on August 18, 1944 in a military hospital at Riga/Latvia of the wounds he received during a successful counter attack on a Soviet AT position the same day. The photo shows Hrustak on the day of the Oakleaves bestowal from Adolf Hitler.

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47725/Hrustak-Martin.htm
http://waralbum.ru/361513/

Bio of Generalleutnant Dr.rer.pol. Friedrich Franek (1891-1976)

Friedrich "Fritz" (von) Franek

Date of Birth: 16.07.1891 - Wien (Austria-Hungary)
Date of Death: 08.04.1976 - Wien (Austria)

Doctorate In Political Science: 20 May 1924

Promotions:
Fähnrich (18 Aug 1910); Leutnant (01 May 1913); Oberleutnant (01 Mar 1915); Hauptmann (01 Nov 1918); Major (Titel) (01 Jan 1921); Stabs-Hauptmann (23 Jun 1923); Major (27 Sep 1927); Oberstleutnant (15 Dec 1934); Oberst (01 Dec 1940); Generalmajor (20 Apr 1942); Generalleutnant (01 Apr 1943)

Career:
Entered Austrian Army Service (18 Aug 1910)
Fähnrich in the 41st Infantry-Regiment (18 Aug 1910-01 May 1913)
Platoon-Commander, Regiments-Adjutant and Company-Commander in the 63rd Infantry-Regiment (01 May 1913-1917)
Leader of Divisions-Assault-Company (1917-1918)
Leader of a Divisions-Assault-Battalion (1918-00 Apr 1919)
Detached to General-Staff-Aspirant-Course in Belgrade (00 Apr 1918-00 Jun 1918)
In the General-Staff of the 35th Infantry-Troop-Division (00 Jun 1918-00 Oct 1918)
In the General-Staff of the 62nd Infantry-Troop-Division (00 Oct 1918-1919)
Company-Commander then Battalion-Adjutant in the 2nd Infantry-Regiment (1919-01 May 1921)
Assigned to the 2nd Infantry-Regiment (01 May 1921-09 Aug 1921)
Detached to Studies of State-Sciences at the University Of Vienna (09 Aug 1921-1922)
Instructor at different Troop-Schools (1922-1925)
Course for Higher Service, General-Staff-Training (1925-01 Oct 1929)
Assigned to the War Archives in Vienna (01 Oct 1929-22 Nov 1933)
Transferred to Brigade-Command 1 (22 Nov 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Tactics-Instructor at the Theresian Military Academy, Wiener Neustadt (01 Oct 1934-10 Nov 1938)
Transferred to the German Army (15 Mar 1938)
Transferred to the Staff of the 32nd Infantry-Regiment (10 Nov 1938-01 Apr 1939)
Commander of the I. Battalion of the 98th Mountain-Jäger-Regiment (01 Apr 1939-06 Feb 1940)
Commander of the 634th Infantry-Regiment (06 Feb 1940-30 Aug 1940)
Führer-Reserve OKH (30 Aug 1940-21 Oct 1940)
Commander of the 405th Infantry-Regiment (21 Oct 1940-12 Sep 1941)
Severely Wounded, In Hospital, Führer-Reserve OKH (12 Sep 1941-01 Mar 1942)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 196th Infantry-Division (01 Mar 1942-01 Apr 1942)
Commander of the 196th Infantry-Division (01 Apr 1942-24 Dec 1943)
Führer-Reserve OKH (24 Dec 1943-01 Jan 1944)
Commander of the 44th Reichs-Grenadier-Division Hoch und Deutschmeister (01 Jan 1944-01 May 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH (01 May 1944-26 Jun 1944)
Commander of the 73rd Infantry-Division (26 Jun 1944-29 Jul 1944)
In Soviet Captivity (29 Jul 1944-22 Jul 1948)
Released (22 Jul 1948)

Decorations & Awards:
- Ritterkreuz: am 04.11.1941 als Oberst und Kommandeur des Infanterie-Regiment 405
- RK des k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Maria-Theresia-Ordens: am 10.06.1921 (für die Kämpfe bei Flondar, 11. Isonzoschlacht, vom 17. bis 24.08.1917 als Oberleutnant und Kompanieführer im Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 63)
- 1914 EK II
- k.u.k. Österr. Erinnerungs-Kreuz 1912/1913
- k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
- k.u.k. Österr. Bronzene Militär-Verdienst-Medaille (“Signum Laudis”) am Bande des Militär-Verdienstkreuzes mit Schwertern
- k.u.k. Österr. Silberne Militär-Verdienst-Medaille (“Signum Laudis”) am Bande des Militär-Verdienstkreuzes mit Schwertern
- k.u.k. Österr. Karl-Truppen-Kreuz
- k.u.k. Österr. Verwundetenmedaille mit 3. Mittelstreifen
- k.u.k. Österr. Goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille für Offiziere
- Österr. Kriegs-Erinnerungs-Medaille mit Schwertern
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis III. Klasse
- Spange zum EK II
- 1939 EK I
- Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Generalleutnant Friedrich Franek was born on the 16th of July 1891 in Vienna, the son of a master baker. After attending a junior high school he entered the Infantry cadet school at Liebenau near Graz. He graduated from there on the 18th August 1910 as a Fähnrich (Senior Officer Cadet) and was assigned to Infanterie-Regiment 41 then garrisoned at Czernowitz in the Bukowina. Commissioned on the 1st of May 1913 he was posted as a platoon commander to IR.63 at Bestercze in the Siebenbürgen. He participated in the battle of Lemberg on the 8th of September 1914 and was wounded in the mouth, neck and chest during an assault East of Grodek. Promoted to Oberleutnant on 1st March 1915 he returned to duty as a company commander in April. He was again lightly wounded on the 15th of June during an assault on Krakowiec when a shot grazed his head. Returning to duty for the third time in October 1915, Franek assumed another company command appointment during the defensive fighting on the River Serwetsch East of Baranowitshi but was stricken with Typhus in early February 1916. He returned to the front for the fourth and last time in the middle of June 1916. He variously held company command and the appointment of regimental adjutant of IR.63 in this period.

In June 1917 the regiment moved to the Southwest front as part of the 35.Infanterie-Division and participated in the 10th and 11th battles of the Isonzo. 35.Infanterie-Division, then commanded by Feldmarschalleutnant Eugen von Podhoránszky was subordinated to Feldmarschalleutnant Maximilian von Csicseric's XXIII. Korps. XXIII. Korps was in turn subordinated to Abschnitt III or the Sector Command of General der Infanterie Johann Ritter von Henriquez with responsibility for the Southernmost sector of the Isonzo Front. Facing 35.Infanterie-Division on this sector were the men of the Italian XIII Corps of the Duke of Aosta's 3rd Army.

Franek as the company commander of 17./IR.63 held the North slope of the especially important and exposed hill 146 which was itself situated approximately 500 metres to the Northeast of the village of Flondar about five kilometres East of Monfalcone. The regiment held a line of fortified caverns in the forward line. On the 17th and 18th of August 1917 with the commencement of the 11th battle, the position came under heavy Italian drum fire. The Italian infantry attacked on the 19th of August and by early morning had succeeded in breaking into various parts of the Austrian position. Franek's company mounted a surprise counter-attack and caught the enemy unawares from the rear retaking two captured caverns. At the same time the neighbouring 18./IR.63 to the left (South) had been pushed back so the left flank of Franek's company was placed in considerable danger. By a further energetic and decisive attack the enemy was thrown back off the Austrian positions and the situation was restored. Similar attacks were mounted with increasing ferocity over the following days. Early on the morning of the 20th August the enemy attacked the position to the South while simultaneously suppressing the defending company with heavy artillery fire. When after a hard struggle the heavily weakened company holding the sector to the left had been overwhelmed and partly wiped out, the enemy then stormed from the South against the now open flank of the 17th Company. At this critical juncture, Franek decided to mount a counter-attack with his company reserve and succeeded in throwing back the Italians, retaking the just lost position to the South. The 30 strong counter-attack force followed up their success pursuing the now retreating Italians and took captive the occupants of two cavern positions recently lost to the enemy. However Franeks' weakened company was now compelled to give up their exposed position on hill 146 as the neighbouring companies on either flank had withdrawn. The battle for the hill see-sawed with it being retaken again on the morning of the 21st, lost again that evening at 2145 hours in bitter hand to hand fighting only to be retaken yet again by Franek's 17./IR.63. The Italians attacked for the sixth time at 1400 hours on the 22nd August and indeed this was the most difficult day since the commencement of the battle on the 17th. Like all the previous attacks the flanks of Franek's position were lost, yet surrounded on three sides 17th Company held its positions. The seventh and last enemy attack was also held on the 23rd of August. IR.63 was at last relieved on hill 146 at 0500 hours on the morning of the 24th August.

Franek assumed command of the divisional assault company later expanded to battalion strength in the middle of September 1917. He had additionally by then been awarded the Golden Bravery Medal for officers. In April of the following year he was assigned to a general staff officer aspirant course held in Belgrade and in June returned to the 35.ID. as a staff officer. He was posted to the staff of 62.ID. in October and promoted to captain a few days before the wars end on the 1st of November 1918.

Franek remained in the Austrian Bundesheer after the war and for his own personal gallantry and that of his company during the battles at hill 146 was awarded the Knights' Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa in the 187th awards ceremony on 10th June 1921. Between 1919 and 1929 he served as a company commander, battalion adjutant and instructor at military schools. He qualified as a Doctor of political science on the 20th of May 1924 and was promoted to Major on the 27th of September 1927. From the Spring of 1925 he had attended General Staff training and on the 1st of October 1929 he was seconded to the War Archives in Vienna. Whilst at the War Archives he participated in authoring the multi-volume official Austrian history of the First World War. From 1st October 1934 until the 1st November 1938 he was a tactics instructor at the Maria Theresa Military Academy at Wiener-Neustadt having been promoted to Obserstleutnant on the 15th of November 1934. Following the annexation of Austria by Germany he was transferred into the Wehrmacht in his then present rank as a battalion commander in IR.32 at Teplitz-Schönau and progressed through regimental and divisional command. He was awarded the Knights' Cross of the Iron Cross on 4th November 1941 for bravery whilst commanding IR.405. Probably his most notable command was a four month stint leading the famous Austrian 44.ID. "Hoch und Deutschmeister in the Spring of 1944 at Monte Cassino. Captured by the Russians whilst commanding 73.ID. General Franek remained a prisoner of war until 22nd July 1948. The General died in Vienna on the 8th April 1976.

Of note is the fact that General Franek and General Alois Windisch were the only two officers of the former Austro-Hungarian army to be awarded both the Knights' Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa and the Knights' Cross of the Iron Cross. Uniquely General Franek was the only individual to win both the above mentioned awards and the Golden Bravery Medal for Officers.

Source :
Hill60 photo collection
http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/biog/franek.htm
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant/FRANEK_FRIEDRICH.html