Award Ceremony of KG 53 "Legion Condor"

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the two pilots of I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53 (KG 53) "Legion Condor", which were held on 29 February 1944 in the Eastern Front. In the middle is Oberstleutnant Fritz Pockrandt (Geschwaderkommodore Kampfgeschwader 53). He is flanked by Major Karl Rauer (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53) at left and Oberleutnant Kurt Unruh (Flugzeugführer in 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53) on the right. Rauer was awarded for his successes as both a commander of bomber units as well as his own personal successes as a bomber pilot. During the fighting on the Eastern front he destroyed at least as much enemy materiel as is listed here: 1 ammunition and 7 fuel dumps, 2 railroad bridges, 5 anti-aircraft positions, 30 tanks, and 17 aircraft on the ground. Unruh was awarded following his transfer to training duties in recognition of his 392 combat missions flown as a bomber pilot in the east. BTW, on the right hand side is Oberleutnant Wolfgang Lührs (Staffelkapitän 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53), which himself would received the same medal on 24 October 1944.

From left to right: Major Karl Rauer (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53) and Oberleutnant Kurt Unruh (Flugzeugführer in 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53)

New Ritterkreuzträger Major Karl Rauer (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53) in chats with his Geschwaderkommodore, Oberstleutnant Fritz Pockrandt. At right in the background is another Ritterkreuz recipient, Oberleutnant Kurt Unruh (Flugzeugführer in 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53)

 

Generalleutnant Rudolf Meister (Kommandierender General IV. Fliegerkorps) awarded the Ritterkreuz to, from left to right: Major Karl rauer (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53) and Oberleutnant Kurt Unruh (Flugzeugführer in 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 53)

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2396345#p2396345
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/25804/Rauer-Karl.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/27425/Unruh-Kurt.htm

Heinz Guderian and Otto Büsing

 

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2) looked serious while listening to the explanation from Major Heinz-Werner Frank (Kommandeur Panzerjäger-Abteilung 521). Behind Guderian stood Oberstleutnant Otto Büsing (Adjutant Panzergruppe 2). Büsing would later awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 November 1942 as Commander of the Panzer-Regiment 39. This photo itself was taken at Lokhvytsia / Lochwiza on 15 September 1941 during the Unternehmen Barbarossa (German invasion of the Soviet Union), when the Germans closing the ring around Kiev.

 

From left to right: Oberstleutnant Otto Büsing (Adjutant Panzergruppe 2), Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2), and Major Heinz-Werner Frank (Kommandeur Panzerjäger-Abteilung 521).

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2395275#p2395275

Pilots of JG 2 "Richthofen" in Africa

 

Officers of II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen" in North Africa, spring of 1943. From left to right: Unknown, Leutnant Fritz Karch (Staffelführer 6.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2), Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer (Gruppenführer II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2), Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen (Staffelkapitän 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2). Hauptmann Rackow, and two unknown.

Source :
https://www.emedals.com/a-group-of-documents-to-a-luftwaffe-fighter-ace-fritz-karch-47-air-victories

Bio of Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke (1912-1941)

Full name: Joachim Schepke
Nickname: Schepke Tonnage
Date of Birth: 8 March 1912 at Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 17 March 1941 at Western Approaches, off British-occupied Iceland (North Atlantic)
NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
01.04.1930 Offiziersanwärter
10.10.1930 Seekadett
01.01.1932 Fähnrich zur See
01.04.1934 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.10.1934 Leutnant zur See
01.06.1936 Oberleutnant zur See
01.06.1939 Kapitänleutnant

Karriere (Career):
29.10.1938 - 02.01.1940 Kommandant U-3 (3 patrols, 24 days)
03.01.1940 - 30.04.1940 Kommandant U-19 (5 patrols, 66 days)
30.05.1940 - 17.03.1941 Kommandant U-100 (6 patrols, 112 days)
 
Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
00.00.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.1940 U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen
27.02.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
29.08.1940 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
22.09.1940 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
24.09.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandeur U-100
21.10.1940 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
26.11.1940 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
01.12.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #7, as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandeur U-100
20.12.1940 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht
24.12.1941 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht

Successes
36 ships sunk, total tonnage 153,677 GRT
4 ships damaged, total tonnage 17,229 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 2,205 GRT

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Joachim Schepke began his naval career in April 1930. He spent two years on the 'pocket battleship' Deutschland before, as Günther Prien also had, transferring to the U-boat force in October 1935. Later he spent 18 months as an instructor at the Torpedo School at Flensburg, but in 1938 he became commander of the training U-boat U-3. His time commanding U-3 saw him achieve his first successes, leaving her in January 1940.

He then took over command of U-19 (Müller-Arnecke) and sank nine ships with a total of 15,715 tons.

In May 1940 he commissioned the larger type VIIB U-boat U-100. On his first patrol from Kiel to Lorient in August 1940, he sank six ships with a total of 25,812 tons and damaged one more.

But it wasn't until her second patrol during September 1940 that Kapitänleutnant Schepke became famous as commander of U-100. In only two days he sank seven ships with a total of 50,340 tons. Two days later he received the Knights Cross.

23 November 1940 was another memorable day, on which Schepke sank seven ships totaling 24,601 tons. One week later he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross.

In 1940 he published a book, U-Boot Fahrer von heute (U-boat men of today), describing life on a U-boat in simple terms. This book is illustrated with his own paintings.

Schepke was nicknamed Ihrer Majestät bestaussehender Offizier (Her Majesty's best-looking officer. The expression Ihrer Majestät is used to indicate the country's leader, and is not referring to royalty in this case!).

Joachim Schepke died when U-100 was sunk at 0318hrs on 17 March 1941 SE of Iceland in approximate position 61N, 12W, after being rammed and depth charged by the British destroyers HMS Walker and HMS Vanoc (Niestlé, 1998). Vanoc located U-100 with her early radar in heavy fog and chased the contact. Schepke is said to have been caught on the bridge when the boat was rammed. Six men survived and 38 were lost.

Source :
https://uboat.net/men/schepke.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Joachim_Schepke
https://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.com/2022/02/bio-of-u-boat-ace-joachim-schepke.html

U-boat Ace Joachim Schepke with U-Boat Miniature

 

 

U-boat ace Joachim Schepke (Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-100) shows a German submarine toy to his son, 1941. U-29 was a celebrated vessel, responsible for sinking the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous on 17 September 1939. This little boy smiles pensively - his father, a German officer, has just given him this miniature submarine. It is true that the Nazi regime did not attach great importance to toys, which the German youth only "softened over". Nevertheless, the propaganda potential of war toys was recognised: "Playing with soldiers and military equipment awakens enthusiasm for military achievements and plants the germ of military detention in the hearts of young people at an early stage," wrote art teacher Lorenz Postner in 1939. Source: Signal magazine cover.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=660998631835631&set=gm.1942078655977548

Bio of Hauptmann Fritz Karch (1920-2001)

Full name: Friedrich Karch
Nickname: Fritz
Date of Birth: 17 January 1920 at Münich, Bayern (Germany)
Date of Death: 30 December 2001 at Bayreuth, Bayern (Germany)
NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
00.01.1943 Leutnant

Karriere (Career):
In September 1942 he was a Feldwebel with 6./JG 2 on the Channel Front. During the Tunisian Campaign he scored his first 3 victories beginning on 28th November 1942 with a Spitfire. In January 1943 he was promoted Leutnant. He became Staffelführer of 6./JG 2. During July 1943 he claimed at least two B-17s shot down over France including B-17 42-29928 on 4 July 1943 near La Coulonche during a raid on Le Mans (381st BG, 533 BS). OKL fighter claims 10.7.1943 - Ltn Fritz KARCH - 6 / JG 2 - B-17 -15 km N.W. Evreux - 2500 m. - 08.12 (heure) - Film : C/2027/1 Anek : Nr __" On 17 August 1943 over Dieppe he achieved his 10th victory and his 15th on 31st December 1943. In January 1944 he had raised his total to 20 and by August to 30. In March 1944 he was named Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 2. He shot down two P-47s in December 1944 and by January 1945 his total had increased to 40. On 2 January 1945 he was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 2. He achieved his final victory on 28th March 1945, a P-51. Awarded the Knight's Cross on 20 April 1945, he ended the war with a total of 47 victories, 21 of which were four-engine bombers.
 
Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
13.01.1943 Frontflugspange für Jäger in Bronze
26.01.1943 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
22.03.1943 Erinnerungsmedaille für den Italienisch-Deutschen Feldzug in Afrika
01.05.1943 Ärmelband "AFRIKA"
14.05.1943 Frontflugspange für Jäger in Silber
29.05.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
09.10.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
27.10.1943 Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold
20.03.1944 Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
04.08.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
17.04.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen". Awarded for his accomplishments as a fighter pilot/commander. By the end of the war he had flown a total of about 270 sorties, in which he achieved 47 aerial victories in the west (including 21 four-engined bombers).

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Source :
https://www.emedals.com/a-group-of-documents-to-a-luftwaffe-fighter-ace-fritz-karch-47-air-victories
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6897281433
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/50371/Karch%C2%A0Fritz.htm

Bio of Major Erich Rudorffer (1917-2016)

Full name: Erich Rudorffer
Nickname: Fighter of Libau

Date of Birth: 1 November 1917 at Zwochau, Sachsen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 8 April 2016 at Bad Schwartau, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)

Battles and Operations: Battle of France, Battle of Britain, North African Campaign (Tunisia), Eastern Front (including Courland), Western Front and Defense of the Reich 1944-1945, jet operations with Me 262

NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
Oberfeldwebel (by December 1939)
Leutnant (28 October 1940, effective 1 November 1940)
Oberleutnant (20 November 1941, rank age dated 1 October 1941)
Hauptmann (1 January 1943)
Major (1 January 1944, rank age dated 1 May 1944)

Karriere (Career):
16.04.1936 Joined the Luftwaffe with Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 61.
02.09.1936 - 15.10.1936 Served with Kampfgeschwader 253.
16.10.1936 - 24.02.1937 Trained as an aircraft engine mechanic at the Technische Schule Adlershof in Berlin.
14.03.1937 Posted as a mechanic to Kampfgeschwader 153 where he served as a mechanic until end October 1938. He was then transferred to Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 51 based at Liegnitz in Silesia for flight training. There he was first trained as a bomber pilot and then as a Zerstörer, a heavy fighter or destroyer, pilot.
01.10.1939 Transferred to the Jagdwaffe and was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule 2 at Schleißheim.
06.12.1939 Following the conversion training, Rudorffer was transferred to the Jagdergänzungsstaffel Döberitz, the supplementary fighter squadron based at Döberitz.
28.12.1939 - 07.01.1940 Transferred to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Merseburg, another supplementary training unit stationed at Merseburg, where newly trained fighter pilots received instruction from pilots with combat experience.
08.01.1940 Posted to 2. Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen".
00.00.19__ Flugzeugführer in 6.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen".
11.11.1941 Staffelkapitän 6.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen".
17.04.1943 Führer II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen".
30.06.1943 Gruppenkommandeur IV.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54
00.07-08.1943 Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54
15.01.1945 Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 7
00.00.19__ Kraftfahrbundesamt (BRD)
Post-war service as airline pilot for Deutsche Lufthansa, later DC-2/DC-3 operations in Australia, Pan Am, and Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (German civil aviation authority)
 
Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
00.00.19__ Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
00.00.19__ Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
00.00.19__ Gemeinsames Flugzeugfuhrer-Beobachter Abzeichen (ohne brillianten)
22.05.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
28.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
20.10.1940 Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
00.00.194_ Vapaudenristin 2.luokka (Finland)
01.05.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Leutnant and Flugzeugführer in 6.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen". Awarded after his 19th confirmed aerial victory (all against fighters), following 145 combat missions. Rudorffer's early successes came during the Battle of France (May–June 1940) and the Battle of Britain/English Channel offensive (1940–early 1941), flying the Bf 109E/F with JG 2. His first victory was on 14 May 1940: a French Curtiss Hawk 75 southwest of Les Sees-la-Gresn at 15:08. He followed with claims against LeO 451 bombers, Morane 406s, Blenheims, and Spitfires in rapid succession during the chaotic air battles supporting the Ardennes breakthrough and Dunkirk evacuation.
A particularly vivid early dogfight occurred in August 1940 over southern England. Rudorffer pursued and damaged a Hawker Hurricane, escorting the crippled RAF fighter across the Channel at low level as it struggled to reach home. Fate reversed weeks later when he was damaged and found himself escorted by an RAF fighter. One harrowing incident saw him pursued by a Hurricane down Croydon High Street at rooftop level—skimming rooftops in a high-speed chase through the London suburbs, evading ground fire and the pursuer before breaking free.
By late 1940 into spring 1941 (defending against RAF "Non-Stop Offensive" raids on the Channel coast from Abbeville-Drucat), he added more Spitfires and Hurricanes. His 19th victory on or around 1 May 1941 pushed him over the threshold. These were not single "heroic" missions but relentless daily scrambles against superior numbers of RAF fighters, where Rudorffer's aggressive deflection shooting and energy management in the Bf 109 proved decisive. The award recognized his reliability and accumulating score in the West before JG 2's partial shift to other duties.
09.12.1941 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
00.00.194_ Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold
00.00.194_ Frontflugspange für Zerstörer in Gold mit Anhänger und Einzatszahl
00.00.1943 Ärmelband "AFRIKA"
11.04.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #447, as Major and Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) "Grünherz". Awarded after reaching approximately 130–134 confirmed victories (sources cite 130 or 134; the award followed immediately after a standout multi-kill day). After North Africa (where he racked up 26 victories, including an "ace-in-a-day" of 8 in 32 minutes on 9 February 1943—six P-40 Warhawks and two P-38 Lightnings south of Ousseltia in a frantic 13:59–14:06 melee—and another 7 in ~20 minutes six days later), Rudorffer transferred east in mid-1943 to command II./JG 54. He switched exclusively to the Fw 190, excelling in low- and medium-altitude brawls against Soviet VVS formations (Yaks, LaGGs, Il-2 Sturmoviks, and Pe-2s).
His Eastern Front tally climbed rapidly with multiple-victory sorties: 5 in 4 minutes on 24 August 1943 (DB-3s, Il-2, La-5s); 7 in 7 minutes on 11 October 1943 (reaching his 100th); and a stunning 13 in 17 minutes on 4 November 1943 during the Battle of Kiev (eight Yak-7s and five Yak-9s from 13:00–13:17, bringing him to 122). These were typically head-on or diving attacks into massed Soviet close-support formations, leveraging the Fw 190's ruggedness and firepower against armored Il-2s (he eventually claimed 58 Sturmoviks).
The decisive action for the Eichenlaub was on 7 April 1944, when Rudorffer claimed six victories in one sortie (his 129th–134th), primarily Il-2 Sturmoviks and P-39 Airacobras in the air battles over the Eastern Front (map references around PQ 25 Ost, near areas like southwest of Libau/Selo in later Courland operations). In the Fw 190, he dived into the Soviet formation, exploiting deflection shots and rapid passes to shred multiple attackers amid intense flak and escort fighters—classic multi-kill "rat scramble" tactics that defined his reputation as a master of successive victories. This pushed his total over the award threshold; he received the Oak Leaves days later (presentation by Hitler on 5 May 1944 at the Berghof).
30.10.1944 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht: "Among those aerial victories in Kurland that had been reported yesterday are eleven aircraft shot down by the recipient of the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes Major Rudorffer, bringing his total to 206 aerial victories."
26.01.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #126, as Major and Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) "Grünherz". Awarded after 210–212 confirmed victories (award followed continued high scoring, including a massive multi-kill in late 1944).
By late 1944, II./JG 54 was defending the Courland Pocket (Latvia) amid the Soviet Riga offensive. Rudorffer's unit operated from Grobin airfield near Libau (Liepāja). On 28 October 1944, he earned the nickname "Fighter of Libau" in one of the war's most dramatic solo exploits. While preparing to land after a mission, Rudorffer spotted a large Soviet formation of ~60 close air support aircraft (primarily heavily armored Il-2 Sturmoviks with escorts) bearing down on German airfields. Without support or hesitation, he aborted his landing, climbed, and single-handedly tore into the formation.
In under 10 minutes he shot down nine Il-2s through aggressive, high-speed passes—exploiting the Fw 190's cannon and machine-gun armament to hammer the Sturmoviks' armored cockpits and wings amid a storm of defensive fire from the formation's gunners and escorts. The rest scattered in disarray. Later that day he added two more victories (total 11 for the sortie, including his 200th overall). The action was so decisive it was mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 October 1944: "Among those aerial victories in Courland... eleven aircraft shot down by... Major Rudorffer bringing his total to 206." Soviet pilots came to fear the "Fighter of Libau."
This (and subsequent scoring to 210+) directly preceded the Schwerter. Rudorffer continued flying until war's end, later commanding I./JG 7 on the Me 262 jet (adding 12 victories, including 10 heavy bombers).

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Erich Rudorffer was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace who served continuously from the outbreak of World War II until its end in 1945 and claimed 222 confirmed aerial victories over more than 1,000 combat missions while engaging in over 300 aerial combats. One of only a handful of pilots to fight in every major theater including the Battle of France the Battle of Britain North Africa and the Eastern Front he flew primarily with Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen and later Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz before finishing the war with Jagdgeschwader 7 on the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. Rudorffer was shot down 16 times by flak or enemy aircraft and forced to bail out nine times yet he survived the conflict and rose to the rank of major while commanding various fighter groups. His extraordinary record of multiple victory sorties in a single engagement earned him a reputation as a master of rapid successive kills particularly in the rugged Focke-Wulf Fw 190 which became his signature mount on the Eastern Front. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords one of the highest decorations for bravery in the German armed forces and at the time of his death he remained the last surviving recipient of that distinction.

Born on 1 November 1917 in Zwochau Saxony in the German Empire Rudorffer completed vocational training as an automobile metalsmith specializing in coachbuilding before enlisting in the Luftwaffe on 16 April 1936 with Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 61 in Oschatz. He began his service as a mechanic with bomber units including Kampfgeschwader 253 and Kampfgeschwader 153 while undergoing technical training at the Technische Schule Adlershof in Berlin and later transferred to flight school with Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 51 in Liegnitz where he trained first as a bomber pilot and then as a heavy fighter or Zerstörer pilot. During this period he also gained experience as an airline pilot with Deutsche Luft Hansa flying civilian routes. By late 1939 after completing advanced fighter training at Jagdfliegerschule 2 in Schleißheim and postings to supplementary fighter groups he was assigned as an Oberfeldwebel to 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen at Frankfurt-Rebstock airfield just in time for the opening campaigns of the war.

Rudorffer's combat debut came during the Battle of France in May 1940 when his group supported the rapid advance of Army Group A through the Ardennes. On 14 May he claimed his first victory a French Curtiss Hawk 75 southwest of Les Sees-la-Gresn at 15:08 after diving on the enemy fighter during a low-level attack near the Maas bridges. Over the next weeks he added claims against LeO 451 bombers Morane 406 fighters and Blenheims while operating from forward fields such as Bastogne scoring nine victories before the French armistice on 22 June. Transitioning into the Battle of Britain and the ongoing Channel Front offensive he flew relentless sorties against the Royal Air Force claiming Spitfires and Hurricanes in dogfights over southern England and the Thames Estuary. One particularly harrowing incident occurred when a Hawker Hurricane pursued him at rooftop level down Croydon High Street in a high-speed chase through the London suburbs forcing him to weave between buildings and evade ground fire before breaking free and escaping across the Channel. By 1 May 1941 after 145 combat missions and 19 confirmed victories he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross becoming the 184th Luftwaffe recipient of the decoration.

In November 1942 Rudorffer's unit II./JG 2 was withdrawn from the Channel coast and redeployed to Sicily and later Tunisia to counter Operation Torch equipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Operating from bases such as Bizerte and Kairouan he adapted quickly to the harsh desert conditions and the new fighter's rugged firepower. On 9 February 1943 during a chaotic 32-minute battle south of Ousseltia he achieved his first ace-in-a-day downing six P-40 Warhawks and two P-38 Lightnings in rapid succession through aggressive diving passes and precise deflection shooting as the American formation attempted to protect B-17 bombers. Six days later on 15 February he claimed seven more Allied fighters including four P-38s and three Spitfires in another frenzied low-altitude melee near Pichon and Sbeitla. Promoted to Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 2 on 17 April he amassed 26 victories in the Mediterranean theater before the Axis withdrawal demonstrating exceptional skill in outnumbered defensive scrambles.

Transferred east in July 1943 to command II./JG 54 on the Eastern Front Rudorffer switched exclusively to the Fw 190 and immediately excelled in the low- and medium-altitude brawls against massed Soviet formations of Yaks LaGGs Il-2 Sturmoviks and Pe-2 bombers. His first sortie on 24 August 1943 yielded five Soviet aircraft downed in just four minutes including DB-3 bombers an Il-2 and La-5 fighters during a head-on attack near Karachev. On 11 October he reached his 100th victory with a burst of seven kills in quick succession near Teremky and Glychow. The pinnacle of his multi-victory exploits came on 6 November 1943 when he tore into a large formation near Vitebsk claiming 13 Soviet fighters eight Yak-7s and five Yak-9s in only 17 minutes through successive high-speed passes that shredded the enemy amid intense defensive fire. These actions along with consistent scoring that included dozens of heavily armored Il-2 Sturmoviks pushed his total past 130 by early 1944. On 7 April 1944 he added six more victories in a single sortie primarily Il-2s and P-39 Airacobras earning the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross days later as the 447th recipient.

By late 1944 with II./JG 54 defending the Courland Pocket in Latvia Rudorffer earned the nickname Fighter of Libau during a dramatic solo action on 28 October. Spotting a formation of approximately 60 Soviet close-support aircraft approaching German airfields near Grobin while preparing to land he aborted his approach climbed rapidly and single-handedly engaged the enemy. In under 10 minutes he shot down nine heavily armored Il-2 Sturmoviks with cannon and machine-gun fire in aggressive passes exploiting the Fw 190's toughness against the storm of return fire from gunners and escorts before the surviving aircraft scattered in disarray. He added two more victories later that day for 11 total bringing his score to 206 and prompting a mention in the Wehrmachtbericht. This and subsequent scoring to over 210 victories led to the award of the Swords on 26 January 1945 as the 126th presentation. In the final months of the war he trained on the Me 262 and commanded I./JG 7 claiming 12 additional victories including 10 heavy bombers while defending the Reich from northern bases such as Kaltenkirchen.

After Germany's surrender Rudorffer briefly emigrated to Australia where he flew commercial routes before returning to civilian life in Germany. He worked for Pan American World Airways and later joined the German civil aviation authority contributing his expertise to postwar aviation. He lived quietly until his death on 8 April 2016 in Bad Schwartau at the age of 98 having outlived all other recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. His career exemplified not only remarkable marksmanship and tactical aggression in outnumbered fights but also extraordinary resilience having survived the full span of the air war across four continents.

 

The pilots of II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (II./JG 2) at the Kairouan airfield in Tunisia, 12 February 1943. From left to right: Leutnant Bruno Siekmann (Flugzeugführer in 4. Staffel), Oberfeldwebel Kurt Goltzsch (Flugzeugführer in 4. Staffel), Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen (Staffelkapitän 4. Staffel), Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer (Gruppenführer II. Gruppe), and Leutnant Lothar Werner (Flugzeugführer in 4. Staffel). Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.

Officers of II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen" in North Africa, spring of 1943. From left to right: Unknown, Leutnant Fritz Karch (Staffelführer 6.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2), Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer (Gruppenführer II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2), Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen (Staffelkapitän 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2). Hauptmann Rackow, and two unknown.

 

 

 

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/erich-rudorffer_EFB4D768A9
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=&yearto=&query=rudorffer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Rudorffer
https://www.luftwaffe.cz/rudorffer.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/26122/Rudorffer-Erich.htm
https://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.com/2022/02/bio-of-luftwaffe-ace-erich-rudorffer.html

Bio of Generalmajor Martin Bieber (1900-1974)

Generalmajor Martin Bieber
Born: 10 Nov 1900 in Tabarz, Thuringia (Thüringen)
Died: 19 Oct 1974 in Düsseldorf

Promotions:
Fähnrich (02 Apr 1917); Leutnant (14 Dec 1917); Hauptmann (15 Oct 1934); Major (01 Feb 1940); Oberstleutnant (01 Apr 1942); Oberst (01 May 1943); Generalmajor (15 Jan 1945)

Career:
Entered Army Service (29 Mar 1917)
Fähnrich in the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (29 Mar 1917-11 Jul 1917)
Detached to Training-Courses for Fahnenjunker at Döberitz (01 May 1917-30 Jun 1917)
Transferred to the Regiment in the Field (11 Jul 1917-09 Dec 1917)
Wounded, in Hospital (09 Dec 1917-22 Dec 1917)
Platoon-Leader, later Temporary-Company-Leader, Adjutant and Ordinance-Officer in the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (22 Dec 1917-28 May 1918)
Wounded, in Hospital (28 May 1918-25 Jun 1918)
Transferred into the Replacement-Battalion of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (25 Jun 1918-24 Jul 1918)
Transferred into the 50th Infantry-Division (24 Jul 1918-03 Aug 1918)
Signals-Officer of the III. Battalion of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (03 Aug 1918-03 Sep 1918)
Company-Officer in the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (03 Sep 1918-11 Sep 1918)
Temporary-Company-Leader in the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (11 Sep 1918-19 Sep 1918)
Führer-Reserve (19 Sep 1918-23 Sep 1918)
Transferred into the II. Battalion of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (23 Sep 1918-12 Oct 1918)
Transferred into the Staff of the II. Battalion of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (12 Oct 1918-08 Nov 1918)
Detached to a Special-Formation of the 50th Infantry-Division (08 Nov 1918-07 Dec 1918)
Transferred into the Processing-Office of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (07 Dec 1918-02 Feb 1919)
At the same time, Adjutant of the II. Battalion of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (16 Dec 1918-05 Jan 1919)
At the same time, Temporary-Leader of the MG-Company of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (10 Jan 1919-16 Jan 1919)
Leader of the MG-Platoon of the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (02 Feb 1919-01 May 1919)
Granted Leave (10 Feb 1919-31 Mar 1919)
In Freikorps Niederrhein (20 Mar 1919-09 Jul 1920)
Bureau-Officer with the 39th Fusilier-Regiment (01 May 1919-01 Oct 1919)
Transferred into the 61st Reichswehr-Rifle-Regiment (01 Oct 1919-15 Mar 1920)
Transferred into the II. Battalion of the 21st Infantry-Regiment (15 Mar 1920-13 Apr 1920)
Transferred into the 61st Reichswehr-Rifle-Regiment (13 Apr 1920-01 Jun 1920)
Transferred into the 14th Reichswehr-Infantry-Regiment (01 Jun 1920-09 Jul 1920)
Retired (09 Jul 1920)
Reactivated to Army Service (15 Oct 1934)
Hauptmann in Infantry-Regiment Osnabrück (15 Oct 1934-12 Jun 1935)
At the same time, Detached to the Training-Staff of Infantry School Döberitz (15 Oct 1934-14 Dec 1934)
Company-Chief in Infantry-Regiment Osnabrück (12 Jun 1935-15 Oct 1935)
Company-Chief in the 37th Infantry-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-06 Oct 1936)
Company-Chief in the 39th Infantry-Regiment (06 Oct 1936-10 Nov 1938)
Ordinance-Officer with the Staff of the 26th Infantry-Regiment (10 Nov 1938-26 Aug 1939)
Ordinance-Officer with the Staff of the 86th Infantry-Division (26 Aug 1939-18 Jan 1940)
Commander of the II. Battalion of the 167th Infantry-Regiment (18 Jan 1940-02 Mar 1942)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 427th Infantry-Regiment (02 Mar 1942-07 Mar 1942)
Führer-Reserve OKH (07 Mar 1942-06 Jul 1942)
Commander of the 193rd Infantry-Replacement-Battalion, Detmold (06 Jul 1942-25 Sep 1942)
Commander of the 184th Infantry-Regiment (25 Sep 1942-09 Jul 1943)
Severely wounded, in Hospital – Führer-Reserve (09 Jul 1943-04 Nov 1943)
Commander of the Divisions-Group 86 (04 Nov 1943-31 Aug 1944)
Temporary-Leader of Corps-Detachment E (22 Jul 1944-31 Jul 1944)
Detached to Division Leaders Courses (08 Aug 1944-31 Aug 1944)
Führer-Reserve OKH (25 Jul 1944-03 Sep 1944)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 62nd Volksgrenadier-Division (03 Sep 1944-15 Sep 1944)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 271st Volksgrenadier-Division (15 Sep 1944-01 Jan 1945)
Commander of the 271st Volksgrenadier-Division (01 Jan 1945-13 May 1945)
In Soviet captivity (13 May 1945-08 Oct 1955)
Released (08 Oct 1955)

Awards & Decorations
- Ritterkreuz (1901): am 28.07.1943 als Oberst und Komm. Grenadier-Regiment 184/ 86. Infanteriedivision/ XLI Panzerkorps/ 9. Armee/ Heeresgruppe Mitte
- Eichenlaub (566): am 02.09.1944 als Oberst und Komm. Divisions-Gruppe 86/ Korps-Abteilung E (XX Armeekorps)/ 2. Armee/ Heeresgruppe Mitte
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (44/40): am 02.01.1942 als Major und Komm. II Bataillon/ Infanterie-Regiment 167/ 86. Infanteriedivision/ XXVII Armeekorps/ 9. Armee/ Heeresgruppe Mitte
- 1939 EK I –S-: 24.06.1940
- 1939 EK II –S-: 10.06.1940
- 1914 EK I: 22.09.1918
- 1914 EK II: 04.11.1917
- Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha Verdienstmedaille in Silber mit Schwertern: 17.12.1917
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz: 15.08.1918
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer: 23.01.1935
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV Klasse: 02.10.1936
- Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen: 20.04.1940
- Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber: 24.08.1941
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber: 15.02.1942
- Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942”: 18.08.1942

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2380186#p2380186
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalmajor/BIEBER_MARTIN.html

Hitler and Manstein in a Conference September 1943

On 8 September 1943, Hitler flies to the headquarters of the Heeresgruppe Süd at Zaporozhye, Ukraine, to meet with Erich von Manstein. The situation in the Dnieper area has become a large problem. On 15 September 1943, Hitler ordered Heeresgruppe Süd to retreat to the Dnieper defence line.

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A).

From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Darges (persönlicher SS Adjutant bei Adolf Hitler), Oberstleutnant Gerhard Engel (Adjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), and General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres).

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A), and Generalleutnant Hans Röttiger (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe A). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Inconnu.

From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Darges (persönlicher SS Adjutant bei Adolf Hitler), Oberstleutnant Gerhard Engel (Adjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Inconnu.

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Inconnu.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/11/album-foto-adolf-hitler-sebagai-ahli.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Dnieper
https://www.hitlerpages.com/pagina49.html
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/catalogsearch/result/?q=manstein&avec_visuel=1

Award Ceremony for Armin Pfaffendorf

 

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Oberleutnant Armin Pfaffendorf (Flugzeugführer in 1.(H) Staffel / Aufklärungsgruppe 13), which were held on 22 May 1942 in the Eastern Front. Interestingly enough, the one who gave the medal is a Heer officer and not from Luftwaffe! He is Generalleutnant Otto von Knobelsdorff (mit der Führung beauftragt X. Armeekorps). It is because Pfaffendorff's unit flew recon missions for the X. Armeekorps / Heeresgruppe Nord. The airfield is Szoltzy near Ilmen Lake, Novgorod. Note the recon plane in the background and the Heer officers around!

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2391552#p2391552

Bio of General der Flakartillerie Richard Reimann (1892-1970)

General der Flakartillerie Richard Reimann
Born: 02 Nov 1892 in Minden, Westphalia (Westfalen)
Died: 28 Oct 1970 in Rottach-Egern

Promotions:
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (27 Jan 1912); Fähnrich (18 Aug 1912); Oberleutnant (16 Jun 1913); Hauptmann (01 Feb 1927); Major (01 Oct 1934); Oberstleutnant (20 Apr 1937); Oberst (01 Apr 1939); Generalmajor (20 Apr 1941); Generalleutnant (15 Mar 1943); General der Flakartillerie (02 Aug 1944)

Career:
Entered Army Service as a Fahnenjunker and Battery-Officer in the 43rd Field-Artillery-Regiment (04 Dec 1911-01 Aug 1914)
Detached to War-School in Metz (1912-07 May 1913)
Platoon-Leader in the 43rd Field-Artillery-Regiment (02 Aug 1914-14 Sep 1914)
Wounded, in Hospital (14 Sep 1914-15 Sep 1914)
With the II. Replacement-Battalion of the 43rd Field-Artillery-Regiment (15 Sep 1914-05 Sep 1915)
Transferred for Training on Motor-Vehicle-Guns of the Inspection of Motor-Transport-Troops and Detached to the Motor-Transport-Battalion Schöneberg (06 Sep 1915-27 Sep 1915)
With the Motor-Vehicle-Gun 37 of Army-Detachment Gaede and Detached to Balloon-Defence-Cannon-School Ostend (28 Sep 1915-18 Oct 1915)
With the Motor-Vehicle-Gun 21 (19 Oct 1915-31 May 1916)
Leader of Cannon-Flak 89 (01 Jun 1936-31 Aug 1916)
Assistant with the Artillery-Tests-Commission (01 Sep 1916-00 Jan 1919)
Volunteer in the Guards-Cavalry-Rifle-Division (00 Jan 1919-00 Mar 1919)
With the Brigade Reinhard (00 Mar 1919-13 Mar 1919)
Detached to the Artillery-Tests-Commission (14 Mar 1919-30 Sep 1919)
Detached to the Inspection for Weapons and Equipment, RWM (01 Oct 1919-11 Dec 1919)
Transferred into the 7th Light Motor-Vehicle-Battalion (12 Dec 1919-02 Jan 1920)
Battery-Officer in the 7th Artillery-Regiment (03 Jan 1920-08 Jun 1920)
In Freikorps Severin (09 Jun 1920-30 Sep 1920)
Auxiliary-Officer with the Staff of the 7th Division and Detached to the Inspection for Weapons and Equipment, RWM (01 Oct 1920-14 Apr 1921)
Transferred into the 7th Artillery-Regiment while retaining position with the Inspection for Weapons and Equipment (15 Apr 1921-30 Sep 1921)
Battery-Chief in the III. Battalion of the 3rd Artillery-Regiment, while retaining position with the Inspection for Weapons and Equipment (01 Oct 1921-31 Jan 1923)
Advisor of the Inspection for Weapons and Equipment in the RWM (01 Feb 1923-31 May 1928)
Transferred into the 1st Artillery-Regiment, while retaining position with the Inspection for Weapons and Equipment (01 Jun 1928-31 May 1929)
At the same time, Delegated with the Leadership of the 4th Squadron of the 1st Transport-Battalion (10 Nov 1928-15 Mar 1929)
Battery-Chief in the 1st Artillery-Regiment (01 Jun 1929-31 Mar 1932)
At the same time, Instructor with Flak-Course in Königsberg (23 Sep 1929-09 Nov 1929)
At the same time, Instructor with the 1st Motor-Vehicle-Course in Königsberg-Pillau (28 Apr 1930-05 Jun 1930)
At the same time, Battery-Leader and Instructor with the 2nd Motor-Vehicle-Course in Königsberg-Pillau (22 Aug 1930-29 Sep 1930)
At the same time, Leader of the Training-Battery with the Motor-Vehicle-Course in Pillau (07 Sep 1931-27 Sep 1931)
Detached as Advisor for Flak-Development in Weapons-Tests 1, RWM (01 Apr 1932-30 Jun 1932)
Auxiliary-Officer in the Ballistic and Munitions Department, Army Weapons Office, RWM (01 Jul 1932-31 Mar 1935)
Transferred into Luftwaffe Service as Advisor in Wa Prw. 10 in the RLM (01 Apr 1935-10 Jun 1935)
Group-Leader in Wa Prw. 10 in the RLM (11 Jun 1935-30 Sep 1936)
Commander of the Instruction-Battalion of the Flak-Artillery-School Wustrow (01 Oct 1936-30 Sep 1937)
Commander of the Training-Staff of the Flak-Artillery-School Wustrow (01 Oct 1937-31 Jan 1938)
Commander of the Flak-Artillery-School Wustrow (01 Feb 1938-14 Oct 1939)
Commander of the 8th Flak-Regiment (15 Oct 1939-02 Jun 1940)
Higher Commander of Flak-Artillery-Schools (03 Jun 1940-19 Dec 1941)
Delegated with the Leadership of the I. Flak-Corps (20 Dec 1941-11 Jan 1942)
Commanding General of the I. Flak-Corps (12 Jan 1942-19 Apr 1942)
Commander of the 18th Flak-Division (20 Apr 1942-09 Mar 1943)
Inspector of Flak-Artillery East (10 Mar 1943-08 Sep 1943)
Detached for Briefing with Air-Fleet-Command 4 (09 Sep 1943-30 Sep 1943)
Commanding General of the I. Flak-Corps (01 Oct 1943-08 May 1945)
In US, later Soviet Captivity (08 May 1945-10 Oct 1955)
Released (10 Oct 1955)

Decorations & Awards:
- Ritterkreuz: am 03.04.1943 als Generalleutnant und Kommandeur der 18. Flak-Division
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: am 01.08.1942 als Generalmajor und Kommandeur der 18. Flak-Division
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Preuss. Rettungsmedaille am Bande
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Spange zum EK I
- Spange zum EK II
- Flakkampfabzeichen
- Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942"

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/06/daftar-general-der-flakartillerie.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2393491#p2393491
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/General/REIMANN_RICHARD.html

Heinrich Voigtsberger Crossing the Bridge to Surrender

Generalmajor Heinrich Voigtsberger (Kommandeur 309. Infanterie-Division) leading his troops crossing the destroyed Tangermünde Bridge across the river Elbe. Voigtsberger surrendered to the British forces in May 1945 and was released in 1947. They are surrendering to the Americans on the West bank and crossing from Soviet-occupied area on the East side of the Elbe River. German soldiers walking across the partially destroyed bridge, that can only handle a single line of pedestrians.

Source :
https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675044134_Battle-of-Tangermunde_German-prisoners_drop-guns_United-States-control-point
https://tangermün.de/1945.html

Bio of Oberwachtmeister Gerhard Horn (1920-1945)

Full name: Gerhard Horn
Nickname: unknown
Date of Birth: 27 February 1920 at Berlin-Schöneberg, Brandenburg (Germany)
Date of Death: 28 January 1945 at Festung Posen (Poland)
NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
Unknown

Karriere (Career):
Unknown
 
Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
11.11.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
18.11.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
23.08.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer in 2.Kompanie (Radfahr) / Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 218 / 218.Infanterie-Division

_______________________________________________________________



Source :
https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=revalerzeitung19440916.1.1&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA-------------
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2380019#p2380019
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/h.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47259/Horn-Gerhard.htm