A Change of Command Ceremony of SS Division Wiking

A change of command ceremony for the III.Bataillon of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" on 20 May 1944. The entire battalion is present in a U-shaped formation, only partially visible in this photograph taken on the football field at the Lublin army barracks in Poland. The ceremony is seconds away from starting, and waiting in the wings at stage right to begin the transfer before their men are three commanding officers: The center officer is SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania"). On the left is SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack, the out-going battalion commander who was moving up to take command of Wiking’s Westland Regiment. On the right is SS-Sturmbannführer Paul Kümmel, the new commander of the III. Bataillon, who was previously the commander of I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking". Starting with Dorr, each of the officers in turn addressed the men of the III.Bataillon, who were fresh off from participating in the battles for the relief of the surrounded city of Kovel. The two halftracks is Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D.

SS-Sturmbannführer Paul Kümmel - in black panzer uniform - is Congratulated on his new appointment as Commander of III.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" (previously he was the commander of I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"). The picture was taken during a change of command ceremony for the 3rd battalion, which were held at Lublin army barracks in Poland, 20 May 1944. From left to right (top picture): SS-Untersturmführer Wilhelm Warnke (Adjutant Bataillonskommandeur III.Bataillon), SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hackl (former Kommandeur of III.Bataillon who was promoted to became the commander of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 "Wiking"), SS-Obersturmführer Johann Velde (Adjutant Regimentskommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"), SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"), SS-Sturmbannführer Kümmel, and SS-Hauptsturmführer Helmut Schumacher (Chef 9.Kompanie / III.Bataillon).

SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack shaking hands with his successor as the Kommandeur of III.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", SS-Sturmbannführer Paul Kümmel (back to the camera). Hack himself was promoted as the new commander of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 "Wiking".

Source :
“Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp” by Douglas E. Nash and Remy Spezzano
https://www.alamy.com/5th-ss-panzer-division-officer-paul-kummel-is-congratulated-on-his-appointment-as-commander-of-a-germania-regiment-of-armoured-rreconaissance-unit-eastern-front-1944-image255373085.html
 https://reibert.info/threads/5-ja-tankovaja-divizija-ss-viking-ss-division-wiking-5-ss-panzer-division-wiking.24489/page-31
http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-change-of-command-ceremony-of-ss.html