Following the Donets Campaign and the recapture of Kharkov from the Soviets, award ceremonies were held at Kharkov by the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" on 20 April 20 1943. The recipients are:
- Eichenlaub #221 for SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier "Der Führer"). Award date: 6 April 1943.
- Ritterkreuz for SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"). Award date: 6 April 1943.
- Ritterkreuz for SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"). Award date: 6 April 1943.
- Ritterkreuz for SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"). Award date: 6 April 1943.
- Ritterkreuz for SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"). Award date: 31 March 1943.
- Ritterkreuz for SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"). Award date: 31 March 1943.
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Ullmann (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland"). Award date: 9 April 1943.
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for SS-Obersturmführer Karl-Heinz Lorenz (Chef 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-regiment "Das Reich"). Award date: 17 April 1943.
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for SS-Obersturmführer Helmuth Schreiber (Chef 10.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland"). Award date: 9 April 1943.
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for SS-Hauptscharführer
Alois Weber (Zugführer in 16.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment
"Deutschland"). Award date: 9 April 1943.
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich") gives the introductory speech while stands on the hull of a Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger #812 "TIKI", with SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve Alois Kalss stand at attention in a cupola, while below him (wearing stahlhelm) is SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier "Der Führer") and SS-Hauptsturmführer Dieter Kesten (wearing lanyard, Adjutant SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"). Between Kumm and Kesten is SS-Obersturmbannführer Siegfried-Max Schultz (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das
Reich"). The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Friedrich Zschäckel.
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich") is reading the name of the recipients one-by-one while standing above Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger #812 "TIKI", while all whose names are called come forward to the line. In the background we can see the first six awardee. They are, from left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), and SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"). With back to the camera, third from right is SS-Obersturmbannführer Siegfried-Max Schultz (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"), followed by SS-Hauptsturmführer Dieter Kesten (Adjutant SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich") second from right.
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. Nearest to the camera is SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"), with Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger "TIKI" (turmnummer 812) in the background. The Tigers of the 8th company had been painted in camouflage colours over their winter whitewash. But photographs suggest that "812" was the only one with its tactical number repainted in white. This may have been done specifically for the photographs taken on the day. Behind Krüger is the divisional adjutant SS-Hauptsturmführer Dieter Kesten who would later also win the Ritterkreuz on November 12, 1943 as Führer of 6.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich".
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich") awarded the medals (Ritterkreuz and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) to the recipients, from left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), and SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"). Behind Krüger is SS-Obersturmbannführer Siegfried-Max Schultz (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich").
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich") handed the medals (Ritterkreuz and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) to the recipients who stands facing the camera, from left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Obersturmführer Karl-Heinz Lorenz (Chef 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-regiment "Das Reich"), and SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Ullmann (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland"). Behind Krüger is SS-Obersturmbannführer Siegfried-Max Schultz (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich").
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (left, Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich") with six recipients of the Ritterkreuz and Eichenlaub. From left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), and SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich").
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. From left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Hauptsturmführer Dieter Kesten (behind Stadler, Adjutant SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Walter Krüger (back to the camera, Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"), SS-Obersturmbannführer Siegfried-Max Schultz (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"), SS-Obersturmführer Karl-Heinz Lorenz (Chef 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-regiment "Das Reich"), and SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Ullmann (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland").
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. The recipients are, from left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"), SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"), SS-Obersturmführer Karl-Heinz Lorenz (Chef 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-regiment "Das Reich"), SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Ullmann (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland"), SS-Obersturmführer Helmuth Schreiber (Chef 10.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland"), and SS-Hauptscharführer Alois Weber (Zugführer in 16.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland"). In the book "Tiger" by Stephan Cazenave and Rüdiger Warnick, it is mentioned that the person next to Weiß is Hans Pavelka and not Lorenz. This is difficult to accept because Pavelka received Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, while Lorenz received the Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber.
Award ceremony of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" at Kharkov, Ukraine, 20 April 1943. The newly recipients are being congratulated by the member of the division. The two officers shaking hands in this picture is SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser (back to the camera, Führer III.Bataillon [gepanzerten] / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer") and SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer"). With the adjutantschnur at right is SS-Hauptsturmführer Dieter Kesten (Adjutant SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich").
Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/foto-2-ss-panzer-division-das-reich.html
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?topicid=dcx-thes_fotograf_779xk33xfvo1ev9kf6kc&page=2
http://forum-console.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/185157-tiger-812-tiki/
https://stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com/2012/10/panzergrenadier-division-das-reich.html
https://tiger1.info/event-page/812-awards
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