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Saturday, September 30, 2023

Léon Degrelle Interview

NAME- Leon Degrelle

NATION- Belgium

DATE (S) OF INTERVIEW (S) March 1984, April 1993 (Telephonic)

PLACE OF INTERVIEW (S) Barcelona, Spain

LANGUAGE (S) CONDUCTED English, German, French

SIGNIFICANCE OF SUBJECT- Leader of the Belgian Socialist Rexist

Movement; German volunteer, Waffen SS General and 28th Waffen SS Division Commander.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE- Michele Ulovey

FORMAT- Q & A standard.



Q- When and where were you born?

A- I was born in Bouillon, Luxembourg on 15 June 1906.

Q- What was your family like?

A- My father was a brewer, a good Catholic man, and my mother was the most wonderful woman in the world.

Q- What was your education like?

A- My family had been Jesuit educated for many generations, and I went to the College of Notre Dame de la Paix. I studied the classics and theology, but was seriously drawn to politics. The Jesuits taught us to expand our mind and pursue knowledge, which I did. Unfortunately some of my fellow countrymen took a dim view of my independent writing and publishing on certain political thoughts. I had a tough time.

Q- You were arrested, were you not?

A- Yes, I was arrested in 1940 by French troops, beaten, and moved around from damp jail cells where I was tortured until finally freed by German troops. They knew who I was since I was a leader of the Rexist Party, which was a Socialist anti-Communist political party. Seeing that I would not receive any help, let alone justice from the authorities in Belgium I knew that that government was illegitimate, and I decided that the corruption must be challenged.

Q- How did you join the German army?

A- My brother had been murdered, my parents and wife killed after torture, and my eight children were taken away and scattered to the winds, a situation that would not be resolved for many years. I basically had some additional political problems, and until the Germans invaded and captured the country I was not safe. I felt that Belgium would only be a great and sovereign nation again once Germany won the war and eliminated the dangers of Communism. I formed the first group of volunteers from the Flemish and Walloons, and we were formed in our own battalion. Later we were assigned to the training centres, and then deployed to Army Group Center at first. Many of our men were sent to the Demyansk region as support in late 1941 to early 1942, but were then recalled and joined 5th SS ‘Wiking’ in the Ukraine later. We later became our own independent Waffen SS unit, the 28th der Waffen SS-Panzergrenadier Division ‘Wallonien’ in April 1944 at a ceremony in Brussels. ‘Sepp’ Dietrich, Max Wünsche and other notables were there for the induction ceremony. We started with 400 men in 1940, later growing to about 15,000, but only about 400 would be around after the war, including myself and two other original members. Of the original 6,000 men in the regiment before becoming a division 2,500 were killed. We had a great combat record, and Hitler personally congratulated me and gave me the Oak Leaves. I believe that we had the greatest number of Knight’s Crosses of any foreign unit, but I am not sure.

Q- What was it like for you, fighting on the Russian Front?

A- Well, that was where the real war was. The greatest threat was from Communist Russia and the Western Allies discovered this only too late; we live in the world created by this today. As far as Russia, it must be the weather, especially the bitter winters, and the endless steppe that goes forever. We were not prepared for this environment. The Russians were used to it and were well clothed to resist the cold. The greatest assets we had were the opportunity to strip Russian dead and take their padded clothing and felt boots, as well as those marvelous fur hats. They were very adapted to ski warfare, which we also used, and were perhaps even better at since we were Edelweiss trained as well. The partisan war was the worst, we had to adapt immediately to very situation, and the situation always changed. This was especially bad since they did not wear uniforms and could blend into any village. A typical day was when we moved all night on foot, sometimes with trucks and always looking for the next ambush. The Soviets sent artillery in to try and channel us into their killing zones, but we hit the earth and pushed through, taking casualties every time. The largest partisan fighting I was involved in was near the road at Cherkassy, where the partisan cavalry attacked and withdrew quickly. I ordered my men not to pursue, as it was not our mission. When we linked up with members of 4th Army we felt safer. But that was just the beginning.

Q- You wrote about Soviet atrocities in you your book, Campaign in Russia. Would you describe some of the things you witnessed during the war on both sides?

A- The partisans were usually the worst group to be captured by; they gouged out eyes, cut off fingers, genitalia, toes, and would butcher a man in front of his comrades before beginning their field interrogation. This was confirmed from both soldiers who escaped captivity and defecting partisans who were sickened by the sight and later joined the anti-Stalinist cause. One even had photographs that were turned over to the intelligence section of 2nd SS Panzer Army. I saw them. I saw a young German soldier, part of a reconnaissance patrol that had disappeared who had his legs crudely amputated at the knees with a saw or knife. We could see that even dying after this procedure he had managed to crawl several meters with his fingers. Another SS man had been crucified alive and his genitals removed and stuffed in his mouth. Several times we witnessed the Soviets and partisans retreating after a battle, stopping long enough to kill our wounded, usually by smashing their heads with their weapons or using a bayonet, shovel, ax handle, or knife. This did nothing to engender a more humane attitude towards the partisans when captured.

Q- What was the atmosphere like fighting next to the other European volunteers?

A- Well, the Russians hated the Italians certainly, I think even more than they hated the Germans, which I wrote about. I remember Italians being killed and tortured in horrible ways. Once a group of prisoners was stripped of their clothes and dowsed in ice water and were allowed to freeze to death. This was during the winter, and they died frozen alive. They even killed doctors and the chaplain. We discovered these events after recapturing a couple of villages. It was absolutely horrible.

Q- How were the peasants’ attitudes towards your unit and the Germans?

A- The peasants were just simple people who had suffered under Stalin and the great promises of Communism, and they were, for the most part very supportive of us. This was most evident when we attended their religious services. I attended regularly whenever possible, although I am a Catholic, the Russian Orthodox services were handled by priests who had either been in prison, sent to Siberia, or living in hiding for many years. We supported their religious freedom and they responded very well. It was very moving to see parents bring their young children for Baptisms and Christenings, and the old people holding their icons and crucifixes. They prayed for an end to Stalin and his measures, they also prayed for us to win. Another thing that must be remembered is that we also assisted the peasants in bringing in their crops, protected them from partisan reprisals and gave them jobs. They lived a better life under us for three years than under the Communists during their entire lives. They also gave us great intelligence on partisan and Red Army activity, and worked as translators and scouts. This was especially true in the Ukraine, although sometimes the Germans in charge would do stupid things and destroy the support we had gained. One village I remember was called Baibusy; we had a great relationship with these Ukrainians and others who fled there. They were marvelous. In the Caucasus the anti-Soviet feeling was incredible, especially among the Kalmucks and Armenians, and they fought with us and for us in a fanatical way. Another great memory was an entire village turning out to welcome us as we entered. The people brought out their religious icons and gave us information and valuable intelligence, food, places to stay, everything. The orders from the upper command were to treat the locals humanely; they were our allies. These people became a second family for many of us, and when we left there was a great deal of sadness. Once Paul Hausser and I attended a religious mass; the people knelt before him as if he were a Patriarch, blessing him for his presence and for restoring their religious freedom. With the candles and gilt images it was quite an impressive scene.

Q- You fought the partisans; what was this type of warfare like?

A- Well, it was the worst. First, there were many different types of partisans. There were the Communist fanatics who were the most dangerous and could not be bargained with. Then there were the peasants, conscripts who had little choice in the matter, and then there were the former Red Army men who joined the partisans due to their units having been cut off and destroyed, although many of the last two groups defected to us at some point. They moved quickly in their pig skin sandals as light infantry and in small groups, usually at night, using hit and run tactics and creating turmoil in general. They placed mines in roads, killed sentries, kidnapped officials and forcibly conscripted recruits, and they were very difficult to catch. In the Caucasus the terrain was a jungle, very thick with valleys and great forests where we had a very difficult time against the partisans; snipers climbed trees in the very dense forests, they had bunker complexes, underground hospitals, weapons manufacturing centres, everything. They had dug live graves; holes in the ground where they shared body heat and were well camouflaged. They lived like animals and fought the same way. Many were freed criminals, even murderers who were brought from jails and placed into units. Their snipers were very deadly and were difficult to locate, let alone capture or kill. This type of fighting was the worst; it wore on the nerves of the men and reduced humanity to the lowest level. I would rather face the Red Army than these people. The one thing my men and I knew was that however large and present the threat presented by the Red Army, the partisans were the worst enemy to fight. Since they did not wear uniforms, unless they were in German clothing sometimes, and they blended well with the local population, which created a problem in choosing who was and was not a partisan. Unless you caught one with a weapon or were actively engaged against them it was impossible. Later during the war they were absorbed into Red Army infantry and tank units, and sometimes they were given uniforms. I would say the most disturbing aspect of fighting the partisans was that, unlike the Soviet military, the partisans adhered to no set doctrine, used no set order of battle that we could study, and basically struck where it was the most opportune. If we caught and cornered them they were dead, and they knew it. That was why they fought like fanatics.

Q- What was your impression of the Red Army?

A- Very undisciplined and suicidal in their tactics, but very determined in the fight. They had men and women of all ages and racial backgrounds, teenagers to pensioners, it was incredible. I once saw a boy no older than nine years old who had been killed in action, and it made me hate the Communists even more for their disregard for human life. It was also difficult for our men (Walloons) to shoot women and children; we were not accustomed to this, but it became necessary since they fought just as hard as the men.

Q- What were the prisoners you captured like?

A- Most Russians only wanted to surrender; these were usually peasants who had been caught up in the war and were hoping for something better. Many carried the safe conduct passes distributed along the front, guaranteeing safe passage to anyone surrendering. Thousands deserted carrying these passes.

Q- You mentioned the wearing on the nerves of the men. What was the typical condition of the men?

A- We had a few suicides and some went mad. It was a type of war that cannot be described, it must be experienced, but once experienced it still cannot be described. Does this make sense? I know it seems vague, but that is the best I can do. The exhaustion, hunger, fear, and pain, not to mention the cold of the winter all played their part. Seeing the brutality only made the situation worse. The men were walking ghosts; skeletons that had not eaten a hot meal in weeks, or even a solid meal unless we came across a dead horse or a village that offered us assistance. The orders were that no one would steal or commit any crime against the people. We needed their support, and anything that reduced that support would return to haunt us ten fold. Unfortunately, many German units did not observe this reality. We served with the 5th SS ‘Wiking’ Division during this period [1943], and they generally observed the rules. However, there were exceptions.

Q- How did the authorities handle desertions?

A- Those who were caught, and bear in mind that nearly everyone deserting was caught, were hanged, shot, or executed in some fashion and displayed for public viewing. Many were just children who had been sent into a war that was too much for them. They broke and they were killed by their own men for it. It was better to stay and face the enemy with the chance of surviving, than to desert and definitely be caught by the German Field Police, who were a judge and jury of their own. It was very sad.

Q- Did you ever work with the Freiwilligen?

A- Yes, many times, and it was both a success and a failure. There were some former Communists who re-defected to the Soviets, but I think most stayed and fought until the end. They knew what their fate was if captured by the Communists, and many were anti-Communists who were loyal to us. The best volunteers were generally the Western European units, such as our own Walloons, the French ‘Charlemagne’, and the Dutch and Norwegian units. The ‘Wiking’ was perhaps the most notable and we served with them. They were perhaps the best of all, and were actually the only foreign unit to be designated as an actual SS division, not an auxiliary unit, and they were also made a full panzer division as well.

Q- Were you ever exposed to Soviet propaganda?

A- Yes, quite often. The Reds knew who were and they would broadcast in French to us, asking us to come over and fight for De Gaulle. This did not work of course. We actually found it quite amusing.

Q- Tell us about your meetings with the Nazi elite, such as Hitler and Himmler, and what you thought of them.

A- I met Himmler only four times during the war, if my memory is correct, and Hitler I met several times, besides the Knight’s Cross and Oak Leaves awards. I once had a meeting with both of them at one time, when I made a request in 1943 that my men be allowed to have Catholic chaplains, and they agreed. I also refused to have my men partake in anything that we deemed un-soldierly, and Paul Hausser, ‘Sepp’ Dietrich and others supported me. Hitler once told me that if he had ever had a son, he wished that he would have been like me. I am not exactly sure why he said this, but I know he respected me, and I think Himmler did as well, although I never trusted him, and I was not quite comfortable with him as the supreme commander of the SS, including the Waffen SS, which we had joined. I believed that Germany could have won the war even after the Americans came into it if the mass of the eastern peoples had been rallied to our cause.

Q- Hitler decorated you with the Knight’s Cross personally, didn’t he?

A- Yes, in February 1944, following the Cherkassy battle, which was quite rare. I think only perhaps twenty men received the Knight’s Cross from Hitler personally, and twelve of those were for the Eban Emael operation in 1940. I received my Knight’s Cross at the same ceremony where General Herbert Gille received the Oak Leaves, as both of us were at Cherkassy together, and General Herman Fegelein and Himmler were in attendance as well. Josef Goebbels made a great propaganda exploit out of the situation, which was meant to assist the foreign recruiting effort. Gille would later be awarded the Diamonds, while Fegelein would be shot on Hitler’s orders.

Q- When did you first arrive in Russia?

A- We entered the Ukraine beginning in October 1941, after finishing basic training and mountain warfare school, although some of our troops had been diverted to the Demyansk region under Olivier Thoring, a Knight’s Cross winner who was later killed. They were assigned to 9th Army, then later joined us in the south the next year. It was his detachment that captured Andrei Vlasov in July 1942, for your information.

Q- How did you escape to Spain?

A- This was an interesting situation. After a crazy course through Germany, Belgium, and Denmark, where I met with Himmler in Kiel for the last time, we ended up in Oslo, Norway by ship, and we knew that this situation would not last after my meeting with [Vidkun] Quisling. We refueled the aircraft and took off on our flight. We ran out of fuel and crashed on a beach in Spain, and I have been here ever since. My own government condemned me to death, but they have not pursued those who murdered my family and killed in the name of their own causes. Justice is determined by those in power, nothing else.

Q- What was your final rank?

A- My rank was Oberfuehrer, which is one rank above a full colonel and just below a brigadier general, so there is no Allied equivalent. I was promoted to general in the last week of the war, but I never [personally] received the promotion to Brigadefuehrer.

Q- How has your life been since the war?

A- I spend my time writing about the war and meeting old friends, and now making new ones. I think that people need to understand that there is always another side to a story. If people in your country had suffered the loss of their families due to a political party that was in conflict with your beliefs, then many of your countrymen may find themselves on the other side. Your American Civil War is a prime example.

Q- What do you see yourself doing for the rest of your life?

A- Hopefully still writing, as long as my mind is sharp and I can see; always reading books, and wondering at the great changes that have taken place in my lifetime. The collapse of Communism in Europe has proven that we were right; we just needed validation, and now we have it. I think that what we may write is important, but the history as it unfolds will prove who was right, and who was wrong. I never believed in the purging of Jews and civilians in general, and that was not my war. My war was to fight for my country, which would have been an independent partner of Germany in a Communist free Europe. This is only now a reality, but we fought for it fifty years ago all the same.

Q- Do you feel that Communism will eventually die in the rest of the world as well?

A- Yes, it will fall. Governments are the most intangible structures made by man, they change shapes, and are altered by the forces of time and nature. However, I am an optimist; I am hopeful that we as a species will learn from our mistakes, and perhaps there will be hope for us all. But then again, I could be wrong.



Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=119057&hilit=leon+degrelle
www.hotlinecy.com/Interviews/Degrelle.htm
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/12/15/de-fuhrer-van-de-walen-a1585017

Bio of Generalleutnant Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen (1894-1960)

Hans Boelsen

Date of Birth: 06.03.1894 - Emden, Hanover (German Empire)
Date of Death: 24.10.1960 - Frankfurt am Main, Hesse (West Germany)
Buried: Hauptfriedhof Frankfurt

Diploma In Economics: 1922
Doctorate In Political Science: 1923
Doctorate In Jurisprudence 1928
Battles and Campaigns: Battle of France (1940), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Battle of Uman (1941), Battle of Kiev (1941), Battle of Rostov (1941), Battle of Kursk (1943), Operation Shingle (1944), and Operation Diadem (1944)

Promotions:
05.12.1914 Fahnenjunker
06.04.1915 Fähnrich
21.06.1915 Leutnant (mit Patent vom 19.12.1913 G9g)
19.12.1919 Charakter als Oberleutnant (mit Wirkung vom 22.11.1919)
09.07.1934 Hauptmann (mit Wirkung vom 15.07.1934. RDA v. 01.10.1933 unter Vorbeh. der sp. Festsetz. der OrdnungsNr.; RDA als Leutnant 30.12.1919; RDA als Oberleutnant 01.02.1926)
02.02.1935 Hauptmann (-468- erh. OrdnungsNr. (69) zum RDA)
31.12.1937 Major (-7100- m. Wirk. v. 01.01.1938 (RDA v. 01.01.1938(53))
14.02.1941 Oberstleutnant (-1000- m. Wirk. v. 01.03.1941 (RDA v. 01.03.1941(41))
17.12.1941 Oberstleutnant (-6430- erh. neues RDA v. 01.02.1940(14b)
15.02.1942 Oberst (-1000- m. Wirk. v. 01.03.1942 (RDA v. 01.03.1942(205))
20.06.1944 Generalmajor (-3210- m. Wirk. v. 01.06.1944 (RDA v. 01.06.1944(13))
01.03.1945 Generalleutnant

Career:
07.08.1914 Ersatz-Bataillon / 2. badischen Grenadier-Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm I" Nr. 110
22.10.1914 Ersatz-Bataillon / 4.Badischen Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Wilhelm" Nr. 112
05.12.1914 Ersatz-Bataillon / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
06.04.1915 Transferred to the frontline as Zugführer (Platoon commander)
08.06.1915 Wounded by shrapnel and taken to the hospital
13.07.1915 Back as Zugführer in Ersatz-Bataillon / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
00.00.1915 Zugführer in 2.Ersatz-MG-Kompanie / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
17.03.1916 MG-Zugführer und Ordonnanz-Offizier im Stab / Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 247
00.08.1916 Transferred to a hospital due to a resting illness
11.12.1916 Transferred back to 2.Ersatz-MG-Kompanie / 10.Württ. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
17.01.1917 Bataillonsadjutant in Infanterie-Regiment 476
01.08.1918 Ordonnanz-Offizier im Stab / 242.Infanterie-Division
17.12.1918 Company and Platoon Leader in the Landesschützen-Korps (later renamed to Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 7 in Detachment Stobbe)
03.09.1919 Transferred into the Processing-Office of Infanterie-Regiment 180
19.12.1919 Retired from military
01.10.1920 Studying of Law and State-Sciences, in 1926 in higher Administration-Service and Municipal Firms
15.07.1934 Reactivated to Army Service
15.07.1934 With the I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 15
16.07.1934 - 14.09.1934 Detached to Course with the Training-Staff of Infantry in Döberitz
01.10.1934 Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment Gießen
15.10.1935 Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment 36
06.10.1936 Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment 115
21.11.1937 - 11.12.1937 At the same time, Detached Staff-Officers-Course of the 33. Division
10.11.1938 Tactics-Instructor at the War School Potsdam
17.08.1939 - 17.10.1939 At the same time, Detached to the Infantry-School in Döberitz
15.10.1939 1. Adjutant (IIb) XXII. Armeekorps
06.03.1940 1. Adjutant (IIb) Panzergruppe Von Kleist
13.07.1940 1. Adjutant (IIb) XXII. Armeekorps
16.11.1940 1. Adjutant (IIb) Panzergruppe 1
15.05.1941 Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 111
26.06.1941 Wounded, in hospital
18.07.1941 Führerreserve – Wehrkreis III
29.07.1941 Kommandeur Kradschützen-Bataillon 160 (motorisiert)
04.12.1941 Taken ill, in hospital
21.02.1942 Führerreserve – Wehrkreis III
01.03.1942 Führerreserve OKH, detached to Lehr-Abteilung III / Infanterieschule Döberitz
09.03.1942 Kommandeur Lehr-Abteilung III / Infanterieschule Döberitz
15.01.1943 Transferred into the Stab / Infanterieschule Döberitz
15.05.1943 Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111
16.11.1943 - 14.12.1943 Participated in the 8th Division Leaders Course in Döberitz
05.03.1944 - 20.03.1944 Führer 29. Panzergrenadier-Division
11.04.1944 - 07.05.1944 Führer 26. Panzer-Division
19.05.1944 - 18.07.1944 Führer 114. Jäger-Division
19.07.1944 - 26.08.1944 Führer  26. Panzer-Division
10.09.1944 Kommandeur 18. Panzergrenadier-Division
04.02.1945 Führerreserve OKH
00.03.1945 Kommandeur Division zbV. 172
29.03.1945 In captivity
30.06.1947 Released

Awards and Decorations:
11.04.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
07.08.1916 Württembergische Goldene Militär-Verdienst-Medaille
18.08.1917 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
11.01.1918 Württembergische Militär-Verdienst-Orden III.Klasse
06.06.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Schwarz
08.02.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
00.00.19__ Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 Jahre)
20.05.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
28.06.1941 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
10.09.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
18.10.1941 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
17.11.1941 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
10.12.1941 Voenen Orden "Za Hrabrost" III stepen, 1 klas (Bulgaria)
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1914/42" (Ostmedaille)
18.08.1943 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
17.09.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111 / 11.Panzer-Division. Boelsen’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: “During the middle of August, in the aftermath of 4. Panzer-Armee’s withdrawal movement west of Belgorod, the 11. Panzer-Division found itself defending the Boromlja river (located in the Trostjanez area) with its remaining forces against continual massed assaults. On the 17.08.1943 the enemy succeeded in achieving a broad penetration to the north in the sector of the left neighbouring Division with 3 Guards mechanized brigades, 1 Guards tank brigade, 1 tank regiment and 3 rifle divisions. On the following day this was expanded to the south and west, and the recaptured lines of this Division were overrun. This created an immediate threat to the open left flank of the 11. Pz.Div. Oberst Boelsen and his Regiment were deployed on the Division’s left wing at the time, and the commander received a message of these developments. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he acted without waiting for orders first as these could not be expected for some time due to the unclear situation. At that moment his Regiment was engaged in a counterthrust to the east, and already it was being forced to deploy drivers and clerks to the frontline. However he nonetheless took a few men out of the line and led them into the area west of Nikitowka-Belka. There he also gathered up scattered Grenadiers from the neighbouring Division. Due to the heavy losses of his own officers, leading to their consequent shortage, he personally placed himself at the spearhead of these rounded up groups. With these he launched himself against the hotly pursuing enemy forces and was able to throw them back with bloody losses via bold counterthrusts. The first one took place near Grusskoje, then near Nowosselowka, Skrebowka and finally near Baiwor. In this manner he erected a chain of individual resistance centres from the east to the west along a several kilometres wide frontline that faced northwards. With this he weakened the hostile attacking power and held up their thrust to the south. By completing such a brave and ruthless action on his own initiative, Oberst Boelsen succeeded in preventing the enemy’s intended rolling up of the north-south frontline at a very critical hour. This allowed the XXIV. Panzer-Korps (located southeast of Achtyrka) to complete its operations as planned without having to divert any of its forces.” In addition to the more generic endorsements, the following statement by the commander of 4. Panzer-Armee (namely Generaloberst Hoth) provides an interesting insight into the overall significance of this action… “The premature wavering of the 57. Division created an extraordinarily delicate situation on the 17.08.1943, as the currently disengaged 112. Infanterie-Division saw itself compelled to come back northwards to face the new southward enemy push. If the brave commander of the Pz.Gren.Rgt. 111 had not kept his nerves and inspired his men to fight through his bravery here then the crisis would have expanded to encompass the entire XXXXVIII. Panzer-Korps. This deed fulfills all the requirements for the Ritterkreuz. I have no hesitation in approving this submission.”

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Hans Boelsen was born on March 6th, 1894 in Emden in Ostfriesland and joined the replacement battalion of the 2. badischen Grenadier-Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm I" Nr. 110 on August 17th, 1914 as a volunteer. From there he moved to the replacement battalion of the 4. Badischen Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Wilhelm" Nr. 112 on October 22, 1914 and to the replacement battalion of the 10. Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180 on December 5, 1914. Into the field On April 6, 1915, he was transferred to the position of platoon commander and as such was wounded by shrapnel on June 98, 1915.

Having recovered, Boelsen joined his regiment's replacement battalion on July 13, 1915, first as a platoon leader and later in the 2nd replacement machine gun company.

From March 17, 1916, he was a machine gun platoon leader and orderly officer on the staff of the Reserve Infantry Regiment 247. At the end of August 1916, he was transferred to a hospital due to a resting illness, and then from December 11, 1916, he was transferred back to the 2.Ersatz-MG-Kompanie / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180.

From there he was transferred to the 476 Infantry Regiment as a battalion adjutant on January 17, 1917, where he continued to take on the position of orderly officer and later that of deputy regimental adjutant.

From August 1, 1918, he was an orderly officer on the staff of the 242nd Infantry Division. At the end of the First World War, he joined the State Rifle Corps and the Reichswehr Rifle Regiment 7 in the Stobbe Detachment as a company and platoon leader. From there on September 3, 1919 to December 16, 1919 he was transferred back to the processing office of the 180th Infantry Regiment, where he was then released from army service on December 19, 1919 with the rank of Oberleutnant. In civilian life he completed his economics diploma in 1922 and received his doctorate in 1923. rer. pole. and in 1928 he received his Ph.D. jur.

From June 13th, 1933 to June 17th, 1933 he took part in a company leader course at the "Stahlhelm" in Mainz, and from September 10th. took part in the autumn exercise of the 12th Infantry Regiment until September 17, 1933.

From 1 February until 28 February 1934, Boelsen took part in a course at the SA leadership school of the SA Group Hesse as an adjutant of SA Standarte 25 and was employed in the 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 15 from July 15, 1934. As early as July 16, 1934, Boelsen attended a course at the training staff of the Döberitz Infantry School, returned to his regiment on September 14, 1934 and took over the position of chief of the 3rd company in the Giessen Infantry Regiment on October 1, 1934. On October 15, 1935, he took over the same position in Infantry Regiment 36 until it was relocated to the Rhineland as Infantry Regiment 105. As of October 6th, 1936, Boelsen was head of the 11th company in the 115th Infantry Regiment and visited from November 21st. a staff officer course for the 33rd Division until December 11, 1937. Furthermore, on March 25, 1938, he received the title of Dr. Dr. to be allowed to wear alongside his military rank.

Working as a tactics teacher at the Potsdam War School since November 3rd, 1938, he came to the Döberitz Infantry School on August 17th, 1939, also as a tactics teacher. With effect from October 15, 1939 he was appointed to the staff of the XXII. Army Corps transferred and took over the post of IIa. From there, on March 6, 1940, he was appointed IIa in the staff of Kleist's group, with which he took part in the Western campaign.

From July 13, 1940 as IIa again on the staff of the XXII. Army Corps, he took over the position of IIa on the staff of Panzergruppe 1 on November 16, 1940. Shortly before the start of the Eastern campaign, Boelsen moved to the 111 Rifle Regiment as commander of the II Battalion with effect from May 16, 1941 and was appointed on June 26. Wounded on the Eastern Front in 1941. Transferred to the Führer reserve during his recovery, he was appointed commander of the Motorcycle Rifle Battalion 160 (motorized) with effect from July 29, 1941. As such, he particularly proved himself in the battle near Rublevka on August 13th and 14th, 1941.

After he fell ill on December 4th, 1941, he was transferred to the Führer reserve on February 21st, 1942 and was assigned to Teaching Department III of the Döberitz Infantry School with effect from March 1st, 1942. There he was appointed commander of Training Department III (for motorized infantry) with effect from March 9, 1942. With effect from January 15, 1943, he was transferred to the school's command staff.

On July 10, 1943, Boelsen was appointed commander of the 111th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, as part of the 11th Panzer Division, with effect from May 15, 1943. With this division, his regiment took part in the heavy defensive battles following the withdrawal of the 4th Panzer Army west of Belgorod in the Trostyanets area. There, on August 17, 1943, the enemy succeeded in making a deep breakthrough into their northern neighbor with three mechanized Guards brigades, a Guards tank brigade, a tank regiment and three rifle divisions. On August 18, 1943, this break-in extended further to the west and also overran the withdrawn lines of the division where the break-in took place. This threatened the open left flank of the 11th Panzer Division. On this left wing the regiment was under the command of Boelsen, who at this time was leading a relief attack to the east. This attack was already carried out with expendable entourage. Aware of the threatening situation on the division's left wing, he withdraws some of these troops and leads them into the Nikitowka-Belka area, where he gathers scattered units from the neighboring division. Due to the loss of many officers, Boelsen personally placed himself at the head of this combat group and led it against the enemy, which he repelled first at Grusskoje, then at Novoselovka, at Skrebowka and at Baivor in dashing, dynamic counterattacks, with bloody losses. In this way, Boelsen gradually builds up a northern front several kilometers wide from east to west, weakens the enemy's attack force and stops the thrust into the rear of the 11th Panzer Division. For this he was nominated for the Knight's Cross by the leader of the 11th Panzer Division, Wend von Wietersheim. Also the commanding general of XXXXVIII. Panzer-Korps, General of the Panzertruppe von Knobelsdorff, warmly supported this proposal after Boelsen had already been unsuccessfully proposed for the Knight's Cross on July 20, 1943 (instead of the Knight's Cross, Boelsen received the honorary clasp for an act on July 11th and 12th, 1943 near Kochetowka).

The commander in chief of the 4th Panzer Army, Colonel General Hoth, supported the proposal, as did the commander in chief of Army Group South, Field Marshal von Manstein, and the head of the Army Personnel Office, Lieutenant General Schmundt. Boelsen then received the Knight's Cross on September 17, 1943 as colonel and commander of the 111 Panzer Grenadier Regiment.

Transferred to the Führer reserve on November 7th, 1943, he took part from November 16th in the 8th Divisional Leader Short Course in Döberitz until December 21, 1943. Boelsen will move from the leadership reserve of Military District XI from March 5th. until March 20, 1944 in the OKH in the area of Army Group C and was commissioned with the deputy leadership of the 26th Panzer Division on March 30, 1944, with effect from March 1, 1944. In contrast, he led from March 5th. until March 20, 1944, initially the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division and then from April 11th. The 26th Panzer Division until May 7, 1944.

On May 14, 1944, he was assigned deputy leadership of the 114th Jäger Division. On July 19, 1944, he took over leadership of the 26th Panzer Division again, although on August 2, 1944, he asked for eight days of vacation due to repeated bomb damage. Leader of the division until August 26, 1944, he took command of the 18th Panzer Grenadier Division on September 10, 1944 and was transferred again to the leader reserve with effect from February 4, 1945, where he took over leadership of the division in March 1945 Coastal defense section Friesland, the former division zbV. 172, takes over. As the leader of this command, he was taken prisoner on March 29, 1945, from which he was released on June 30, 1947.

Dr. Dr. Hans Boelsen died on October 24, 1960 in Frankfurt/Main.


SA-Hauptscharführer Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as adjutant of SA-Standarte 25. From 1 February 1934 till 28 February 1934 he took part in course of the SA-Führerschule/Gruppe Hessen. The picture was taken from the file at Bundesarchiv-Invenio > PERS 6/1112.



Major Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen in his office. The picture was taken in 1938 when Boelsen served as a Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment 115 / 33.Infanterie-Division.



Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as an Oberst after receiving the Ritterkreuz.


Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as Generalmajor.



Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as Generalmajor.



Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as Generalmajor.



Generalleutnant Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen (Kommandeur Division z.b.V. 172) and an American MP (Military Police) officer after captured. Boelsen was taken prisoner at Emsland, Niedersachsen, on 29 March 1945, from which he was released on 30 June 1947. Division z.b.V. 172 itself was established on 23 November 1944 by renaming Division Nr. 172 and relocated to the West Wall near Zweibrücken. Since the division had no combat value, it was ordered to retreat east before it came into contact with the enemy. The Bamberg-Bayreuth-Erlangen area was assigned as the new accommodation area with division headquarters in Waischenfeld. The division was moved to the new space at the end of March / beginning of April 1945. From here, as soon as training had begun, the division marched into the area north and west of Landshut. The division was disbanded there on 30 April 1945 after the capture of Divisionskommandeur Boelsen. The subordinate units were taken over by the 36. and 347. Infanterie-Divisions. The division staff was transferred to the field army and became the division staff z.b.V. 617 (Command Coastal Defense Section Friesland). Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.



A "Fragebogen" (Questionnaire) of Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen.



Signature of Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen.



The grave of Hans Boelsen at Hauptfriedhof Frankfurt.


Source :
"Panzertruppen: Les troupes blindées allemandes - German armored troops 1935-1945" by John Lee
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frankfurt,_Hauptfriedhof,_Grab_Hans_Boelsen.JPG
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2494943#p2494943
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/hans-poehlsen-german-general-hans-poehlsen-commander-of-the-news-photo/615312214
https://www.leo-bw.de/web/guest/detail/-/Detail/details/DOKUMENT/labw_findmittel_06/labw-1-325770/Boelsen%20Hans
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/B/BoelsenH.htm
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D1%91%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BD,_%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81
http://sylviolassance.blogspot.com/2013/06/boelsen-hans-0603189424101960.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/2385/Boelsen-Drjur-Drrerpol-Hans.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027112917fw_/http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant/BOELSEN_HANS.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20110105222811fw_/http://ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/B/Bo/Boelsen-Hans.htm

The Capture of Hans Boelsen


Generalleutnant Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen (Kommandeur Division z.b.V. 172) and an American MP (Military Police) officer after captured. Boelsen was taken prisoner at Emsland, Niedersachsen, on 29 March 1945, from which he was released on 30 June 1947. Division z.b.V. 172 itself was established on 23 November 1944 by renaming Division Nr. 172 and relocated to the West Wall near Zweibrücken. Since the division had no combat value, it was ordered to retreat east before it came into contact with the enemy. The Bamberg-Bayreuth-Erlangen area was assigned as the new accommodation area with division headquarters in Waischenfeld. The division was moved to the new space at the end of March / beginning of April 1945. From here, as soon as training had begun, the division marched into the area north and west of Landshut. The division was disbanded there on 30 April 1945 after the capture of Divisionskommandeur Boelsen. The subordinate units were taken over by the 36. and 347. Infanterie-Divisions. The division staff was transferred to the field army and became the division staff z.b.V. 617 (Command Coastal Defense Section Friesland).



Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2310330#p2310330
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/ResDiv/172ResDiv-R.htm

Friday, September 29, 2023

Award Ceremony for the "Cherkassy Heroes"

Award ceremony with Hitler for the three "Cherkassy Heroes" who led their men escaping from the Red Army encirclement in Korsun-Cherkassy pocket (24 January - 16 February 1944). The ceremony was held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, on 20 February 1944. The recipients are: Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps), SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), and SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"). Lieb received both the Ritterkreuz (7 February 1944) and Eichenlaub (18 February 1944)  at the same time; Gille received the Schwerter (20 February 1944); while Degrelle received the Ritterkreuz (20 February 1944). The award ceremony was attended by the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und deutschen Polizei) and SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Hermann Fegelein (Verbindungsoffizier der Waffen-SS zum Führerhauptquartier).


From the book "Hell’s Gate: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket, January-February 1944" by Douglas E. Nash:

Following the breakout of the Cherkassy pocket (16-18 February 1944) and their units were being formed into Gruppe Mattenklott, SS-Gruppenführer Herbert-Otto Gille of SS-Wiking Division, SS-Hauptstürmführer Léon Degrelle of SS-Brigade Wallonien and Generalleutnant Theobald Lieb (m.d.F.b.) of XXXXII. Armeekorps flew to Rastenburg after their conference at Uman aboard a Ju-52, arriving on the evening of 20 February 1944. Here, the two SS officers were whisked away in a limousine to their accommodations by an escort provided by Reichsfiihrer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Degrelle later recalled how out of place he felt, when he stated that "In the automobile which drove me from the airport I could feel hundreds of lice devouring my body. My uniform was filthy." He was also still wearing the heavy felt winter boots he had worn during the breakout and his uniform was torn in several places. While he was led to a waiting hot bath, his first in months, a squad of SS men took his uniform from him and cleaned and mended it as best they could. Prior to dressing, Degrelle discovered that Himmler had presented him a gift of a new undershirt, since his old one was full of holes and lice-ridden. Thus refreshed, Degrelle and Gille joined Himmler for the 40 kilometer drive to Hitler's Wolfschanze.

Here, the group was led into the perimeter of the compound, illuminated by floodlights and heavily guarded. Once led inside the wooden meeting hall, the group was greeted by Hitler himself, who seized Degrelle's hand and said "I've been very worried about you." Degrelle's admiration for the Führer was not lessened by Hitler's frail appearance, in fact, it increased, since he credited it to the fact that Hitler's back was bent from "studying maps interminably and from bearing the weight of the world ..." It did not occur to the Walloon leader at the time that it was Hitler himself who was directly responsible for the destruction of his beloved brigade, since it was he who had decreed that the salient along the Dnieper be held at all costs.

Degrelle and Gille, now reunited with Lieb, were led to a large hall in the building, where Hitler presented the two generals with the Eichenlaub (Oak Leaves) to their Ritterkreuz (Knight's Crosses) and Degrelle with his first award of the Ritterkreuz. The award ceremony was immediately followed by a press conference which was broadcast live throughout Germany and the occupied areas as proof indeed that German forces had fought its way out of the Cherkassy Pocket and had not been destroyed, as the Soviets had claimed. Hitler's press chief, Dr. Otto Dietrich, allowed each of the three men to make a few prepared statements. In the glare of flashbulbs, they briefly related their experiences and how well their troops had fought, stressing repeatedly that the mass of the encircled troops had fought their way free.

In this occasion, a very much alive Theo Lieb found himself in the limelight. Perhaps carried away by the excitement and the media attention, Lieb, when asked who had made the decision to break out of the pocket, declared that he himself had done so on his own responsibility. This provoked an angry inquiry two days later by Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein, who learned about the incident after hearing the interview on the Deutsche Soldatensender (German Armed Forces radio). The field marshal fired off a personal message on 22 February to Hube at 1.Pz.Armee demanding that he set the
record straight, since it was Manstein, through 8.Armee's commander, who had made the decision to order a breakout.

It was here perhaps where Lieb earned the sobriquet that would follow him wherever he went for the rest of his career forever after, he would be known as the "Lion of Cherkassy." While it had probably been coined sarcastically, Lieb wore the title as a badge of honor. Who could deny that he had earned it, for had he not led the assault force that broke out of the encirclement? Despite the honors heaped upon him by Hitler and his superb handling of XXXXII.A.K., Lieb was not selected to command a corps again, though he did command 34.InfDiv. along the Franco-Italian border from June to October 1944. The war's end found him holding a nominal assignment in northern Italy. Perhaps Manstein's wrath had shortened his career, perhaps Lieb had done so himself with his outspokenness...

BTW, many notes on the books and websites mention the awards ceremony was on 18 February. Also note that the “official” date for Lieb’s award is 18 February while Gille and Degrelle’s date for their respective awards is 20 February. The ceremony actually took place on 20 February 1944.

Note how Hitler is warm to Degrelle in the photos below. Upon meeting Degrelle, Hitler would have mentioned “I’ve been very worried about you”. Degrelle apparently received the Eichenlaub on 25. August 1944. Upon receiving his Eichenlaub, Hitler would have told him, "Si j'avais eu un fils, j'aurais aimé qu'il fût comme vous" - "If I had a son, I would want him to be like you." (Interview given by Léon Degrelle to Jean Kapel in Histoire magazine; No. 19, septembre 1981). This statement is contested by Degrelle’s biographer, Jean-Marie Frérotte in Léon Degrelle, le dernier fasciste (Bruxelles, Paul Legrain, 1987). After the ceremony Degrelle would have said of Hitler, “I saw in his eyes that he looked at me like a son”.

Although taken 6 months earlier, the photos of the Cherkassy ceremony show a warmth that Hitler rarely demonstrates to other soldiers.



Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) congratulates SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") during the award ceremony for "Cherkassy Heroes" which were held at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, on 20 February 1944. At left is another recipient, SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"), while at right is SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Hermann Fegelein (Verbindungsoffizier der Waffen-SS zum Führerhauptquartier) and Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und deutschen Polizei).


Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) congratulates SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") during the award ceremony for "Cherkassy Heroes" which were held at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, on 20 February 1944. In the center is another recipient, SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), while second from right is SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Hermann Fegelein (Verbindungsoffizier der Waffen-SS zum Führerhauptquartier).



Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) congratulates SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") during the award ceremony for "Cherkassy Heroes" which were held at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, on 20 February 1944. Note how Hitler is warm to Degrelle in the photos that surfaced from the ceremony. Upon meeting Degrelle, Hitler would have mentioned “I’ve been very worried about you”. Degrelle apparently received the Eichenlaub on 25. August 1944. Upon receiving his Eichenlaub, Hitler would have told him, "Si j'avais eu un fils, j'aurais aimé qu'il fût comme vous" - "If I had a son, I would want him to be like you." (Interview given by Léon Degrelle to Jean Kapel in Histoire magazine; No. 19, septembre 1981). This statement is contested by Degrelle’s biographer, Jean-Marie Frérotte in Léon Degrelle, le dernier fasciste (Bruxelles, Paul Legrain, 1987). After the ceremony Degrelle would have said of Hitler, “I saw in his eyes that he looked at me like a son”. Although taken 6 months earlier, the photos of the Cherkassy ceremony show a warmth that Hitler rarely demonstrates to other soldiers.



Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) congratulates Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps) during the award ceremony for "Cherkassy Heroes" which were held at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, on 20 February 1944. Although Gille and Degrelle was also awarded the medals on this same day at the FHQ, it seems that Lieb received the Eichenlaub alone. However, there are several photos showing both Degrelle, Gille, Lieb and Press Chief Dietrich taken after the two ceremonies (see below).



Press conference held at the Reichspropagandaministerium in Berlin on 21 February 1944, one day after the award ceremony for the heroes of the Battle of Cherkassy at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze. From left to right: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"), Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps), SS-Obergruppenführer Dr.rer.pol. Otto Dietrich (Reichspressechef der NSDAP), and SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking").



Press conference held at the Reichspropagandaministerium in Berlin on 21 February 1944, one day after the award ceremony for the heroes of the Battle of Cherkassy at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze. Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (standing, Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps) is making a speech, while behind him are, from left to right: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"), SS-Obergruppenführer Dr.rer.pol. Otto Dietrich (Reichspressechef der NSDAP), SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), and two unknown civilian.



Three "Heroes of Cherkassy" with SS-Obergruppenführer Dr.rer.pol. Otto Dietrich (right, Reichspressechef der NSDAP). From left to right: SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps), and SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien". The picture was taken by the unknown photographer from Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann at the Reichspropagandaministerium in Berlin on 21 February 1944, one day after the award ceremony at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia.


Three "Heroes of Cherkassy" with SS-Obergruppenführer Dr.rer.pol. Otto Dietrich (right, Reichspressechef der NSDAP). From left to right: SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps), and SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"). The picture was taken by the unknown photographer from Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann at the Reichspropagandaministerium in Berlin on 21 February 1944, one day after the award ceremony at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia.



Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und deutschen Polizei) sharing a lighter moment with two of the "Cherkassy Heroes" from Waffen-SS: SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (left, Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") and SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (right, Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"). The picture was taken by the unknown photographer from Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann on 21 February 1944, one day after the award ceremony at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia.



SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") photographed by Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the Schwerter award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. The medal was formally awarded on the same day for the extremely distinguished leadership of his division during the breakout from the Cherkassy pocket. In this time his division was the spearhead of the German forces trapped within the pocket, and it played an invaluable role in allowing the encircled troops to escape.



SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the Schwerter award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. The medal was formally awarded on the same day for the extremely distinguished leadership of his division during the breakout from the Cherkassy pocket. In this time his division was the spearhead of the German forces trapped within the pocket, and it played an invaluable role in allowing the encircled troops to escape.



Generalleutnant Theo-Helmut "Theobald" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps) photographed by Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. Although Gille and Degrelle was also awarded the medals on this same day at the FHQ, it seems that Lieb received the Eichenlaub alone. However, there are several photos showing both Degrelle, Gille, Lieb and Press Chief Dietrich taken after the two ceremonies. Lieb himself received the Eichenlaub for his further achievements during the battle for the Cherkassy pocket. Especially during the breakout from the pocket he would show great bravery and energy. He collected a Bataillon of stragglers from the Korpsabteilung B and the 5. SS Panzer-Division “Wiking” and broke through a Soviet armoured group south of the road Potschapinzy-Lissjanka. With his horse Lieb then swam over the Gniloi-Tikitsch and reached safety at Lissjanka. For his role in this battle he would be christened the “Lion of Cherkassy” and be awarded the Eichenlaub directly from Hitler himself.




Generalleutnant Theobald "Theo-Helmut" Lieb (Kommandierender General XXXXII. Armeekorps) photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. Lieb himself received the Eichenlaub for his further achievements during the battle for the Cherkassy pocket. Especially during the breakout from the pocket he would show great bravery and energy. He collected a Bataillon of stragglers from the Korpsabteilung B and the 5. SS Panzer-Division “Wiking” and broke through a Soviet armoured group south of the road Potschapinzy-Lissjanka. With his horse Lieb then swam over the Gniloi-Tikitsch and reached safety at Lissjanka. For his role in this battle he would be christened the “Lion of Cherkassy” and be awarded the Eichenlaub directly from Hitler himself.



SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") photographed by Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. Degrelle’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: "The SS-Sturmbrigade ‘Wallonien’ belongs to the formations of the Heer and Waffen-SS that defied all enemy attacks during the weeks of combat in the Cherkassy pocket, fighting all alone. Degrelle took over leadership of the Brigade after its former brave commander, SS-Sturmbannführer Lucien Lippert, died in battle on 13 February 1944 after a shot to the chest. Prior to this Degrelle had already distinguished himself several times through his personal bravery, and in his new role he demonstrated outstanding leadership during the decisive breakthrough fighting of the last days. He and his brave Walloons acquitted themselves very well as they struggled side by side with soldiers of the Heer and the Germanic men of the Waffen-SS in a true comradely fashion."



SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. Degrelle’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: "The SS-Sturmbrigade ‘Wallonien’ belongs to the formations of the Heer and Waffen-SS that defied all enemy attacks during the weeks of combat in the Cherkassy pocket, fighting all alone. Degrelle took over leadership of the Brigade after its former brave commander, SS-Sturmbannführer Lucien Lippert, died in battle on 13 February 1944 after a shot to the chest. Prior to this Degrelle had already distinguished himself several times through his personal bravery, and in his new role he demonstrated outstanding leadership during the decisive breakthrough fighting of the last days. He and his brave Walloons acquitted themselves very well as they struggled side by side with soldiers of the Heer and the Germanic men of the Waffen-SS in a true comradely fashion."


Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive (Image-No.: 30028861)
Mark C. Yerger photo collection
"Hell’s Gate: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket, January-February 1944" by Douglas E. Nash
https://www.akg-images.de/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&ITEMID=2UMDHUNUH2AI
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/theo-helmut-lieb_9D243A48C5
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/album-foto-leon-degrelle.html
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/cfeb4812-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/53a04baf-8a8f-d652-fcf5-ff0a4e601ce5?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=gille&rows=1&page=1
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46430&p=1375350&hilit=gille&sid=4efb5f6b5be120d761949f74f47aa14e#p1375350
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/gille-herbert-general-of-the-waffen-ss-germanyfrom-left-to-news-photo/545336087
http://pantorijn.blogspot.com/2014/06/hoffmann-postcards-knight-cross-holders_41.html
https://waralbum.ru/364716/
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/photos-papers-propaganda-third-reich/signatures-waffen-ss-knights-cross-winners-6478-2/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/379950-original-presse-hoffmann-photos?t=379638
https://x.com/GermanScholarrr/status/1802039067288191330?lang=zh

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Léon Degrelle and SS General


SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") and SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei Richard Jungclaus (Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer Belgien-Nordfrankreich). The picture was taken on 1 April 1944 at Place Charles II Charleroi, Belgium, during the Sturmbrigade Wallonien's "Return to Homeland" parade. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.



Colorized image by R. White.


Source :
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/8lu9fp/commander_of_the_5th_walloon_volunteers_ss/
https://waralbum.ru/172049/

Léon Degrelle with His Soldiers in the Trench


SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Wallonien") distributes cigarettes to his soldiers. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Niquille near Stargard, Pomerania (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek said that the photo was taken on 7 March 1945, while Bundesarchiv said that it was taken at the end of February 1945). The Soviet counter-offensive, launched on 1 March 1945, pushed the Wallonien before it, and over the next few weeks was in almost constant combat throughout Central Pomerania until it reached the Oder near Stettin. The Wallonien, fighting alongside the Langemarck managed to hold a thin strip of land on the eastern bank of the Oder until it was forced back across the river in early April, 1945.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J28764
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive (Image-No.: 50090409)
https://albumwar2.com/commander-of-the-28th-ss-division-wallonien-leon-degrelle-distributes-cigarettes-to-his-soldiers/
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/album-foto-leon-degrelle.html
https://waralbum.ru/45175/