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.
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 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.
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."
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
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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
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