This picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Franz Roth on 13 February 1943, and it shows SS-Untersturmführer Rudolf von Ribbentrop (Zugführer 1.Zug / 6.Kompanie / II.Abeilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") with his Panzer IV "615" - probably a H or J model - before the Third Battle of Kharkov (19 February - 15 March 1943). At this time the 6th Panzer Company was attached to Kampfgruppe Meyer. Later in the day Rudolf was wounded by Russian machine gun fire and did not return to the Panzer Regiment until February 21. This photo has been miscaptioned in many books as having been taken in late February, but by then War Correspondent Roth was already badly wounded and not with KG Meyer. In Kharkov, Rudolf von Ribbentrop had especially distinguished himself through outstanding courage, coldblooded bravery and circumspect leadership. The combat-ready Company of Kompanieführer von Ribbentrop threw itself again and again toward the Russians and became engaged in battle with the much stronger foe. In this fight his tank personally destroyed 14 enemy tanks. For his achievements he would be recommended with the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, but instead be awarded with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes!
Source :
https://www.reddit.com/r/GermanWW2photos/comments/fan9ok
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-headgear/rudolf-von-ribbentrop-783266-5//rudolf_von_ribbentrop_son_of_joachim_von/
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