Ritterkreuzträger

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Sunday, March 31, 2024

Hans-Ulrich Rudel Speaking Before Journalists

Major Hans-Ulrich Rudel (Geschwaderführer Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann") spoke before domestic and foreign journalists on Wednesday, 6 April 1944, about the use of air power in defensive combat on the Eastern front. Here he also talks about his terrible experience when he had to make an emergency landing behind Soviet territory so he had to return to territory controlled by German troops many kilometers away on foot in the middle of the shivering winter! In this incident he also lost his radio operator and best friend Erwin Hentschel, who drowned while crossing the frozen Dniester river (600 meters long). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Ketelhohn.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Image-No.: 50061504)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/192878741171
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/11/album-foto-terbaik-hans-ulrich-rudel.html

Hans-Ulrich Rudel in a Telephone Call

Hauptmann Hans-Ulrich Rudel (Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 2) after making an emergency landing in a German held territory in the Eastern Front, October 1943. He immediately rushed to call his superior to ask for a few minutes to move his unit. There was still tension on his face, and he called without feeling the need to clean his oil-smeared face first!

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/11/album-foto-terbaik-hans-ulrich-rudel.html

Hans-Ulrich Rudel Funeral

22 December 1982: The funeral of Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the only Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross winner) with Goldenem Eichenlaub (golden oak leaves) and a member of the right-wing radical DRP, took place amidst a group of old and young fans of Adolf Hitler. Several of his mourners saluted with the "Heil Hitler". Photo by Klaus Rose.

Gunzenhausen, West Germany -- Mourners at the funeral of Nazi Germany's most honored bomber pilot Wednesday (22 December 1982) sang Nazi songs and raised their arms in the Nazi salute as he was buried.

Hans-Ulrich Rudel, who died Monday (18 December 1982) at the age of 66, was awarded Nazi Germany's highest military honor, a special form of the Iron Cross created specifically for him.

He later won notoriety after World War II for his pro-Nazi writings and speeches and praise of Adolf Hitler.

Some 2,000 people attended his funeral, many of them joining in the banned, pro-Nazi verses of the German national anthem 'Deutschland Uber Alles' and raising their outstretched right arms in the Nazi salute, witnesses said.

World War II veterans and women were among those who joined in the song and raised their arms.

The West German air force refused to send a representative to the funeral near Gunzenhausen south of Nuremberg, but West German Phantom fighter planes swooped low over the cemetery before and during the burial service making the shape of a cross in the sky, witnesses said.

Known as the 'Eagle of the Russian Front,' Rudel made 2,530 raids against the Soviet Union in his Stuka dive-bomber.

He is credited with destroying 519 Soviet tanks and 800 combat vehicles, and sinking or damaging three Russian warships and 70 landing vessels.

He escaped serious injury until 1945, when he lost a leg in combat. He spent a year as a prisoner of the American and British armies.

Rudel went to Argentina after the war where he reportedly played a role in building up the Argentine air force.

When he returned to West Germany he provoked criticism by his writings and speeches extolling Hitler and the war. One of his books was banned for sale to young people because authorities considered it dangerous.

The funeral of Rudel took place amidst a group of old and young fans of Adolf Hitler. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the only bearer of the Knight's Cross with golden oak leaves and supporter of the right-wing DRP. Several of his mourners saluted with the "Heil Hitler". Photo by Klaus Rose.

Several mourners, like this man in the leather coat, said goodbye at the grave with the Hitler salute. On December 22, 1982, former Luftwaffe Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the most decorated soldier in the Wehrmacht, was buried in the Dornhausen cemetery near Gunzenhausen. Among the approximately 2,000 mourners were delegations from right-wing extremist groups and parties from Germany, Holland and Belgium. Photo by Karl Staedele.

Source :
https://www.alamy.com/the-funeral-of-hans-ullrich-rudel-the-only-knights-cross-winner-with-golden-oak-leaves-and-a-member-of-the-right-wing-radical-drp-turned-into-a-image490194980.html
https://www.album-online.com/detail/en/NDYwODkxMA/funeral-hans-ullrich-rudel-only-knight-s-cross-winner-golden-alb9209216
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/image?family=editorial&phrase=hans%20ulrich%20rudel
https://www.shutterstock.com/pl/editorial/image-editorial/funeral-hans-ullrich-rudel-only-knight's-cross-winner-13612202ow
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/22/Nazi-sympathizers-at-funeral-of-German-ace/5492409381200/

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Wilhelm Rollmann

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann (Kommandant U-34) which were held on 3 August 1940 in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Rollmann formally received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 July 1940 - while he was at sea with his submarine - after he sunk his 23rd ship so far (with 93,684 GRT). Two of his more notable successes were the sinking of the British destroyer HMS Whirlwind and the British submarine Spearfish. This picture was published as a propaganda postcard, part of Bildarchiv Krupp-Germaniawerft Kiel series. The "Fried.Krupp Germaniawerft Aktiengesellschaft Kiel-Gaarden" (Bild-archiv) issued 24 postcards of "Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine" (Navy Knight's Cross Holders). A facsimile signature was part of the postcards. For collectors the Krupp company issued a special booklet to glue the postcards.

Source :
https://www.ea-militaria.com/ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger-postcard-kapitanleutnant-wilhelm-rollmann.html
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/255017945217
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Rollmann
http://pantorijn.blogspot.com/2015/01/bildarchiv-krupp-germaniawerft-kiel.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/35673/Rollmann-Wilhelm-Eduard-Max.htm
https://uboat.net/men/rollmann.htm

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Hans-Ulrich Rudel at a DRP Meeting

Hans-Ulrich Rudel (1916-1982), a former Oberst in the German Luftwaffe, attends a meeting of the DRP (Deutsche Reichspartei) in the Rotmain Hall, Bayreuth, 2nd September 1953. He is accompanied by his mother. Rudel was forbidden to address the meeting by the Bavarian Ministry for the Interior, but others were permitted to read portions of his speech to the assembly.

Source :
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/hans-ulrich-rudel-a-former-oberst-in-the-german-luftwaffe-news-photo/91873703

Friday, March 22, 2024

Hans-Ulrich Rudel Stuka with His Gruppe

"Um 12.10 Uhr startet die Gruppe!" (The group starts at 12.10 p.m.!). The Junkers Ju 87s are at the start with their engines throttled down, waiting for the operational order. In the foreground is the machine of the Gruppenkommandeur of III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2), Eichenlaubträger Hauptmann Hans-Ulrich Rudel. The picture was taken in the summer of 1943.

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/a5675d7e-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/e495de44-8646-53dc-fd3e-ee010b5b9b34?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=rudel&rows=1&page=2

1000th Flight of Hans-Ulrich Rudel

Original caption: "1000. Feindflug eines Stuka-Fliegers. Oberleutnant Rudel erreichte als erster Flieger diese hohe Zahl. Ritterkreuzträger Oberleutnant Hans Ulricht Rudel, Flugzeugführer in einen Sturzkampfgeschwäder, führt dieser Tage seinen 1000. Feindflug durch. Er ist der erste deutsche Flieger, der diese hohe Zahl erreicht hat. Von seinen vielen Erfolgen ist die Versenkung zweier Kreuzer besonders zu erwähnen." (1000th enemy flight by a Stuka pilot. First Lieutenant Rudel was the first pilot to achieve this high number. Knight's Cross holder Oberleutnant Hans Ulricht Rudel, pilot in a dive squadron, is currently carrying out his 1000th combat flight. He is the first German pilot to achieve this high number. Of his many successes, the sinking of two cruisers deserves special mention).

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/edfa2eb8-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/81e11642-bf76-30e8-f3d7-5913c10cc193?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=rudel&rows=1&page=1

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Engelbert Endrass in Hoffmann Postcard

Eichenlaubträger Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass in Hoffmann postcard series Nr. 1552. This propaganda postcard was published by 'Photo-Hoffmann' in München and measures approximately 15 x 10,5 cms. Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler's personal photographer, made various series when publishing his photo's as postcards. Perhaps the most popular is the R serie with Knight's Cross holders where the 'R' stands for 'Ritterkreuzträger'. All the series with a letter as prefix are more or less known. But Hoffmann published also a serie (apart from 1501 to 1599) with no prefix running from number 1 to 1200. I will call it the 'main serie' and it is at the same time the most difficult serie to complete. Although all the postcards are from Hoffmann they have different publisher names and places (Münich or Berlin): Photo-Hoffmann, Verlag Heinrich Hoffmann, Presse Illustrationen Hoffmann. The serie consist not only postcards but also poster and folders with series of postcards.

Source :
https://www.akpool.co.uk/postcards/27328118-postcard-unterseeboots-kommandant-engelbert-endrass-ritterkreuztraeger-kriegsmarine-photo-hoffmann-1552
https://alchetron.com/Engelbert-Endrass
https://www.ea-militaria.com/ritterkreuztrager-postcard-unterseeboots-kommandant-endrass.html
http://pantorijn.blogspot.com/2014/06/hoffmann-postcards-knight-cross-holders_8723.html
https://www.team-militaria.de/Portrait-Eichenlaub-und-Ritterkreuztraeger-Kapitaenleutnant-Engelbert-Endrass

Bio of Oberfeldwebel Johann Boos (1915-2003)

Johann Boos

Date of Birth: 01.08.1915 - Ney, Kreis St.Goar/Hunsrück, Rheinprovinz (German Empire)
Date of Death: 20.12.2003 - Kratzenburg, Rheinland-Pfalz (Germany)

Battles and Operations: Battle of France (1940), Battle of Britain (1940), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Crimea Campaign (1942)

Promotions:
01.10.1937 Gefreiter
01.04.1939 Unteroffizier
01.04.1941 Feldwebel
01.08.1942 Oberfeldwebel
00.00.194_ Oberfeldwebel (Bw) (Z)

Career:
00.00.1935 Served in 6.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 55 / 17.Infanterie-Division
00.00.1936 Joined the Luftwaffe
00.00.1938 Flugzeugführer-Lehrgang
00.12.1939 Flugzeugführer in 8.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 55 (KG 55)
00.02.1941 Flugzeugführer in 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 55 (KG 55)
16.05.1943 MIA on his 416th mission when his He 111 was shot down over Kropotkin
19.05.1943 captured with his crew by the Soviet - POW
02.06.1948 released

Awards and Decorations:
03.06.1939 Flugzeugführerabzeichen
12.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
25.09.1940 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
13.04.1941 Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze
20.04.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
25.06.1941 Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber
23.09.1941 Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
19.10.1941 Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold
10.07.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
16.10.1942 Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger
15.03.1943 Krimschild
09.10.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberfeldwebel and Flugzeugführer in 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 55 (KG 55). Awarded after flying 416 bomber sorties

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Johann Boos was born on 1 August 1915 in Ney, in the St.Goar/Hunsrück district. His military career commenced in the army, as part of the 6th company of the 55th Infantry Regiment, which belonged to the 17th Infantry Division. After completing basic training, he volunteered for the new Luftwaffe in Würzburg in the fall of 1936. His training as an aircraft pilot took place from spring 1938 in Detmold, Magdeburg, Münster, Celle and Tutow.

At the start of the war he was serving with 9.Staffel / Kampfgeschwader 55 (KG 55), in Neudorf near Oppeln, which was commanded at the time by Oberst Alois Stoeckl. Boos achieved significant success in attacking shipping targets, as well as industrial and railway facilities during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. Here he was wounded. He also demonstrated his skills in the campaign against the Soviet Union. Boos was the last pilot to escape from the besieged Stalingrad Pocket after flying a supply mission, and evacuating casualties on the way out.

His 416th combat flight, which he carried out on May 16, 1943, was his last flight for the German Air Force in World War II. During this flight, his Heinkel He 111H-16 (Werknummer 8529) "G1 + AT" bomber was shot down by Russian flak in an attack on the Krapotkin train station that was based near Armavir. He and his crew - Oberfeldwebel Helmuth Wagner (Observer), Oberfeldwebel Gustav Samorski (Radio Operator), Unteroffizier Eberhard Rode (Flight Engineer) and Unteroffizier Kurt Rothert (Gunner) - were declared MIA (missing in action), while in reality all the surviving aircrew tried to make their way to the German side, but were caught after 3 days and taken prisoner by Soviets. After 5 years abroad in Russia, he was released from the Tcheljabinsk camp in Siberia on June 2, 1948, seriously ill.

Johann Boos returned to Germany. Only now did he learn that he had been subsequently awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on October 9, 1943. Due to the award of the most coveted German medal, his parents received a monthly allowance of 100 Reichsmarks from February 1, 1944.

After his imprisonment, Boos worked as a worker in a high-voltage electricity plant from October 1950, and at times also as an unskilled laborer in wood procurement. From October 1st, 1969 to July 31st, 1980 he was a technical employee at the Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement in Koblenz until he was released into his well-deserved retirement.

Johann Boos died on December 20, 2003 in Kratzenburg near Koblenz.

Johann Boos as a member of Heer, in parade uniform.

Johann Boos (foreground) as a member of Heer before the war.

Unteroffizier der Luftwaffe Johann Boos.

Unteroffizier Johann Boos (right) in the cockpit.

Johann Boos (left) with comrades.

Johann Boos (below) with fellow air crew.

Johann Boos (left) with fellow air crew.

Bomber pilot Johann Boos.

Johann Boos (left) with comrade.

Johann Boos (right) with comrades.

Johann Boos (third from right) with comrades.

Johann Boos (right) with comrades.

Johann Boos (second from right) with comrades.

Johann Boos (center) with comrades.

Johann Boos in the cockpit of Heinkel He 111.

Johann Boos (right) in the cockpit of Heinkel He 111.

Studio portrait of Oberfeldwebel Johann Boos (Flugzeugführer in 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 55) with added Ritterkreuz in his neck. By the time he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (9 October 1943), Boos already became the POW of the Soviets. On 16 May 1943 previously he was reported missing after his Heinkel He 111H-16 (Werknummer 8529) "G1 + AT" bomber was shot down by enemy flak over Kropotkin. It was his 416th flight mission. Remaining crew (POW): Oberfeldwebel Helmuth Wagner (Observer), Oberfeldwebel Gustav Samorski (Radio Operator), Unteroffizier Eberhard Rode (Flight Engineer) and Unteroffizier Kurt Rothert (Gunner). They headed for German lines after force landing, but after three days, they were captured by Soviet troops. Boos was the last pilot to escape from the besieged Stalingrad Pocket after flying a supply mission, and evacuating casualties on the way out. He was released by the Soviets only after the war is over (2 June 1948).

Awards and documents of Johann Boos, auctioned by Andreas Thies. Other items from this grouping can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?s=2100&q=A%2A
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/luftwaffe-pilots-6_C3E44F1B85
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auktionen/67-750774
https://www.ebay.com/itm/204238238625
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Johann_Boos
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28582/Boos-Johann-Kampfgeschwader-55.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20110105103052fw_/http://ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Luftwaffe/B/Bo/Boos-Johann.htm