Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) shaking hands and congratulates SS-Sturmbannführer Degrelle for his newly awarded Eichenlaub, while SS-Obergruppenführer Steiner looks on. This picture was taken by Heinrich Hoffmann on 28 August 1944 during award ceremony for the two SS officers veteran of the Battle of Narva, which were held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia. SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") received the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz (bestowal date 27 August 1944), while SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Felix Steiner (Kommandierender General III. SS-Panzerkorps) received the Schwerter (bestowal date 10 August 1944). BTW, in his memoirs, Degrelle said that every time he met Steiner, his boss always looked calm and fragrant, even in the midst of the war! German people at that time used to use Rassierwasser (aftershave) after shaving, and Steiner was no exception. Famous brands during the Third Reich include TARR, "Eau de Cologne", (Kölnisch Wasser) 4711, and Pitralon.
Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) shaking hands and congratulates SS-Obergruppenführer Steiner for his newly awarded Schwerter, while SS-Sturmbannführer Degrelle saluting. This picture was taken by Heinrich Hoffmann on 28 August 1944 during award ceremony for the two SS officers veteran of the Battle of Narva, which were held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia. SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Felix Steiner (Kommandierender General III. SS-Panzerkorps) received the Schwerter for his Ritterkreuz (bestowal date 10 August 1944), while SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") received the Eichenlaub (bestowal date 27 August 1944).The tall guy at left is Hitler's adjutant, SS-Sturmbannführer Richard Schulze.
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Felix Steiner (Kommandierender General III. SS-Panzerkorps) received the Schwerter for his Ritterkreuz (bestowal date 10 August 1944) and SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") arrived at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, before the award ceremony with Hitler, 28 August 1944. In this clip we can also see two other prominent Ritterkreuzträger from the Waffen-SS: SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Panzer-Generaloberst der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich" (Oberbefehlshaber 5. Panzerarmee) and SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Hermann Fegelein (Verbindungsoffizier zwischen dem Reichsführer-SS und dem Führerhauptquartier).
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Felix Steiner (Kommandierender General III. SS-Panzerkorps) photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the Schwerter award ceremony - for the veteran of the Battle of Narva - with Hitler on 28 August 1944. The medal was formally awarded on 10 August 1944 for the following command achievements: 1) Overseeing the creation of the Division "Nordland" and the Brigade "Nederland", and their organization under the banner of the III. (germanisches) SS-Panzerkorps. 2) The successful defence by these units against enemy breakout attempts from the Oranienbaum pocket. 3) Keeping his forces intact during the retreat from Leningrad and in their redeployment along the Narva front. 4) The epic defense of his units along the Tannenberg line in July of 1944. Despite overwhelming enemy force his soldiers held their ground against all the odds, during which heavy enemy casualties (including 1020 tanks claimed destroyed) were inflicted.
SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the Eichenlaub award ceremony - for the veteran of the Battle of Narva - with Hitler on 28 August 1944. The medal was formally awarded on 27 August 1944 with the recommendation reads as follows: “An enemy attack on 23 August 1944 that focused against Estonian formations led to the total disintegration of these units. With this the entire west/southwest flank of Dorpat was exposed, and only defended by alarm units of minimal combat minor. Meanwhile, during the morning hours of this day, SS-Sturmbannführer Degrelle was driving to a heavy Kompanie positioned further to the southwest. After discovering the situation he assembled the disorganized units in the vicinity of Lemmatsi that were fleeing towards Dorpat. He reformed them into a Kampfgruppe buttressed by weak German units, and on the very same day he used this unit to create a firm security line along the axis of the main enemy advance. His personal devotion to duty is characterized by the fact that he was able to persuade the less steadfast Estonians to hold their ground by giving his orders to them directly from the trenches themselves. It was only his commitment to the action that prevented an enemy advance towards the city of Dorpat and the consequent cutting-off of friendly elements that were still positioned south of the city.” (According to his soldbuch the awarding was on September 14th, 1944)
Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/13986/Steiner-Felix-Martin-Julius-Waffen-SS.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-s/
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