Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Herbert Gille and Hans Dorr

Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) received two officers from 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" who had just awarded the Eichenlaub for their Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. In this picture - taken at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, in November 1943 - the Führer shakes hands with SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), while at left stands SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking").

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 Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler in November 1943. Gille's Eichenlaub recommendation reads as follows: "SS-Brigadeführer Gille took over acting command of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div. Wiking in October 1942. In May 1943 he was named commander of this SS-Division. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his successes as leader of a Vorausabteilung during the offensive battles of summer 1942 in the Caucasus. In the recent fighting SS-Brigadeführer Gille has decisively intervened in the combat along the southern front on several occasions through the outstanding leadership of his Division. He has distinguished himself through his confident and energetic leadership, his swift and superior issuing of orders and above all through his personal example and determination. His outstanding personal bravery in the foremost line was often the deciding factor in resolving situations both dangerous and critical alike. It is primarily to his credit that his Division has been able to perform as well as it has over the course of numerous battles in the thick of combat on the southern front. Throughout this time it has shown true devotion to duty and earned the respect of its comrades in the Heer. It has been named several times in the Heeresbericht and in the press due to its exemplary achievements on the battlefield. And to this day it continues to hold a sector of over 25 km wide on the Dnieper river despite having been employed in heavy fighting for two years. All of this is thanks to the tireless readiness for duty, responsibility and dutifulness of its commander."

SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler in November 1943. Dorr’s Eichenlaub recommendation reads as follows: "Hans Dorr was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his crossing of the Kuban river and creation of a bridgehead at Grigeripoliskaja on 2 August 1942. On 8 August 1942 SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr received the order to launch an advance with his Kampfgruppe (1 Schützen-Kompanie, 1 heavy Kompanie, 1 armoured car Kompanie, 1 Batterie of LFH howitzers) from Tengenskaja via Belescherskaja to Maikop. There he was to link up with the Vorausabteilung of the 16. Infanterie-Division (mot), commence an advance to Tuapse alongside this unit and block the coastal road Noworossisk-Tuapse. Moving out on 9 August 1942, SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr thrust through the enemy forces that were fleeing southward from the northern front of the Kuban river over the course of 2 violent days. The much larger enemy threatened to crush the Kampfgruppe on several occasions, however every time SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr succeeded in mastering the most confusing of situations with confidence and bravery. By the evening of 10 August 1942 SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr had fulfilled the first part of his mission, having made contact with the Vorausabteilung of the 16. Infanterie-Division (mot). On 15 August 1942 SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr once again moved out. The Kampfgruppe was subordinated to the 97. Jäger-Division as a Vorausabteilung. It’s new mission was to advance via Apscheronskaja to Muk through the 40 km wide forest belt in order to make contact with the southernmost attacking spearhead of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div. Wiking. Kampfgruppe Dorr fought through the forest zone between Maikop and Apscheronskaja in a bitter 4-day battle, eliminated much superior enemy forces and opened the path for the 97. Jäger-Division to Muk. Toughly defended and mined tree barricades over a distance of 15 km could not stop the irresistible forward drive of the Kampfgruppe. SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr constantly inspired his men to their greatest achievements through his own personal example. He appeared at the hotspots of the fighting whenever the attack ground down under the energetic enemy defensive fire, entering the close combat with machine-pistol and hand grenades and bringing the Kampfgruppe’s attack back into motion. His tireless, selfless devotion to duty played a major role in securing a decisive success, namely the clearing out and occupation of the oil area Maikop-Chadzhenskaja. On 17 March 1943 the enemy launched a surprise crossing over the Donez river between Ssemenowka and Bol Garaschewka with strong infantry forces. They penetrated into the positions of the 259. Infanterie-Division and tried to force a breakthrough towards Barwenkowo with swiftly brought up tank forces. When the Regiment commenced its attack against the broken-in enemy on 18 July 1943, Dorr’s Bataillon received orders to attack northwards from Barabaschewka against Ssredny and eliminate the enemy located there. They would then turn westwards and seize the decisive Soviet crossing point, the bridge at Bol Garaschewka. Moving out in the early morning, the Bataillon succeeded in seizing Ssredny from the enemy through a bold and energetically conducted thrust. The Bataillon cleared the village following bitter urban combat and destroyed major hostile elements. After securing the village the Bataillon pivoted towards the west as ordered, but it soon ran into a Soviet tank-led counterattack from the direction of Bol Garaschewka. At the same time the Bataillon received murderous defensive fire from the northern bank of the Donez river, which prevented the Bataillon from carrying out its plan as intended. A forward advance appeared to be out of the question. It would once again be SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr who would master the dangerous situation through his fearlessness and tactical skill. He gathered up a few MG squads, overcame the enemy’s blocking fire as the first in the line and then stormed Hill 64.8 (located 2 km northwest of Ssredny) with his troops while fighting with his own machine-pistol and hand grenades. The capture of this hill was of decisive importance for the continuation of this attack. SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr was wounded during the last phase of the attack against Hill 64.8, however he stayed in the foremost line and gave his orders and instructions for the continued attack against the bridge position. He only gave himself up for medical attention at the orders of the regimental commander. SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr and his Bataillon had a major share in the constriction of the bridgehead on this day, as well as in the destruction of significant enemy forces. On 19 September 1943 the Regiment took up a security position on both sides of the Chorol—Krementschug road, however its sheer width (12 km) meant that it could only be occupied in a strongpoint-like fashion. Bataillon Dorr, deployed on the left, deployed one Kompanie each to occupy strongpoints at Kutarshicha, Bairak and the Mogilen hill (1 km north of Worschio-Jenki). On the night of 20-21 September 1943 the enemy, utilizing the extremely good terrain conditions, succeeded in entering the rear of strongpoint Bairak (occupied by 2. Kompanie with a combat strength of only 25 men) with 200 men of their own, and they then began to roll up the strongpoint from the rear. 2. Kompanie was forced to abandon Bairak and pull back towards the south. Then SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr arrived on the battlefield. He gathered up the remainder of the heavily depleted Kompanie, brought a heavy infantry gun into position and began a counterthrust. Once more fighting at the spearhead with machine-pistol and grenades, he succeeded in seizing the southern part of Bairak from the Soviets. However despite strong friendly artillery support the enemy’s resistance stiffened, and our own counterthrust came to a halt. An immediately launched Soviet counterthrust threatened to encircle the small group. However, thanks to the shining example of their commander, the Kompanie was inspired to fight with determination to the last man. SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr and his remaining men succeeded in holding the southern part of Bairak long enough for a friendly self-propelled gun Kompanie to arrive from the Regiment. SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr then resolved to immediately renew his own assault. He swiftly issued orders, mounted up onto the first self-propelled gun and commenced the renewed attack. The Soviets were bewildered by the energetically executed thrust, and began to pull back while also defending each house bitterly. The commander’s vehicle received a direct hit, with the entire crew being either killed or badly wounded. Only the commander himself got away with minor injuries. Undeterred, SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr stormed forwards on foot and continued to prosecute the assault until Bairak was once again in friendly hands. The Soviets repeatedly tried again to seize Bairak, however they were bloodily repulsed every time. The enemy was once again badly battered by the fighting. Dorr’s Bataillon thus had a major share in the successes of the Division in the Chorol sector. Over the course of several days of furious struggle the enemy’s breakthrough attempts towards Krementschug had been prevented. The enemy succeeded in occupying the 2 km long Dnieper island located 4 km southeast of Pekari (south of Kannew). By orders of the III. Panzer-Korps, Dorr’s Bataillon was attached to the 57. Infanterie-Division in order to help liquidate the enemy’s presence on the Dnieper island. After hastily assembling for the fight the Bataillon launched its attack early on 27 September 1943. They overcame a sandbank, the only connection to the island, and succeeded in securing the island’s southern tip in a swift strike. However the difficult terrain, comprised of stunted trees and thick undergrowth, favoured the the defense and our own attack became heavily compromised. A man to man battle ensued, one that was fanatically prosecuted by both sides. The enemy attempted to break up the attack via bitterly conducted counterthrusts. However SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr held the Bataillon together with an iron hand, and mastered the difficult situations with his by-now legendary calm. When the Soviets finally managed to overrun 3. Kompanie in a counterthrust, SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr at once rushed to the site with 2 squads from 2. Kompanie and plunged into the broken-in enemy. The foe was crushed after an hour of gruelling combat. The front of 3. Kompanie was closed and our own attack could once again proceed. An enemy group of about 100 men that suddenly appeared in the rear of the Bataillon was destroyed/dispersed by SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr and the swiftly assembled messengers of the Bataillon staff. Dorr’s Bataillon ultimately managed to eliminate the enemy forces (about 300 men strong) over the course of a 10-hour battle. By nightfall the island was firmly in friendly hands. The Soviets had sustained heavy losses in men, equipment and weapons. On 30 September 1943 Dorr’s Bataillon was attached to the 3. Panzer-Division in order to eliminate the bridgehead east of Studinez (10 km north of Kannew). The Bataillon’s mission was to eliminate the enemy forces in the bridgehead and take control of the west bank of the Dnieper. Following a strong friendly artillery preparation the 3. Panzer-Division moved out at 06:40 on 2 October 1943. After a short yet fierce engagement Dorr’s Bataillon reached its first attack objective, the ravine east of Point 175.9. However the friendly forces on the left and right received strong fire from anti-tank guns and mortars. They were forced to go to ground, and eventually went back to their jump-off positions. Clearly recognizing the situation, the enemy launched a counterattack to interfere with these retreat movements. Dorr’s forward Kompanien took up all-round defensive positions in the ravine, however they were encircled by the enemy’s counterattack. The Bataillon’s situation was critical. The neighbouring groups once again went over to the attack, but made no better progress. An exhausted Kampfgruppe was similarly unable to reach the encircled elements of Dorr’s Bataillon. SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr thus launched his own attack towards the encircled elements of his Bataillon at 18:30 with 4 Sturmgeschützen. After bitter close combat the enemy’s encirclement ring was broken, and this permitted the encircled units to retreat to the lines of the neighbouring groups. The wounded were secured and taken to a safe place. The relief of these encircled elements is solely attributable to the abilities of the Bataillon commander, one highly respected by his men. The courage and dutifulness of SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr was enough to merit recognition by the commander of the 3. Panzer-Division, Generalleutnant Westhoven, as is clear from a personal letter he wrote to the commander of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div. Wiking, SS-Brigadeführer Gille: ‘The irrepressible SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr has achieved commendable merit through his prudent and yet brave attitude, and through these attributes he has brought valuable documents into the hands of the higher commands.’ SS-Hauptsturmführer Dorr has thus had an outstanding share in the successes of his Bataillon and by extension the Regiment as a whole through his personal courage, decisiveness and calm, even in the most critical of moments."

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/search.php?keywords=gille&t=46430&sf=msgonly
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Hans_Dorr
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-g-h/