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Sunday, July 14, 2024

Herbert Otto Gille in Color


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-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.


Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/223/Gille-Herbert-Otto-Papa.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-g-h/

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