Luftwaffe Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony

1944


Hauptmann Gerhard Tschierschwitz (1920-1997) was born on 23 April 1920 in Berlin-Schöneberg and died on 17 January 1997 in Tutzing. He entered the Luftwaffe via the Regiment General Göring and later served in the motorized and armoured formations of the Fallschirm-Panzer-Division Hermann Göring. Rising through the ranks from Wachtmeister to Leutnant and then Oberleutnant, he became Chef of the 2. Kompanie of Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment Hermann Göring. During the heavy fighting in East Prussia in October 1944 his company, equipped with Panther tanks, executed a bold flanking manoeuvre that led to the capture of the village of Wirballen. Without infantry support Tschierschwitz then drove deep into the Soviet rear, destroying sixteen tanks, sixteen anti-tank guns, six artillery pieces and thirteen machine-guns while inflicting approximately three hundred enemy casualties. After establishing contact with a friendly infantry division his company had achieved a significant local success that disrupted Soviet operations. For this outstanding leadership and personal bravery he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 6 December 1944 as Oberleutnant and Chef of the 2. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment Hermann Göring. He was subsequently promoted to Hauptmann. Tschierschwitz remained with the division until the end of the war and fell into Soviet captivity on 3 June 1945. Initially sentenced to death in a show trial for alleged war crimes attributed to the corps, his sentence was later commuted to twenty-five years of hard labour; he was released on 8 October 1953. In addition to the Ritterkreuz he received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse and 1. Klasse, the Panzerkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe with the number 25, the Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe and the Verwundetenabzeichen.

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1945


From left to right: Leutnant Hermann Schleinhege (Staffelkapitän 8.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54), Leutnant Hugo Broch (Flugzeugführer in 8.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54), and General der Flieger Curt Pflugbeil (Oberbefehlshaber Luftflotte 1). The picture was taken at Cirava, Courland, in March 1945 during the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for ace pilot Broch. General Pflugbeil personally presented the decoration to Broch in recognition of his 79 confirmed aerial victories achieved during intense defensive operations against Soviet forces. As Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 54 and a highly decorated fighter ace with 96 victories of his own, Leutnant Hermann Schleinhege stood alongside his comrade Broch during the field presentation, representing the leadership of the Staffel that had fought together through the grueling months of the encirclement. Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/11/album-foto-upacara-penyerahan-medali_8977.html