During World War II, the Ushanka—a classic Russian winter hat with a rounded fur or sheepskin crown and oversized ear flaps that could be tied up on top or secured under the chin—unexpectedly became part of the equipment of many German soldiers on the Eastern Front, despite being an iconic symbol of Soviet forces. The Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS entered the Soviet Union in 1941 with inadequate winter clothing, and the catastrophic first winter of 1941–42 brought temperatures plunging to −40 °C (−40 °F), causing widespread frostbite and non-combat casualties because standard German field caps and helmets offered little protection against the extreme cold and wind. As a result, frontline troops routinely scavenged or captured Soviet winter gear from battlefields, supply dumps, and prisoners; among the most sought-after items were authentic Ushankas made of rabbit fur, sheepskin, or heavy felt, which provided far superior insulation and comfort. These captured hats were frequently modified to avoid confusion with the enemy: Soviet red stars or cockades were removed and replaced with German insignia such as the Wehrmacht eagle, branch-specific emblems (for example, artillery crossed cannons), or even Waffen-SS runes, with surviving examples—including 1940-dated enlisted Ushankas bearing period-applied Heer artillery badges—now preserved in museums and private collections. Historical photographs from the battles around Moscow, the Rzhev salient, and early Stalingrad frequently show German infantrymen, artillerymen, and panzer crews wearing these altered Ushankas alongside their greatcoats or captured Soviet padded jackets, demonstrating both the dire supply shortages faced by the German army and the practical resourcefulness of its soldiers in one of the most brutal theaters of the war.
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Generalleutnant der Reserve Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche (1893-1968), known as the "Panzergraf", was born on 30 July 1893 in Groß-Stein in Upper Silesia into an old Silesian noble family and entered the Prussian military academies before joining the Garde du Corps as a Leutnant, serving with distinction as a cavalry officer in the opening weeks of the First World War until his capture by the French in October 1914. After the war he led a Freikorps in the Upper Silesian uprisings of 1921, for which he received the Schlesischer Adler, and later managed the family estates while joining the NSDAP and SS in the early 1930s. Recalled to active service with the Panzerwaffe at the outbreak of the Second World War, he participated in the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France before transferring to the 16. Panzer-Division. As Major der Reserve and Kommandeur of the I. Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment 2 he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 25 August 1941 for decisive actions that contributed to the closing of the Uman pocket and the seizure of key junctions such as Perwomaisk. Promoted to Oberstleutnant der Reserve he received the Eichenlaub on 13 November 1942 as the 144th recipient for his Abteilung’s outstanding performance during the advance on Stalingrad, including the destruction of large numbers of Soviet tanks near Kalach and being among the first German troops to reach the Volga north of the city. As Oberst der Reserve and Kommandeur of the Panzer-Regiment Großdeutschland he was awarded the Schwerter on 28 March 1943, the 27th such award, for the regiment’s successes in the Third Battle of Kharkov, particularly the recapture of Belgorod. On 15 April 1944, while commanding a Panzer-Kampfgruppe under Heeresgruppe Nord on the Narva front, he received the Brillanten as the 11th recipient for leading a mixed Panzer and Sturmgeschütz force through difficult terrain to break Soviet encirclements and restore the defensive line. Promoted to Generalmajor der Reserve and later Generalleutnant der Reserve, he continued to lead panzer formations until the end of the war, after which he lived as a landowner and military adviser until his death on 25 April 1968 in Prien am Chiemsee.
Oberleutnant Viktor Lindemann (1916-1942) was born on 23 November 1916 in Koblenz in the Rhine Province of Germany and served as an officer in the Heer during the Second World War. As Leutnant and Adjutant of the III. Bataillon of Infanterie-Regiment 124 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 September 1941 for his conduct during operations on the Eastern Front in the opening phase of the German campaign against the Soviet Union. He later received promotion to Oberleutnant and was appointed Chef of the 4. Schwadron of Radfahr-Abteilung 72 in the 72. Infanterie-Division. In addition to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes he was decorated with the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse and the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. Lindemann was killed in action on 9 September 1942 near Dubakino on the southern sector of the Eastern Front while serving in his command role with the bicycle reconnaissance unit. The precise action or series of actions that led to the award of his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes is not described in detail in the available biographical entries on the internet, which record only the date, his rank and his assignment at the time of the bestowal.
Oberwachtmeister Wilhelm "Willy" Bachor (1921-2008), born on 4 May 1921 in Kelbassen, East Prussia, and who died on 20 March 2008 in Apolda, Thuringia, was a highly decorated panzer commander in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War who rose through the ranks from agricultural apprentice to one of the most successful tank aces of the 24. Panzer-Division. Enlisting in December 1939, he first served with Reiter-Regiment 2 in the Western Campaign, participating in advances to Dunkirk and Paris, before shifting to the Eastern Front with the 1. Kavallerie-Division, seeing action in the Rokitno and Pripjet swamps, at Gomel, Zhitomir, and the Vyazma-Bryansk battles; after the unit’s conversion into a Panzer division, Bachor joined the 1. Kompanie of Panzer-Regiment 24 and fought in the Voronezh, Kalatsch, and Stalingrad sectors in 1942, where he was seriously wounded and evacuated. Returning to the front, he endured the retreat through Romania and Hungary to Nikopol and the desperate defensive battles in East Prussia in early 1945. His Ritterkreuz action occurred on 18 March 1945 northeast of Grunenfeld in East Prussia, where, as Zugführer in the 12. Kompanie, III. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 24, he single-handedly supported hard-pressed Grenadiers against a major Soviet breakthrough. Despite intense artillery and anti-tank fire and being hit twice himself, Bachor engaged at close range with his Sturmgeschütz, destroying six Soviet medium and heavy tanks or assault guns, then pursued the retreating enemy on his own initiative, knocking out two more tanks and immobilizing a 15.2 cm assault gun with his final high-explosive rounds, thereby preventing the breakthrough and bringing his personal total to 57 armored kills plus over 90 destroyed anti-tank guns, artillery pieces, and mortars. Although the formal award recommendation from his commander, Rittmeister Kuls, and division commander von Nostitz-Wallwitz reached corps level but was never processed before the German capitulation, the Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger later recognized it as justified on 11 May 1945. Bachor also earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 28 June 1944, multiple wound badges, and the Panzerkampfabzeichen in the III. Stufe for 50 engagements, embodying fearless leadership as a Panzer Kommandant who repeatedly fought in the foremost line despite nine wounds.
Oberwachtmeister Wilhelm "Willy" Bachor (1921-2008), born on 4 May 1921 in Kelbassen, East Prussia, and who died on 20 March 2008 in Apolda, Thuringia, was a highly decorated panzer commander in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War who rose through the ranks from agricultural apprentice to one of the most successful tank aces of the 24. Panzer-Division. Enlisting in December 1939, he first served with Reiter-Regiment 2 in the Western Campaign, participating in advances to Dunkirk and Paris, before shifting to the Eastern Front with the 1. Kavallerie-Division, seeing action in the Rokitno and Pripjet swamps, at Gomel, Zhitomir, and the Vyazma-Bryansk battles; after the unit’s conversion into a Panzer division, Bachor joined the 1. Kompanie of Panzer-Regiment 24 and fought in the Voronezh, Kalatsch, and Stalingrad sectors in 1942, where he was seriously wounded and evacuated. Returning to the front, he endured the retreat through Romania and Hungary to Nikopol and the desperate defensive battles in East Prussia in early 1945. His Ritterkreuz action occurred on 18 March 1945 northeast of Grunenfeld in East Prussia, where, as Zugführer in the 12. Kompanie, III. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 24, he single-handedly supported hard-pressed Grenadiers against a major Soviet breakthrough. Despite intense artillery and anti-tank fire and being hit twice himself, Bachor engaged at close range with his Sturmgeschütz, destroying six Soviet medium and heavy tanks or assault guns, then pursued the retreating enemy on his own initiative, knocking out two more tanks and immobilizing a 15.2 cm assault gun with his final high-explosive rounds, thereby preventing the breakthrough and bringing his personal total to 57 armored kills plus over 90 destroyed anti-tank guns, artillery pieces, and mortars. Although the formal award recommendation from his commander, Rittmeister Kuls, and division commander von Nostitz-Wallwitz reached corps level but was never processed before the German capitulation, the Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger later recognized it as justified on 11 May 1945. Bachor also earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 28 June 1944, multiple wound badges, and the Panzerkampfabzeichen in the III. Stufe for 50 engagements, embodying fearless leadership as a Panzer Kommandant who repeatedly fought in the foremost line despite nine wounds.
Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/11/album-foto-tokoh-nazi-jerman-yang.html
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