Original Color Photograph of Walter Model by Walter Frentz

Generaloberst Walter Model (Oberbefehlshaber 9. Armee) in a picture taken on 28 February 1942 by Walter Frentz, during Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia. Previously in January 1942, as Soviet forces of the Kalinin and Western Fronts threatened to encircle the German 9. Armee in the Rzhev salient during the winter counteroffensive, General der Panzertruppe Walter Model, then commanding general of the XXXXI. Panzerkorps, was appointed to take charge of the beleaguered army on 16 January after its previous commander could no longer master the crisis. Upon assessing the desperate situation, in which Soviet pincer movements had nearly closed around the German positions and cut vital supply lines, Model flew to the Wolfsschanze and boldly proposed an immediate aggressive counteroffensive rather than further withdrawal, prompting Hitler’s approval with the words that he should proceed. Taking personal command, Model rapidly reorganized the exhausted formations of the 9. Armee, concentrating limited armoured and motorized reserves for decisive local strikes while directing the XXXXI. Panzerkorps and subordinate units such as the 2. Panzer-Division, 14. Infanterie-Division (mot.), and 36. Infanterie-Division (mot.) to seal breaches and restore cohesion along the front. Through a series of determined counterattacks launched in late January and early February, he succeeded in blunting the Soviet advance, isolating and largely destroying the remnants of several enemy armies that had penetrated the German rear areas, and by 5 February 1942 had largely cleared the immediate threat of encirclement, though scattered Soviet forces continued to operate in the dense forests behind the lines. His energetic leadership, frequent presence at the front, and insistence on offensive action even under severe winter conditions and supply shortages stabilized the Rzhev sector at a critical moment for Heeresgruppe Mitte. For these achievements in restoring the integrity of the 9. Armee and preventing a major operational disaster, Model was awarded the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 17 February 1942 while still holding the rank of General der Panzertruppe and nominal command of the XXXXI. Panzerkorps, an honour that recognized both his earlier corps-level performance during the withdrawal from Moscow and his decisive intervention with the army. Shortly thereafter, on 28 February, he received promotion to Generaloberst, solidifying his reputation as a resolute defensive commander capable of turning seemingly hopeless situations through bold and energetic measures.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2065738&hilit=walter+model#p2065738
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/200/Model-Otto-Moritz-Walter.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-l-m/