The German Kehlkopfmikrofon, or throat microphone, was a vital contact microphone used extensively by Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe personnel during the Second World War to enable clear voice communication in extremely noisy environments such as tank interiors and aircraft cockpits. Unlike conventional air microphones, it detected vibrations directly from the larynx through dual sensors pressed against the sides of the wearer’s throat, thereby filtering out engine roar, gunfire and wind noise while leaving the hands free for other tasks. Early models such as the Kmf.2 and Kmf.4 appeared around 1935–1936 for use with Torn.Fu. radios and early Panzer crews; these were largely recalled and upgraded by 1938. The most common wartime variants were the Kmf.a, Kmf.b and the simplified late-war Kmf.c, each consisting of two roughly 30 mm bakelite capsules mounted on a leather-wrapped spring-steel neckband, connected by fabric-covered cables to a bakelite control box marked “E” for Empfang and “S” for Senden, and terminating in a two- or three-prong plug that interfaced with intercom systems such as the Panzerkasten 20 or aircraft radio sets. Panzer crews of the 13. Panzer-Division and other armoured units relied on these microphones together with Dfh.b or Dfh.d headsets to coordinate movement, gunnery and radio traffic inside vehicles where normal speech was impossible. Luftwaffe aircrew, including bomber and fighter pilots, employed similar Kehlkopfmikrofone integrated into flying helmets or oxygen-mask assemblies, often designated L 38114. Although speech quality suffered from poor reproduction of sibilants, the devices proved indispensable for command and control under combat conditions and remained in service until 1945.
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HEER
Oberstleutnant Herbert Gomille (1913-2009) was born on 15 August 1913 in Waldmohr in Bavaria, Germany, and later served as an officer in the Heer during the Second World War. He began his career with Panzer-Regiment 4 of the 13. Panzer-Division and was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 April 1941. On 14 April 1942 he assumed command of the II. Abteilung of Panzer-Regiment 4. For earlier successes he received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 29 September 1939, the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 23 May 1940, and the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 14 February 1942 while leading the 5. Kompanie. In September 1942, while his Abteilung operated in the sector of the 111. Infanterie-Division east of Malgobek, it destroyed forty-six enemy tanks and one artillery piece, captured ten mortars and various vehicles, and played a major role in holding the German bridgehead at Mosdok. For these achievements Gomille was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 25 October 1942 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur of the II. Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment 4. He was promoted to Major on 1 February 1943 and subsequently served in the Führerreserve OKH, at the Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf, as Kommandeur of the III. Abteilung of Panzer-Regiment Großdeutschland, and as Inspekteur der Panzertruppen. After the war he lived in Switzerland, where he died on 18 May 2009 in Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Country at the age of ninety-five.
Major Hans-Detloff von Cossel (1916-1943) was born on 1 July 1916 in Swakopmund, German South-West Africa, and entered military service on 6 April 1934 with Reiter-Regiment 6, receiving promotion to Leutnant on 1 April 1937 before transferring to Panzer-Regiment 35 of the 4. Panzer-Division. As Oberleutnant he took part in the Polish and French campaigns, earning both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz, and in the summer of 1941, while Führer of 1./Panzer-Regiment 35, he forced the Dnjepr crossing near Stary Bychow, broke through the Stalin Line and, after losing all his tanks and being wounded, led the survivors back across the river, actions for which he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 8 September 1941. Promoted to Hauptmann and later Major, he assumed command of I./Panzer-Regiment 35 (the so-called Bärenabteilung) in early 1943 and was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 5 May 1943 for earlier fighting around Orel and Ssewsk. During the defensive battles of Operation Kutuzov in July 1943, south of Orel, his Abteilung penetrated deep into Soviet positions, shielded a neighbouring Panzer-Division from a flank attack, and on 19 July, on his own initiative, gathered available infantry and personally led the capture of the vital height Point 254.5 with light losses while inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy; later he converted a withdrawal into a counter-attack that seized and held a village until relief arrived, and his abteilung repeatedly prevented Soviet breakthroughs. On 22 July 1943, while directing a counter-thrust near Kromny (or Gromy), he was killed in action; posthumously promoted and decorated, he received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz (285th award) on 29 August 1943 as Kommandeur of I./Panzer-Regiment 35.
Hauptmann der Reserve Walter Scherf (1917-2003) was born on 21 February 1917 in Giessen and died on 7 April 2003 in Essen at the age of 86. He served as a highly decorated officer of the Reserves in the Heer during the Second World War, eventually reaching the rank of Hauptmann der Reserve. Scherf took part in the Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, and prolonged combat on the Eastern Front. He received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 21 May 1940 and the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 22 December 1940. Further decorations included the Panzer Badge in Silver (II and III Grade), the Eastern Front Medal, and the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold awarded on 7 October 1943 while serving as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef of the 3. Kompanie of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503. On 23 February 1944 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as Oberleutnant der Reserve and company commander of the 3./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503, then attached to schwere Panzer-Regiment Bäke. This decoration recognized his leadership during the intense fighting in early 1944 to relieve German forces trapped in the Tscherkassy Pocket near Korsun. At that time the battalion, equipped with Tiger tanks and reduced to roughly eighteen operational vehicles after earlier losses, operated under his temporary command following the wounding of the regular battalion commander. Scherf directed the company’s aggressive employment in the relief attempts mounted by III. Panzer-Korps, contributing to the breakthrough efforts that enabled substantial numbers of encircled troops to escape the Soviet ring. After the regiment was disbanded later that month he continued service with the unit, later leading Kampfgruppe Y of Panzer-Brigade 150 in December 1944 and receiving the Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS on 5 February 1945. Scherf survived the war and lived until 2003.
Leutnant der Reserve Karl-Heinrich Gsell (1922-1945) was born on 28 August 1922 in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and served as a Leutnant der Reserve in the Heer during the Second World War. He was assigned to Panzer-Regiment 35 of the 4. Panzer-Division, one of the most highly decorated armoured regiments of the German Army, which had fought from the invasion of Poland in 1939 through the campaign in the West in 1940 and then continuously on the Eastern Front from 1941 onward. As Führer of the 2./Panzer-Regiment 35, Gsell distinguished himself in the hard fighting of late 1943, particularly during Operation Nikolaus conducted between 20 and 24 December 1943 in the central sector of the Eastern Front. In this action the regiment, operating under difficult winter conditions against determined Soviet forces, carried out successful local counter-attacks and defensive operations that helped stabilise critical sectors of the front. For his personal leadership, initiative and the effective employment of his company of panzers in these engagements, Gsell was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 February 1944. Prior to this highest distinction he had already received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, the Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber and the Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz, reflecting both his combat experience and the wounds he had sustained while serving with Panzer-Regiment 35. Gsell continued to serve with the regiment as the 4. Panzer-Division was committed to further heavy fighting in 1944, including operations around Kowel and later in the Baltic region and West Prussia. On 25 February 1945 he succumbed to wounds at Feldlazarett motorisiert 102 near Lębork (Lebork), Poland, at the age of twenty-two, only two days after the first anniversary of his Ritterkreuz award. His brief but intense career as a young reserve officer and company leader exemplified the heavy losses suffered by the German panzer arm in the final years of the war on the Eastern Front.
Major Peter Frantz (1917-2001) was born on 24 July 1917 in Leipzig-Schleußig and died on 11 March 2001 in Cologne. After completing his Abitur he entered the Wehrmacht in autumn 1936 as a Fahnenjunker in Artillerie-Regiment 4, attended the Kriegsschule in München in 1937, and was posted to Artillerie-Regiment 74 where he was promoted to Leutnant on 1 September 1939. Following the Polish campaign he transferred to the Sturmartillerie as Zugführer in Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 640, which was subordinated in April 1940 to Infanterie-Regiment “Großdeutschland”. Promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 August 1940, he distinguished himself in the defensive fighting near Jassnaja Poljana during the winter of 1941/42 and received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 19 January 1942 while serving in the IV./Infanterie-Regiment “Großdeutschland”. In April 1942 he became Batteriechef of the 1. Batterie of the newly formed Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung of Infanterie-Division “Großdeutschland” and was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 May 1942. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 June 1942 as Oberleutnant und Chef of the 16./Infanterie-Regiment “Großdeutschland” (mot.) for his actions between 12 and 14 December 1941 at Strukowo, where his Sturmgeschütz-Kompanie destroyed fifteen tanks, one dual-purpose anti-tank/air gun and a further anti-tank gun, thereby preventing a Soviet breakthrough through the woods that would have cut off the retreat route of German forces along the Tula road. After further woundings he assumed command of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung “Großdeutschland” and, on 14 March 1943 near Stanowoje east of Borrisowka during the fighting around Kharkov, directed his Sturmgeschütze in support of the capture of the village, destroying fifteen T-34 tanks, then ambushed a major Soviet counter-attack of approximately 120 tanks and eighty trucks with mounted infantry; by holding fire until close range and then striking from the flank his unit destroyed forty-three enemy tanks in total. For this outstanding success he received the Eichenlaub (228th award) to the Ritterkreuz on 14 April 1943 as Hauptmann und Kommandeur of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung “Großdeutschland”. Promoted to Major on 1 June 1943, he relinquished command in February 1944 to attend a Generalstabslehrgang, later serving as Quartiermeister of XXXXI. Panzerkorps in East Prussia; at the war’s end he was taken into American captivity from which he escaped.
Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/08/album-foto-kehlkopfmikrofon-mikrofon.html
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