During the Second World War the standard male haircut in the German Wehrmacht, particularly within the Heer, followed a distinctive practical style known in contemporary barber manuals as the short cut or full crown haircut, in which the sides and back of the head were closely clipped or shaved with a machine starting from the left temple, continuing around the nape, and finishing at the right temple, typically rising at least one inch or more above the ears before tapering upward, while the hair on the crown remained comparatively long, often combed and slicked straight back from the forehead with pomade or petroleum jelly and, when parted, featuring a high part line. This arrangement, sometimes referred to in later reenactment contexts as a form of "Unterschnitt" or "Koppelschnitt" when the transition was sharper, ensured that the Stahlhelm and other headwear fitted securely without interference from hair, facilitated hygiene under field conditions, and presented a uniform, disciplined appearance required of Soldaten, Unteroffiziere, and Offiziere alike. Although no single rigid service regulation dictated exact millimetre lengths for every rank or branch, recruits received a strict initial "Haarschnitt" (haircuts) upon induction into units such as Infanterie-Regimenter or Panzer-Divisionen, and subsequent maintenance was enforced by company barbers or field Friseure to keep the lower portions short and the top manageable. Photographs and film of Landser in the Afrikakorps, on the Eastern Front, or in Festungen show slight individual variations—some men allowed the top to grow fuller, others kept a cleaner taper—yet the overall silhouette of short sides and longer, rearward-swept crown remained the most common throughout the Heer, Luftwaffe ground units, and even among many Waffen-SS personnel. Beards were generally discouraged except for specific specialist roles or temporary field necessity, and sideburns were kept minimal, reinforcing the clean-shaven or lightly stubbled look expected of a Soldat. The style’s practicality under combat stress, combined with its visual association with military order, made it the prevailing Haartracht from the mobilisation of 1939 until the final months of 1945, when shortages of barbers and equipment sometimes led to more irregular cuts among isolated Kampfgruppen.
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HEER
Oberst der Reserve Albert Graf von der Goltz (1893-1944) was an aristocratic German officer whose distinguished military path culminated in frontline command during World War II. Entering military service in 1913 as Fahnenjunker in 1. Brandenburgische Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 2, he earned the Eisernes Kreuz 1914 II. und I. Klasse before returning as Hauptmann der Reserve in 9. Infanterie-Regiment. Advancing steadily to Major der Reserve and later Oberstleutnant der Reserve, he achieved renown for exceptional tactical determination on the Eastern Front. On 7 May 1942, as commander of I. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 415 within 123. Infanterie-Division, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for resolute leadership, stabilizing critical defensive sectors and repelling ferocious Soviet assaults around Lake Ilmen and the Demyansk Pocket. By autumn 1943, leading mountain troops under 3. Gebirgs-Division, his initiative proved pivotal during the grueling defensive battles southeast of Zaporizhzhia. Facing overwhelming enemy formations, his tenacious direction of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 144 and Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 138 successfully held ruptured frontlines, earning him mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 3 October 1943 and the 316th Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 November 1943. Promoted to Oberst der Reserve on 1 December 1943, his accolades also included the Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz II. und I. Klasse, the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold. While commanding Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 138 during the heavy withdrawal near Novy Bug on 14 March 1944, he suffered severe wounds resulting in the loss of his right arm, succumbing two days later in a Lazarett at Odessa.
Oberstleutnant Friedrich Höhne (1915-1962) was born on 27 April 1915 in Krampfer, Brandenburg, and died on 14 March 1962 in Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria. He entered military service in 1933 with the Infanterie-Regiment 19 and was promoted to Leutnant in 1935. In 1938, as Oberleutnant and Kompaniechef, he transferred to the Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99, with which he took part in the Polish campaign and the Western campaign. At the end of 1940 he was promoted to Hauptmann and became a Kompaniechef in the 97. leichte Division, later redesignated the 97. Jäger-Division. From 26 November 1941 he commanded the III. Bataillon of the Jäger-Regiment 204. In March 1942, during fighting in the northern Donets region, Hauptmann Höhne and his Bataillon conducted an eight-day defense of Elisawetowka against strong Soviet forces attempting to break through into the assembly area of the 60. Infanterie-Division (mot). By holding firm he prevented a hostile advance toward Drashkowka and the vital road and railway line Konstantinowka–Sslawjansk that served as a lifeline for the left wing of the 17. Armee. For this achievement he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 3 May 1942. Promoted to Major on 1 December 1942, he continued to distinguish himself as Bataillon commander during the Caucasus fighting. Notable actions included the destruction of two enemy batteries during the capture of Schirwanskaja on 14 August 1942, the seizure of fourteen artillery pieces the following day, hard mountain combat south of Roshet, the storming of the Gaiman mountain southeast of Chadyschenskaja between 26 and 29 October 1942, the destruction of the 9th Soviet brigade in the Orenburg valley, and further successful engagements around Schaumian, Bereshnoi and Krymskaja. In mid-April 1943 his Bataillon sealed off and cleared a Soviet penetration in the Kuban bridgehead. These accomplishments led to the award of the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 8 June 1943 as the 253rd recipient. From July 1943 Höhne commanded the Jäger-Regiment 204, was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 December 1944, and received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 1 February 1945. At the end of the war he fell into American captivity but was soon released.
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.
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WAFFEN-SS
SS-Sturmbannführer Ernst-August Krag (1915-1994) was born on 20 February 1915 in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim in Hessen and died on 24 May 1994 in Niedernhausen near Wiesbaden. Joining the SS-Verfügungstruppe on 1 May 1935 with the 5./SS-Standarte “Germania”, he completed parachute training at Stendal in 1937 and later served with the reconnaissance elements of what became the 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”. After commanding batteries in the SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 2 and receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 9 April 1943 as SS-Obersturmführer for actions with StuG III assault guns during the fighting around Kharkov and Kursk, he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer and eventually took command of the Abteilung. In June 1944 he assumed leadership of the SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2 as SS-Sturmbannführer. During the Normandy campaign, after the division broke out from the area northeast of Avranches on the night of 28/29 July 1944, Krag on his own initiative established a blocking line against enemy forces that had entered Gavray. With only weak forces he achieved a complete defensive success against superior Allied armour, destroying nine tanks and numerous other vehicles while preventing a thrust into the division’s deep flank and enabling the formation of a new front along the Percy–Sourdeval line. For this outstanding leadership he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 October 1944. Later, during the Ardennes offensive, on 2 January 1945 near Belle Haie east of Malempré his Abteilung intercepted a strong enemy breakthrough supported by twenty-two tanks. In fierce fighting they inflicted heavy losses and prevented the Allies from reaching the vital crossroads at Baraque de Fraiture, securing an important position for continued operations. This action earned him the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 28 February 1945 as the 755th recipient. Krag continued to lead his unit in Hungary before surrendering near Linz in May 1945 and being released from captivity in 1948.
Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/11/potongan-rambut-tentara-jerman.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undercut_(hairstyle)
https://www.menshairforum.com/talk/Thread-SS-Haircut-and-Nazi-Hairstyle-Guide-with-Rare-Hair-Pictures
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/mens-hairstyles-in-ww2.23653/
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