Hasso von Manteuffel with Albert Speer

Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion) in conversation with General der Panzertruppe Hasso von Manteuffel (Oberbefehlshaber 5. Panzerarmee). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Bauer in 1944. In September 1944, General von Manteuffel assumed command of the 5th Panzer Army on the Western Front, stepping into a highly volatile theater following the Allied breakout from Normandy. Tasked by Adolf Hitler to spearhead a major counteroffensive against General George S. Patton’s advancing U.S. Third Army in Lorraine, Manteuffel orchestrated the Battle of Arracourt. Although his panzer divisions suffered severe material losses against superior American tactical air power and defensive positioning, Manteuffel’s aggressive, maneuvering style of armored warfare managed to temporarily stabilize the crumbling German front along the French border. His tactical leadership during this grueling September campaign ultimately solidified his reputation as one of Germany's premier armored commanders, leading to his selection just a few months later to play a pivotal role in the Ardennes Offensive.

Source :
Bundesarchiv R 3 Bild-110

Eduard Dietl and Hitler Studying Map (1940)

From left to right: SS-Obersturmführer Hans Pfeiffer (Persönlicher Adjutant des Führers in the Führerhauptquartier), General der Gebirgstruppe Eduard Dietl (Kommandierender General Gebirgskorps Norwegen), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Dr.jur. Siegfried Uiberreither (Gauleiter Steiermark), and Jakob Werlin (Generalinspektor des Führers für das Kraftfahrwesen). The picture was taken by Walter Frentz in Berghof, 31 July 1940.

Source :
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-c-f/

Otto Lasch and Festung Königsberg

Königsberg, the capital city of East Prussia, was surrounded by the Soviets in late January 1945 and besieged, although the seaside was still open and usable by the Germans. Since the frontline quickly moved further west in February, the capture of the city was of low priority  to the Soviets, and so the Soviet attack on the city only started on April 6th, and on April 9th, with the Soviets already in the city, the German defenders capitulated.

Otto Lasch (1893-1971) was functioned as Commandant of Königsberg in East Prussia from November 1944 onward. As Fortress Commandant of Königsberg he was responsible for defending the city and maintaining order among the flood of refugees fleeing from the advancing Red Army. Following heavy fighting and a three month siege of the city during the Battle of Königsberg by the 36-division-strong 3rd Byelorussian Front under Ivan Chernyakhovsky, Lasch disobeyed Hitler's orders and surrendered Königsberg to the Red Army on 9 April 1945. As a result of his surrender Hitler sentenced him in absentia to death by hanging, and his family, in Denmark and Berlin at the time, was arrested. Lasch went into Soviet captivity and was convicted as a war criminal in the Soviet Union and sentenced to twenty-five years in a corrective labor camp. He was released in 1955.

Source :
Die Deutsche Wochenschau No. 755 - 22 March 1945
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWxWY4rFhTg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Lasch

Heinz Guderian and Hitlerjugend

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (center, Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres) and Reichsjugendführer Arthur Axmann (right) at the Hitlerjugend display wall construction. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Theodor Scheerer in East Prussia, 6 September 1944.

On the anniversary of the "deutschen Freiheitskampfes" (German fight for freedom), Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres) made a soldierly appeal to the Hitlerjugend of East Prussia, who had proven themselves in the Redoubt. They gathered around the proven troop leader and loyal collaborator of the Führer and listened to the rousing words addressed to them by Generaloberst Guderian and Reichsjugendführer Axmann, in the midst of the youth who were ready for action.

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (second from left, Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres) and Reichsjugendführer Arthur Axmann (left) during the inspection of Hitlerjugend boys. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Theodor Scheerer in East Prussia, 6 September 1944.

Hitlerjugend members digging trenches in East Prussia. The picture was taken during the visit of Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), 6 September 1944.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J27583
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Image-No.: 70375775)
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/46907/3ea37ace93acdc6afb4c22cb76d97fbc/

Hitler Visit to Rügenwalde (1943)

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde in Pomerania (Germany) to see a demonstration of the world's largest cannon, Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora" (800mm caliber!) and newly built panzers. Witnessed by the Führer and his retinue, the artillery moving along a special railroad track fired two bullets of unbelievable magnitude. This photograph was taken on the second day - 19 March 1943 - by Walter Frentz and it shows, from left to right: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef der Wehrmacht-Führungsamt), SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr.-Ing. e.h. mult. Ferdinand Porsche (Vorsitzender der Panzerkommission), Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (behind Guderian, Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Hauptdienstleiter Dipl. Ing. Karl-Otto Saur (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), and SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub (Chefadjutant des Führer und Reichskanzler).

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde in Pomerania (Germany) to see a demonstration of the world's largest cannon, Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora" (800mm caliber!) and newly built panzers. Witnessed by the Führer and his retinue, the artillery moving along a special railroad track fired two bullets of unbelievable magnitude. This photograph was taken on the second day - 19 March 1943 - by Walter Frentz and it shows, from left to right: Dr.-Ing. Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Bewaffnung und Munition), General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef der Wehrmacht-Führungsamt), Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), and Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht).

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde in Pomerania (Germany) to see a demonstration of the world's largest cannon, Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora" (800mm caliber!) and newly built panzers. Witnessed by the Führer and his retinue, the artillery moving along a special railroad track fired two bullets of unbelievable magnitude. This photograph was taken on the second day - 19 March 1943 - by Walter Frentz and it shows, from left to right: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef Wehrmacht-Führungsamt und Führungsstab der Wehrmacht), Prof.Dr.-Ing.Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Hauptdienstleiter Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Otto Saur (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub (in the background, Chefadjutant des Führers Adolf Hitler), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), and Oberstleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm "Fritz" Holzhäuer (Abteilungsleiter im Waffenamt Prüfwesen 6, Abteilung Panzer- und Motorisierung, beim Oberkommando des Heeres).

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/05/foto-foto-terbaik-heinz-guderian.html
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-g-h/
http://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.com/2014/11/adolf-hitler-visiting-rugenwalde.html

Erwin Rommel Visits Goebbels Children

 

Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel visits Magda Goebbels, wife of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, and her children on the Goebbels estate in 1943, during a break in assignments, September 1942. Mrs. Goebbels and Marshal Rommel pose in her garden. She holds the family dog while she and Rommel hold the hands of her youngest daughter, Heidrun. Magda, Rommel and Alfred-Ingemar Berndt watch as one of the Rommel military aides plays on a slide with the older Goebbels children. The Goebbels daughter, Helga, and the son, Helmut, both go down the slide. A photographer moves to a better vantage point in background. Marshal Rommel and Magda Goebbels both help Heidrun go down the slide. Rommel smiles and lifts up one of the daughters. He joins in a bit as the children play.

After a discussion with Benito Mussolini in Rome on 24 September 1942, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Afrika") flew to Germany in the afternoon. Rommel was then a celebrity guest of the Goebbels family in their retreat villa at Bogensee, located in Berlin, Isle of Schwanenwerder, Inselstraße nr 8. After the war only ruins remained there and the villa was was ransacked first by Soviet, then by American soldiers. It was demolished and replaced by Aspen Institute.

On 26 September 1942 Rommel drove to the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, where Hitler presented him his Field Marshal' s baton.

Source :
https://www.buyoutfootage.com/pages/titles/pd_dc_568.php#bottom_synopsis
https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675066074_Field-Marshal-Rommel_Rommels-wife_Nazi-officer-slides_sliding-down-a-ramp
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=98884&hilit=rommel+goebbels+children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj6fOIWL8E0

Hasso von Manteuffel and Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus in the Reichsjugendführung

Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel (right, Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland") in conversation with Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann (left) and Oberst Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus (Kommandeur Ersatz-Brigade "Grossdeutschland") in the guest house of the Reichsjugendführung in Berlin, 18 May 1944.

Source :
https://onb.digital/result/BAG_1246354

Rudolf Hess and Ritterkreuzträger of NSD-Studetenbund

Münich, 27 January 1941: Deputy Führer and Reichsminister Rudolf Hess, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Nationalsozialistischer Deutscher Studentenbund (German National-Socialist Student Association), greeting officers of the German Wehrmacht, all holders of the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuzträger) and all of whom had been members of the NSD-Studetenbund. From left to right: Oberleutnant Wilhelm Walther (Ritterkreuz on 24 June 1940 as Stoßtruppführer 4.Kompanie / Baulehr-Bataillon zur besonderen Verwendungen 800 "Brandenburg"), Leutnant der Reserve Helmut Ringler (Ritterkreuz on 15 May 1940 as MG-Halbzugführer in Sturmgruppe "Stahl" / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch"), Leutnant der Reserve Fritz Steger (Ritterkreuz on 15 August 1940 as Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 20 [motorisiert] / 10.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]), and Leutnant der Reserve Franz Berger (Ritterkreuz on 19 July 1940 as Stoßtruppführer 11.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 130 / 45.Infanterie-Division).

Source :
"German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945" by Brian L. Davis
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2013/06/album-foto-grup-ritterkreuztrager.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=1651381#p1651381

Joseph Goebbels with Otto Benzin and Otto Ude

Dr.phil. Joseph Goebbels (Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda) receiving a Wehrmacht combat group from the Demyansk pocket in Berlin, 4 May 1943. The Ritterkreuzträger with him is Major Otto Benzin (Führer Grenadier-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 31 December 1941), while other Ritterkreuzträger in the background is Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943). Standing at right is Generalleutnant Paul von Hase (Stadtkommandant von Berlin).

Dr.phil. Joseph Goebbels (Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda) receiving a Wehrmacht combat group from the Demyansk pocket in Berlin, 4 May 1943. The Ritterkreuzträger facing the camera is Major Otto Benzin (Führer Grenadier-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 31 December 1941), while other Ritterkreuzträger at left is Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943). Standing at right is Generalleutnant Paul von Hase (Stadtkommandant von Berlin).



Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division) shakes hands with unknown Party official during the reception for a Wehrmacht combat group from the Demyansk pocket in Berlin, May 1943.

Other picture from the same occasion. The SS Ritterkreuzträger is SS-Hauptsturmführer Arzelino "Lino" Masarié (Kommandeur SS-Totenkopf-Aufklärungs-Abteilung / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf". Ritterkreuz on 3 April 1943).

Generalleutnant Paul von Hase (Stadtkommandant von Berlin) speaks in front of a Wehrmacht combat group from the Demyansk pocket in Berlin, 4 May 1943. He would later hanged on 8 August 1944 after involved in the coup d'état attempt masterminded by Claus von Stauffenberg (20 July 1944 Plot).

Source :
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auctions/78-752749
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1978-118-24A,_Joseph_Goebbels_bei_Empfang.jpg

Von Ribbentrop Family

Von Ribbentrop family in 1936. From left to right, back row: Rudolf and Bettina. Centre: Annelies and Joachim von Ribbentrop. Bottom: Adolf and Ursula. The von Ribbentrops were great Anglophiles and famous for employing English nannies. After a stint in London, when he was made Ambassador, Joachim von Ribbentrop’s love affair with England soured drastically, and in 1939 he was instrumental in urging Hitler towards war with Britain. Even so, in the event of conquest, he still planned to take over Cornwall for his personal domain!

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2240611#p2240611
http://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-english-girl-behind-private-life-of.html

Bio of Hauptmann Wilhelm Henz (1915-1943)

Wilhelm "Willi" Henz

Date of Birth: 01.10.1915 - Eschhofen, Hesse (German Empire)
Date of Death: 30.01.1943 - near Stalingrad (Soviet Union)

Promotions:
00.00.193_ Feldwebel der Reserve
01.10.1939 Leutnant des Beurlaubtenstandes
00.00.194_ Oberleutnant des Beurlaubtenstandes
00.00.194_ Hauptmann des Beurlaubtenstandes

Career:
00.00.194_ Führer 2.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 29 / 29.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
00.00.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange der "Prager Burg"
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
08.08.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Leutnant and Führer 2.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 29 / 29.Infanterie-Division, for capturing and holding bridge at eastern side of Smolensk with a reinforced company, then holding the position for 6 days against Soviet counterattacks.

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Fast troops - armored troops (including tank hunter detachments), riflemen (motorized), motorcycle riflemen, reconnaissance detachments (motorized), reconnaissance detachments (partially motorized), cavalry regiments and the bicycle detachment of the 1st Cavalry Division - according to Heinz Guderian's conviction, should compensate for strategic deficits, material inferiority and lack of troop strength through operational successes.
 
The Fast Troops had the task of quickly forcing decisive battles of annihilation through fast, mobile operations so as not to be forced into trench warfare. In the first years of the war, this concept worked and large-scale offensive operations brought initial success.
 
The motorcycle riflemen, a highly mobile, effective infantry unit, had to learn as early as 1941 how quickly a concept based on speed can fail. The time pressure behind each new attack was bound to lead to failure in the vastness of a country covering 22 million square kilometers. The BMW and Zündapp motorcycles literally got stuck in the Russian mud and snow - later in the African desert sand - and lost their combat effectiveness. The motorcycle riflemen continued to fight as infantrymen, but were no longer able to cover long distances without their vehicles and thus lost their tactical importance.
 
On June 22, 1941, Willi Henz was one of over 3.5 million German soldiers who attacked the Soviet Union. The officer led the 2nd Motorcycle Rifle Company of the 29th Infantry Division when his army group began its advance eastward from the Bug. For his achievements he was awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1941. In the summer of 1942, he and the troops advanced on the southern section of the Eastern Front to Stalingrad, where the unit was surrounded and destroyed together with the 6th Army. One of the 226,000 dead in the cauldron was Willi Henz, who had tried to escape until the very end.

Leutnant Wilhelm Henz (Führer 2.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 29 / 29.Infanterie-Division) being presented with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes by General der Panzertruppe Joachim Lemelsen (Kommandierender General XXXXVII. Armeekorps). The picture was taken during the Ritterkreuz award ceremony near Smolensk, Eastern Front, which were held on 13 August 1941 during Unternehmen Barbarossa. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.



Leutnant Wilhelm Henz (Führer 2.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 29 / 29.Infanterie-Division) after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony on 13 August 1941. He received the news of his Ritterkreuz award five days previously (8 August 1941).

Wilhelm Henz.

Reichsminister Joseph Goebbels received 27 Ritterkreuzträger of the Infanterie in the Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda in Berlin, 1 November 1942. These Knight's Cross recipients - who were "aus dem Osten" (coming from the East) - also visited the military training camps of the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) and spoke to the German youth about their experiences at the front. From left to right:

1. Oberleutnant Günter Klappich (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 60 / 16.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 31 July 1942),
2. Oberleutnant Hans-Gotthard Pestke (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 176 / 61.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 November 1941),
3. Oberleutnant Wilhelm Henz (Chef 2.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 29 / 29.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 8 August 1941),
4. Hauptmann Max Sachsenheimer (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1942),
5. Oberleutnant Hans Guhr (Adjutant Grenadier-Regiment 513 / 294.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 10 September 1942),
6. Oberleutnant Gerhard Möws (Chef 3.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 22 / 2.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]. Ritterkreuz on 1 November 1942),
7. Oberleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm Proske (Chef 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 84 / 102.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 12 April 1942),
8. Oberleutnant der Reserve Wilhelm "Willi" Hümmerich (Chef 14.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 80 / 34.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 18 October 1941),
9. Oberleutnant der Reserve Richard Grünert (Chef 3.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 7 / 7.Panzer-Division. Ritterkreuz on 14 October 1941),
10. Oberleutnant Dr.med.vet. Klaus Hilgemann (Chef 13.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 422 / 126.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 18 October 1942),
11. Hauptmann Harald von Hirschfeld (Führer II.Bataillon /Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 / 1.Gebirgs-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 November 1941),
12. Hauptmann Karl Langesee (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 207 / 97.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz on 10 August 1942). Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.

In 3 November 1942, a big delegation of Ritterkreuzträger (German Knight's Cross recipients) visited the Reichsjugendführung, doing inspections of training places and communications with young Hitlerjugend members. This picture was taken when they met the HJ leader, Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann. The identification as follow: 1.Hauptmann Karl Langesee (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 207 / 97.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz in 10 August 1942), 2.Leutnant der Reserve Gerhard Hein (Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 209 / 58.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz in 3 September 1940 and Eichenlaub in 6 September 1942), 3.Hauptmann Harald von Hirschfeld (Führer II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 / 1.Gebirgs-Division. Ritterkreuz in 15 November 1941), 4.Hauptmann Erich Löffler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 57 / 9.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz in 7 October 1942), 5.Oberleutnant Wilhelm Henz (Kommandeur 2.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 29 / 29.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz in 8 August 1941), 6.Oberleutnant der Reserve Günther Hilt (Führer 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 56 / 5.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz in 14 September 1942), 7.Hauptmann Max Sachsenheimer (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz in 5 April 1942), 8. Hauptmann Hans-Gotthard Pestke (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 176 / 61.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz in 15 November 1941), 9.Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann, and Generalleutnant Friedrich Herrlein (General der Infanterie beim Oberkommando des Heeres. Ritterkreuz on 22 September 1941). Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.

Source :
Jason D. Mark photo collection
John M. Donovan photo collection
Michael Scha photo collection
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/03/album-foto-29-infanterie-division-29.html
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6805734702839819&set=gm.714201243552892&idorvanity=222855636020791
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=193199&hilit=wilhelm+henz
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/h.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/35796/Henz-Wilhelm.htm
https://transgalaxis.de/tg.php?page=artikel&dir=shop&param=artnr=wk_soldaten_049&user=odbnuddpifxrgrzeubiw
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/order-of-battle-and-individual-research-forum/638165-rkt-leutnant-wilhelm-henz

Hermann Graf Wedding

The wedding day of Luftwaffe ace Oberst Hermann Graf and actress Jola Jobst, which were held on 29 June 1944. This picture shows when the bride and groom entering their names together in the "Goldene Buch" (Golden Book) at the City Hall of Wiesbaden. Graf and Jobst first met in Berlin in 1943 when the Luftwaffe ace organizing the necessary transfers for his new assignment as the Kommodore of Jagdgeschwader 50. He was introduced to the young film actress Jola Jobst, and then they got in touch. From April to early July 1944 Graf spent time recovering in a hospital in his home-town of Engen. In June he married Jobst, whom he had been seeing over the past year. After Hermann Graf had returned from Soviet captivity in December 1949 his marriage with Jola Jobst collapsed and they were divorced. Following her divorce, Jobst married fellow actor Wolfgang Kieling in 1950. Tragically, for unknown reason, Jola Jobst committed suicide only two years later at the age of 36...

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo collection (Image-No.: 50071541)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Graf

Rudolf Veiel Inspecting Exchange POWs

General der Panzertruppe Rudolf Veiel (Kommandierenden General vom Stellvertretenden Generalkommando V. Armeekorps in Stuttgart und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis V) inspecting German exchange POWs in Stuttgart who just returning from England, summer of 1944. His right pocket breast star should be the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 1. Class with War Decoration (which he received on 15 August 1941). Behind him is SA-Obergruppenführer Dr.jur. Jonathan Schmid (württembergischer Innenminister). Many of these prisoners are member of the Afrikakorps. They were exchanged with some British POWs. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.zinnfigur.com/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html#&gid=1&pid=5

Heinz Guderian, Günther Pröhl and Hans Christern

Three Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipients) in this picture: At left is Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen), in the centre is NSKK-Gruppenführer Günther Pröhl (Befehlshaber des Hamburger Volkssturms), and on the right is Oberst Hans Christern (General der Lehrtruppe beim Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen). There is no information about when or where this picture was taken, but possibly in 1944.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2479636#p2479636

Sepp Dietrich Inspecting British Tank

German officers examining a captured British Churchill Mk III infantry tank in France, not long after the failure of "Operation Jubilee" (Allied landing attempt in Dieppe). From left to right: SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Lehmann (Ia Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), unknown Heer officer, SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich" (Kommandeur Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), and General der Panzertruppe Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen (Kommandierender General LXXXI. Armeekorps). The picture was taken in August 1942 by Kriegsberichter Koll of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 698.



From left to right: Dr.-Ing. Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), General der Panzertruppe Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen (Kommandierender General LXXXI. Armeekorps), SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Lehmann (Ia Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich" (Kommandeur Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), and SS-Sturmbannführer Georg Schönberger (Kommandeur Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung / Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler).

From left to right: unknown, Dr.-Ing. Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), SS-Sturmbannführer Georg Schönberger (Kommandeur Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung / Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), General der Panzertruppe Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen (Kommandierender General LXXXI. Armeekorps), and SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Lehmann (Ia Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler).

From left to right: SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich" (Kommandeur Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler) and Dr.-Ing. Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion).

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=sepp+dietrich&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_von_Dieppe
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=5

Werner Hartmann with HJ-Reichsjugendführer

Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann (left) and Ritterkreuzträger Werner Hartmann (middle). Hartmann (11 December 1902 – 26 April 1963) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. He was credited with sinking 26 ships, amounting to over 115,000 gross register tons (GRT) sunk. After the war he joined the Bundesmarine on 1 July 1956, commanding the 1. Schiffsstammregiment (1st Naval training regiment) in Glückstadt, retiring on 1 April 1962.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Hartmann
https://fjm44.com/product/kriegsmarine-knights-cross-photograph/