Bio of Oberleutnant d.R. Joachim Hundert (1920-1944)

Full name: Joachim Hundert
Nickname: No information

Date of Birth: 22.01.1920 - Mayen, Rheinprovinz (Germany)
Date of Death: 09.08.1944 - KIA in Glasow/Glazow, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Poland)
Buried: Gusthof Sobotka-Szlachecha (Poland)

Battles and Operations: Battle of France, Siege of Sevastopol, Battles of Rzhev, Eastern Front defensive operations, Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive

NSDAP-Number: No information
SS-Number: Not applicable (Heer)
Religion: No information
Parents: No information available
Siblings: No information available
Spouse: No information (unmarried at time of death)
Children: None

Promotions:
15.11.1938 Kanonier (joined Wehrmacht)
01.02.1941 Unteroffizier
01.06.1942 Feldwebel and Reserve-Offiziersanwärter
00.06.1942 Leutnant der Reserve
01.08.1944 Oberleutnant der Reserve

Career:
15.11.1938 Joined the Wehrmacht as Kanonier with 4./Artillerie-Regiment 70 (motorisiert) at Niederlahnstein. Served as Geschützführer.
01.02.1941 Transferred and promoted, later attended Reserveoffiziersanwärterlehrgang in early 1942.
00.06.1942 As Leutnant der Reserve took command of 5./Infanterie-Regiment 124 (part of 72. Infanterie-Division). Wounded in action and recovered.
After recovery assigned to Ersatz- und Ausbildungsbataillon 124 at Trier.
21.06.1944 Returned to front as Zugführer with Feldersatz-Bataillon 72.
09.08.1944 Killed in action near Glazow, Poland during defensive operations. Buried at Gusthof Sobotka-Szlachecha.

Awards and Decorations:
Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42
16.09.1942 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
31.12.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
06.01.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (for the wound received on 30.12.1942)
15.01.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 124 / 72.Infanterie-Division, for leadership in taking over a company after the commander was wounded, continuing the attack and sealing a breakthrough).
In late 1942 and early 1943, the 72. Infanterie-Division was engaged in heavy fighting on the Eastern Front, particularly in the central sector and around areas associated with the Rzhev salient and subsequent defensive operations. Elements of Grenadier-Regiment 124 faced intense Soviet assaults aimed at breaking through German lines.
During one critical engagement, the commander of 5. Kompanie was severely wounded amid fierce combat. In this decisive moment, Leutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert, acting with great personal courage and independent initiative, immediately assumed command of the leaderless company. Under heavy enemy fire and pressure from Soviet infantry and supporting arms, he rallied the men and continued the German attack without pause. His decisive leadership enabled the company to press forward, sealing off an enemy breakthrough and restoring the integrity of the German defensive line at that sector.
The fighting was characterized by close-quarters combat in snow-covered or muddy terrain typical of the Russian winter and early spring, with soldiers advancing through artillery barrages, machine-gun fire, and hand-to-hand struggles. Hundert's calm resolve and bravery under extreme conditions inspired his troops to hold and counterattack, preventing a potentially disastrous penetration by Soviet forces that could have compromised the regiment's position.
This action exemplified the type of frontline leadership that earned many young reserve officers high decorations during the brutal attritional battles on the Eastern Front. Hundert's Ritterkreuz citation specifically highlights his "Mut und eigenen Entschluss" (courage and independent decision) in taking over the company and sustaining the momentum of the attack.

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Joachim Hundert was a German reserve officer who served in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. Born on 22 January 1920 in Mayen in the Rhine Province, he grew up in a period of political upheaval in Germany and joined the military at a young age. Hundert enlisted in the Wehrmacht on 15 November 1938 as a Kanonier with the 4th Battery of Artillery Regiment 70, a motorized unit based at Niederlahnstein. His early service involved training as a gunner and Geschützführer, laying the foundation for his later frontline roles as the clouds of war gathered over Europe. 

Hundert's military career progressed steadily in the early years of the conflict. Promoted to Unteroffizier on 1 February 1941, he continued serving in artillery before transitioning to infantry. By June 1942 he had risen to Feldwebel and Reserve-Offiziersanwärter, shortly thereafter receiving his commission as Leutnant der Reserve. Assigned to the 72nd Infantry Division, he took command of the 5th Company of Infantry Regiment 124 in June 1942. This period saw him participate in intense combat on the Eastern Front, including operations connected to the Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimea and subsequent defensive actions. He was wounded in action but recovered and later served with replacement and training units, including Ersatz- und Ausbildungsbataillon 124 at Trier, before returning to combat duties. 

The action that earned Hundert the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross occurred amid heavy fighting in late 1942 and early 1943. As the 72nd Infantry Division engaged in bitter defensive battles in the central sector of the Eastern Front, often associated with the grueling engagements around the Rzhev salient, Soviet forces launched determined assaults aimed at piercing German lines. During one such critical engagement, the commander of 5th Company was severely wounded under intense enemy fire. Leutnant Hundert immediately assumed leadership of the company without hesitation. Exhibiting exceptional courage and quick decision-making, he rallied his men amid artillery barrages, machine-gun fire, and close-quarters combat in the harsh winter terrain. He led a continued advance that sealed off a dangerous Soviet breakthrough, restoring the integrity of the German defensive position and preventing a potential collapse in that sector. For this display of frontline leadership and bravery, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943. 

Hundert also received other notable decorations during his service, including the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class, the Wound Badge, and the Eastern Front Medal for enduring the brutal conditions of the Russian winter. His promotions continued, and he eventually reached the rank of Oberleutnant der Reserve. By mid-1944, as the Wehrmacht faced mounting pressure from the Soviet summer offensives, Hundert returned to active combat. On 21 June 1944 he served as a Zugführer with Feldersatz-Bataillon 72 of his division. The 72nd Infantry Division was involved in desperate defensive operations during the Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive as Soviet forces pushed westward through Poland. 

On 9 August 1944, near Glazow in Poland, Joachim Hundert was killed in action at the age of 24 while leading his platoon in defensive fighting. His remains were buried at Gusthof Sobotka-Szlachecha. His death exemplified the heavy toll taken on young German officers during the final phases of the war on the Eastern Front, where experienced leadership was in constant demand amid overwhelming enemy superiority in men and materiel. Hundert's relatively short but intense military career highlighted the transition many artillerymen made to infantry command roles as casualties mounted. 

Though not among the most famous recipients of the Knight's Cross, Joachim Hundert represented the steadfast reserve officers who formed the backbone of the German army's combat units in the later war years. His actions under fire demonstrated the initiative and personal bravery often required to hold collapsing fronts against relentless Soviet attacks. Postwar records from unit histories and award documentation preserved his place among the decorated soldiers of the 72nd Infantry Division. Information about his personal life remains limited, with no public details available on family, religion, or pre-war civilian occupation, reflecting the scarcity of records for many junior officers who fell in combat.

Leutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert posed with the flowers.

Leutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert.

Leutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert.



Certificate for Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz award.



Certificate for Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse award.



Certificate for Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse award.

Certificate for Ritterkreuz award.

Certificate for Ritterkreuz award.

Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oberleutnant_Joachim_Hundert.jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/38571/Hundert-Joachim.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/H/HundertJ.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Knight%27s_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_recipients_(Hn%E2%80%93Hz)
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Joachim_Hundert
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300 (Ritterkreuzträger database)
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg 2000.
Scherzer, Veit. Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945. Jena 2007.
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879&start=27240
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.weitze.com/militaria/05/Heer_Urkundengruppe_des_Ritterkreuztraegers_Joachim_Hundert_Grenadier_Regiment_124__496205.html?token=30a7a04e4bcb717e88d72a6aa7a74bfb

Bio of Oberstleutnant Karl Thieme (1914-2004)

Full Name: Karl Alfred Thieme  
Nickname: None widely documented 

Date of birth: 28 May 1914 - Lehe, Hannover (German Empire)
Date of death: 6 June 2004 - Bremerhaven, Bremen (Germany) 

Religion: Not publicly detailed in available sources (likely Protestant, common for many Heer officers of his background)  
Parents: Information limited; born in Lehe (Wesermünde-Lehe/Bremerhaven area)  
Siblings: No confirmed public details  
Spouse: No confirmed public details available  
Children: No confirmed public details available  

Promotions:
00.00.1936 Fahnenjunker
01.01.1939 Leutnant der Reserve
01.06.1941 Oberleutnant (RDA 439)
01.01.1943 Hauptmann (RDA 301 i1)
01.12.1943 Major (RDA 71 e)
30.01.1945 Oberstleutnant (RDA 69)

Career:
00.00.1936: Entered the Wehrmacht as a volunteer; trained and appointed Fahnenjunker (officer candidate) in Infanterie-Regiment 69.  
Until 06.12.1939: Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 69  
07.12.1939 - 15.07.1941: Zugführer and Kompanieführer in 6.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 110
16.07.1941 - 31.07.1941: Führer 8.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 110
01.08.1941 - 19.06.1942: Kompaniechef in Ersatz-Bataillon 110
20.06.1942 - 16.11.1942: Ordonnanzoffizier in Panzergrenadier-Brigade 11
17.11.1942 - 08.12.1942: Chef 6.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 110
09.12.1942 - 31.12.1942: Führer II.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 110
01.01.1943 - 30.04.1944: Führer and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 110
01.05.1944 - 02.09.1944: Kommandeur Feldersatz-Bataillon 11 / 11.Panzer-Division
03.09.1944 - 28.09.1944: Führer Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111
29.09.1944 - 14.10.1944: Führer Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11
15.10.1944 - 09.11.1944: Regimentsführer-Lehrgang
10.11.1944 - 02.05.1945: Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 110

Awards and Decorations:
23.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
29.04.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse  
26.05.1941 Panzerkampfabzeichen in Bronze
27.01.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
17.02.1942 Bulgarischer Tapferkeitsorden IV. Klasse
09.04.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, as Oberleutnant in I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 110 
28.08.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
07.09.1943 Nahkampfspange in Bronze
30.10.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #2278 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 110 / 11.Panzer-Division. Thieme earned the award for outstanding leadership during the preliminary attacks on 4 July 1943, the day before the main Operation Citadel (Battle of Kursk) offensive began. Elements of the division advanced toward Novoselovka in the Kursk salient, part of intense fighting in the southern sector where German panzer forces sought to break through Soviet defenses.
In the sweltering summer heat, amid vast fields of wheat and sunflowers scarred by artillery, Thieme’s battalion pushed forward under heavy Soviet defensive fire. Shells whistled overhead as T-34 tanks and anti-tank guns from prepared positions raked the advancing grenadiers. Thieme led from the front, coordinating infantry assaults supported by assault guns and Panzer IVs. His men stormed Soviet strongpoints, clearing trenches in brutal close-quarters combat with grenades and bayonets while enduring machine-gun fire and mortar barrages. His personal bravery and tactical skill enabled the battalion to seize key terrain and maintain momentum despite fierce counterattacks, contributing significantly to the division’s gains that day. This action exemplified the aggressive, determined leadership that defined early Kursk fighting before the offensive stalled.
11.12.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold
15.02.1944 Nahkampfspange in Silber
23.10.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #627 as Major and Führer Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111 / 11.Panzer-Division. Thieme received the award for a series of resourceful and courageous delaying actions during the German retreat in southern France and Alsace following the Allied landings in Provence (Operation Dragoon). These actions helped prevent the encirclement and rapid destruction of the 19. Armee.
23 August 1944 – Montélimar Area: Stationed in Montélimar, Thieme received orders to block the Grenoble–Lyon road. He quickly formed Kampfgruppe Thieme, reinforced with an NCO training group (equipped with obsolete Panzer IIs), Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11, I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 110, and self-propelled artillery. In fluid, chaotic fighting along the Rhône Valley, his mixed force engaged in sharp combat to occupy La Coucourde and secure parts of the Rhône valley. Later that day, they repelled an Allied thrust west of Crest through determined defensive stands, using terrain and rapid redeployments to blunt superior American armored and motorized forces.
27 August 1944 – Romans-sur-Isère: Reorganized with I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 110, pioneers, artillery batteries, and eight Panthers, Thieme received orders to seize Romans-sur-Isère and its vital supply dump. He executed a daring surprise attack on U.S. troops holding the town. Panthers rumbled through streets at dawn, grenadiers storming positions in house-to-house fighting amid exploding ammunition dumps and chaotic street battles. The assault smashed the American defenders, destroying or capturing supplies and enabling the main body of the 19. Armee to withdraw safely through the Tain valley, buying critical time for the retreating German forces.
31 August 1944 – Pont d’Ain: While reassembling his battalion in Bourg-en-Bresse, Thieme learned that Americans had seized the bridge at Pont d’Ain. He immediately gathered available troops, launched a swift counterattack, recaptured the bridge in intense close combat, and demolished it to delay Allied pursuit.
6 September 1944 – Pont-de-Roide: Now deputy commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111, Thieme had only the I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 110 under direct control and was out of contact with the rest of the division. He improvised a larger Kampfgruppe by incorporating local Heer and Luftwaffe troops. At the strategic pass at Pont-de-Roide (about 30 km south of Belfort), he established a defensive line along Roches–Pont-de-Roide–Remondants. Over several days, his outnumbered force repelled repeated U.S. attempts to break through in heavy fighting involving artillery duels, infantry assaults, and armored probes. This stand prevented an immediate American breakthrough into the Rhine plain, covering the withdrawal of larger German formations.
These successive actions demonstrated Thieme’s initiative, adaptability in fluid retreats, and ability to forge effective combat groups from disparate units under pressure.
09.05.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #156 as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111 / 11.Panzer-Division. Thieme received the award while already in American captivity (captured 2 May 1945). Specific details of the final actions leading to this high award are less documented in open sources compared to earlier awards, as they occurred in the chaotic final weeks of the war in southern Germany or western Austria.
Karl Thieme's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Personnel Office) on 10 April 1945 via teleprinter. Major Joachim Domaschk noted "By no means sufficient! Requesting statement from OB West", which was requested on 13 April. OB West responded on 24 April (entry date at the Heerespersonalamt on 28 April): "Statement from OB West not possible, since nomination was not made via OB West". Major Joachim Domaschk then decided on 28 April: "Heeresgruppe B, postpone!" In this instance the nomination was not processed due to AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office) but also because statements from his commanding officers could not be obtained anymore due to the capitulation. The nomination list for the higher grades of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes also contains a note from 10 April 1945: postponed. A bestowal thus didn't occur. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (OdR) claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "156" was assigned by the OdR. Fellgiebel assigned the presentation date.

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Karl Alfred Thieme was a German officer in the Heer during World War II who rose to the rank of Oberstleutnant and became one of the recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Born on 28 May 1914 in Lehe near Wesermünde, which is now part of Bremerhaven, he volunteered for military service in 1936. Thieme began his career as an infantryman and quickly advanced through officer training, earning a commission and assignment to motorized units as the Wehrmacht expanded. His early service included participation in the campaigns in Poland and the West, where he demonstrated competence in leading small units under combat conditions. By the time of the invasion of the Soviet Union, he had transitioned into the panzergrenadier forces, serving with the 11th Panzer Division, a formation known for its aggressive armored operations on the Eastern Front. Thieme's leadership style emphasized personal bravery and rapid decision-making, traits that would define his later recognition.

Thieme first gained significant attention during the prelude to the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. As a Hauptmann commanding the first battalion of Panzergrenadier Regiment 110, he led his men in fierce assaults toward Novoselovka on 4 July. Under intense Soviet artillery and antitank fire across open terrain dotted with defensive positions, his battalion pressed forward in coordination with assault guns and panzers. Thieme moved at the front, directing assaults that cleared trenches and strongpoints through close-quarters fighting involving grenades and small-arms fire. His unit's success in maintaining momentum despite heavy casualties contributed to the division's initial gains in that sector. For these actions he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 October 1943, an award that highlighted his tactical skill and inspirational presence amid one of the largest armored clashes of the war. This decoration marked him as a rising combat leader within the panzer forces.

By 1944, with the war turning against Germany, Thieme operated in increasingly defensive roles during the retreat from the Eastern Front and subsequent operations in the West. Promoted to Major, he commanded replacement battalions and ad-hoc Kampfgruppen within the 11th Panzer Division. His ability to improvise with mixed forces of infantry, armor, and artillery proved vital as Allied advances accelerated. Thieme earned promotion and further respect for organizing rapid counteractions that delayed superior enemy formations, buying time for larger German withdrawals. His reputation grew as a reliable commander capable of holding critical positions even when cut off from higher command.

The actions that earned Thieme the Oak Leaves occurred during the chaotic German retreat in southern France following the Allied landings in Provence in August 1944. Commanding a field replacement battalion near Montélimar, he formed Kampfgruppe Thieme with available troops, including training units equipped with older tanks, reconnaissance elements, and self-propelled guns. On 23 August his force seized La Coucourde and parts of the Rhône valley, then blocked an Allied thrust west of Crest through determined defensive fighting. Days later, on 27 August, a reorganized group with Panthers launched a surprise assault on Romans-sur-Isère, overrunning American positions and securing a vital supply area that facilitated the 19th Army's escape route. Subsequent operations included recapturing the bridge at Pont d'Ain on 31 August and establishing a blocking position at the Pont-de-Roide pass in early September. There, with limited forces augmented by local Heer and Luftwaffe personnel, Thieme held a defensive line against repeated American attacks, preventing a breakthrough into the Rhine plain. These successive delaying actions led to the award of the 627th Oak Leaves on 23 October 1944.

As the war entered its final phase in 1945, Thieme, now an Oberstleutnant, commanded Panzergrenadier Regiment 111. He continued to lead rearguard actions amid the collapsing fronts in southern Germany and adjacent areas. His regiment engaged in desperate defensive battles, often involving small-unit counterattacks and efforts to maintain cohesion under overwhelming pressure from American and other Allied forces. Thieme was captured by American troops on 2 May 1945. Even in captivity, his earlier cumulative leadership earned him the Swords to the Knight's Cross, the 156th such award, dated 9 May 1945. This rare distinction reflected recognition of sustained excellence in both offensive and defensive operations throughout the conflict.

After the war Thieme returned to civilian life in the Bremerhaven area, where he resided in Langen until his death on 6 June 2004 at the age of ninety. His military career exemplified the experiences of many mid-level German officers who rose through competence and bravery on multiple fronts, from the high-water mark of German offensives to the bitter defensive struggles of the war's end. Thieme's decorations placed him among a select group of highly awarded soldiers, and accounts of his actions remain documented in divisional histories and award records of the period.

Source:
- Franz Thomas & Günter Wegmann, *Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945*, Biblio-Verlag.  
- Walther-Peer Fellgiebel, *Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945*.  
- Veit Scherzer, *Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945*.  
- Klaus D. Patzwall & Veit Scherzer, *Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945*.  
- Florian Berger, *Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern*.  
- https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/  
- https://en.wikipedia.org/  
- https://www.tracesofwar.com/  
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Karl_Thieme  
- https://rk.balsi.de/  

Letter of Theodor Nordmann

In a fascinating article that appeared in an issue of Luftwaffen Revue, Hans Schuh examined Stuka ace Theodor Nordmann's letters home - his Feldpostbriefe.  Like most service men serving far from home, letters and news from parents, relatives, girlfriends and wives were a key factor in the maintenance of morale, especially on the Eastern Front. The campaign in the East posed huge organisational difficulties for the field postal service which threatened to overwhelm the organisation. Transporting mail over such large distances was only possible through the use of aircraft. By order of the Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (commander-in-chief of the air force) dated 26 March 1942, deliveries were transported by six dedicated aircraft, a figure which later rose to eleven. Since the main focus was on the supply of mail to troops fighting at the front the number of monthly shipments and their weight was limited and payment of one Mark was required for each item dispatched.

Nordmann's letters were principally sent from the Nordost Front in Russia and were addressed to his parents and sisters.

" ..dearest mother - your loving letter of 29 January gave me so much pleasure..  for a brief moment pushing the hard winter fighting to the back of my mind..."

The letter of  7 January 1944 noted his relocation back to Russia, and according to the letter dated 14 January 1944 "immediately and takes full possession of him again. Behind him lay obviously "magnificent days of vacation", which he spent with his girlfriend Viviane and his family in his home town of Dorsten. He also writes however of " the first days of heavy combat " following his re-deployment, which already lie behind him again; "old familiar pictures, but combat is now even harder". Due to the harsh winter, the weather conditions feature heavily in the letters of this time. His letter dated 16 February 1944 states;

 "... shifting fields almost daily and committed in bad weather and with whatever means to hand have exhausted me to my limits ... snow, rain and fog have become our worst enemies. "

It was not just the winters in Russia that were hard. The operating conditions in the Russian summers cost much strength and effort. So writes Theo Nordmann on 12 July 1944;

 "..oppressive heat, long approach flights and 3 - 4 hours of sleep for every 24 hours of work have left us fit to drop! In order to survive the hardships of battle a solidly grounded inner attitude, a certain mental strength, an unconditional trust in our own strength -hardened through a thousand fires - is more necessary than ever!.."

He continues by self-confidently reporting on the "resounding successes" of his pilots;

 "..On our shoulders rested - without any sort of help- in the first week of the Russian offensive the main burden of the fighting in the air ..from 03:00 in the morning until late in the evening we flew our brave Ju-87s against the enemy under the most difficult fighting conditions. Our successes are achieved only with very hard sacrifices." (July 12, 1944)

 With the conversion to the new Schlacht Focke Wulf 190 operations were obviously judged to be even more effective;

 "..I had just finished my conversion training when Russian tanks threatened the airfield directly. Up to now I have successfully defended two airfields against tank attacks and we were airborne until we had ensured the fields remained secure..." (30 July)

In the face of these successes and his evident enthusiasm for the struggle, recognition, awards and promotions quickly followed. In March 1943 he had already received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross - in September 1944 the Swords would be awarded. In the meantime he was promoted to Major on 1 April. What author Schuh calls " his daredevilry and his commitment to heroic soldier-tum.." fitted into the spirit of time and made him a 'showpiece' of National Socialist propaganda. On home leave in Dorsten the Party, the Hitler Youth, the Wehrmacht, the Lazarett and his old grammar school all feted his achievements. After the award ceremony of the Oak Leaves his was the first entry in the so-called "Golden Book" of the town. Theo Nordmann willingly participated in all this and expressed himself after the events of 20 July 1944 in a letter dated  21 August 1944 as follows;

 "..The events of 20 July have had no influence on us. The fighting man at the front regards this cowardly and wretched act with rage and bitterness. The Führer is also spared nothing!.."

Source :
https://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2019/05/hptm-theo-nordmann-kommodore.html

Grouping of Otto Hartmann

Auctioned by Andreas Thies :

Total bid for the award and document legacy of General der Artillerie Otto Hartmann.

The awards and documents from General Otto Hartmann's estate will initially be auctioned individually and awarded subject to a possible total bid.

After that, it is possible to place a total bid on all lot numbers in the award group. The sums of the individual bids are added together and it is possible to place bids on the entire group. If several total bids are received, the highest bidder will be awarded the contract.

If no total bid is made that exceeds the sum of the individual bids by at least 10%, the reserved bids for the individual lots remain valid.

A total bid can also be made before the auction.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Tel. +49-171-266 27 81

Email: afthies@t-online.de

Price: € 55,000.00

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. Iron centre with silver frame. On the beautiful, early sewn original ribbon with rubber loops. The silver stamp "800" on the back below the eyelet, with a dot below ("800 dot"). The jump ring also stamped with "800". A very beautiful, early example from the Juncker company, Berlin. Quite typical for the award period after the victorious end of the Western campaign.Comes with the preliminary certificate of possession for the Ritterkreuz for General der Artillerie Hartmann, Kommandierender General XXX. A.K. (30th Army Corps).Dated at the headquarters of the OKH, 24 July 1940 (award date 5 August 1940). With the official seal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht and the original signature of Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. Brauchitsch often signed provisional certificates of possession in series in advance, which were then issued with the date of his signature regardless of the actual award. A very beautiful ensemble. Very rare in this version and with provenance.

Grand award certificate for the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to General der Artillerie Otto Hartmann. Dated Führerhauptquartier, 30 July 1940, with the original signature of the Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler in ink.The Ritterkreuz portfolio made of red Saffiano leather with gold-stamped national eagle. The inside covers with parchment mirrors and hand-gilt line edging. Signed "FRIEDA THIERSCH" on the lower edge on the reverse.The document is handwritten on a large parchment sheet (double leaf), the name of the grantee in raised gold. Portfolio with slight external signs of wear, certificate in almost perfect condition. With one of the original felt strips.Very beautiful, early Ritterkreuz portfolio and very rare for an artillery general.

1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (1939 Clasp for the Iron Cross 1st Class 1914). 1st model. Non-ferrous metal version, silver-plated. On pin. Comes with the award certificate to the commanding general of the XXX. Armeekorps Generalleutnant Otto Hartmann. Dated 23 December 1939, with the original signature of the Commander-in-Chief of the 1. Armee, Generaloberst Erwin von Witzleben.



1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (1939 Clasp for the Iron Cross 2nd Class 1914).








Orden za Voenna Zasluga (Bulgarian Order of Military Merit), 1st Class and Grand Cross, awarded on 15 July 1941. An example from the reign of Tsar Boris III. The bronze Grand Cross - gilt and enamelled, on a beautiful, sewn original sash with ribbon rosette. The breast star in brilliant lustre. Silver, partially gilt and enamelled. On pin with "silver" mark.Both pieces together in the beautiful original award case. The lid with the corresponding inscription and cipher of King Boris III in gold embossing. Also the certificate of ownership, dated 20 August 1941, with the original signature of Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel.








Ordinul Coroana României (Romanian Order of the Star with Swords), Grand Officer's Cross with Swords. Silver - gilt and enamelled, on a beautiful, sewn original sash. The breast star silver, the overlays gilt and enamelled, on a pin with maker's mark and silver hallmarks.Both pieces together in the original case of the Bucharest State Mint. The lid with gold-stamped King Michael I cipher and class designation.Comes with the Romanian provisional certificate of ownership, dated 14 August 1943.




Vojenske vyznamenanie Za hrdinstvo (Slovakian Military Award for Heroism), 2nd Class.




Medal bars.




Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse.



Harp Madalyası (Turkish Gallipoli Star).



DRL-Sportabzeichen.



Certificate of promotion to General der Artillerie.




A hand-drawn greeting card from the officer corps of XXX. Armeekorps on the occasion of Otto Hartmann's promotion to General der Artillerie.



Certificate of promotion to Generalleutnant.



Certificate of promotion to Generalmajor.



Certificate of promotion to Oberst.



Certificate of promotion to Oberstleutnant.



Certificate of promotion to Major.



Certificate of promotion to Hauptmann.



Certificate of promotion to Oberleutnant.



Certificate of promotion to Leutnant.



Certificate of promotion to Fähnrich.

Tagesbefehl (Daily Order) of XXX. Armeekorps dated 22 June 1940 on the occasion of the victorious campaign in the course of which Korpskommandeur Hartmann and his troops (XXX A.K.) took 80,000 prisoners from various French units, including a commanding general and three division commanders. Dated Luneville, 22 June 1940, with the original signature of General der Artillerie Otto Hartmann.

Certificate of enlistment for the Reichswehr, dated 13 January 1921.

Schulterklappen (shoulder boards) of General der Artillerie.




Schulterklappen (shoulder boards) of Generalmajor.

Schulterklappen (shoulder boards) of Major der Generalstabes.

Larisch-Stickerei (General collar tabs).

Below is significant extensive collection of documents and photographs of General der Artillerie Otto Hartmann, so to speak "from the cradle to the grave". Including photo albums 1938 - 1940 (3) School reports and prizes, correspondence, personal notes and extremely extensive papers on:Life story General of Artillery Otto Hartman; "Leading soldiers no politicians but political thinkers"; "Physical and psychological factors in war; Refugee - Surveillance: war history study from the experiences of the German Army 1939 - 1945; "The effectiveness of propaganda in war"; "Division exercise trip 1939"; "War preparation - course of the war up to the start of the French campaign spring 1940"; papers on captivity and release;The majority of the detailed writings were written in the early 1950s.Numerous school reports and prizes. Military and civilian correspondence. Letters of congratulations.Large number of condolences and letters of sympathy from military departments and numerous friendly generals on the tragic death of General Hartmann's only son in an aviation accident in March 1939.Extensive file with detailed curriculum vitae and numerous witness statements by leading generals regarding the Spruchkammer proceedings, etc. 1947.Fascinating, hundreds of pages of extremely valuable military-historical documents from the estate of this deserving artillery general.