Bio of Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann (1912-1997)

Full name: Karl Heinz Hausmann  
Nickname: None widely documented  
 
Date of birth: 10.01.1912 - Neuweistritz-Habelschwerdt, Glatz, Provinz Schlesien (German Empire)  
Date of death: 27.07.1997 - Edling, Bavaria (Germany)

Campaign and Operation: Invasion of Sudetenland (1938), Invasion of Czechoslovakia (1939), Invasion of Poland (1939), Invasion of Low Countries and France (1940), Unternehmen Barbarossa (1941), Eastern Front (1941-1944)

Religion: Catholic
Parents: Leo Hausmann (Landwirt) and Anna Guder 
Siblings: No detailed records available.  
Spouse: Christel Jendralski (married 26.02.1942)
Children: No confirmed public information on children.  

Promotions:
00.00.1935 Gefreiter
00.00.1936 Unteroffizier
00.00.1938 Feldwebel
00.00.1940 Oberfeldwebel
01.06.1942 Leutnant (406 C)
01.11.1942 Oberleutnant (310)
06.06.1956 Hauptmann (Bundeswehr)

Career:
04.04.1934 Enlisted in the Heer as a soldier in the 6.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 7 in Glas (Silesia)
00.09.1939 Served in the 8. Infanterie-Division during the Polish Campaign.  
00.00.1940 Participated in the campaign in the West as a Stab and adjutant.
00.00.1940 - 00.12.1941 Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 28 / 8.Infanterie-Division.
00.00.1941 Transferred with the division to the Eastern Front as part of Operation Barbarossa.
00.12.1941 - 00.00.1942 Zugführer in Jager-Regiment 28 / 8.leichte-Division
00.06.1942 8. leichte-Division was redesignated as 8. Jager-Division.
00.00.1942 - 00.00.1944 Führer and then Chef of 3.Kompanie / Jager-Regiment 28 / 8.Jager-Division
15.05.1942 Awarded the Ritterkreuz for outstanding bravery and leadership against Soviet forces.
03.06.1942 Lightly wounded by grenade splinter in the left elbow.
04.06.1942 Fell ill with influenza / Feldlazarett 8 in Aleskino.
10.12.1942 Transferred to Jäger-Ersatz-Bataillon 28 in Metz (as the only son left in the family).
00.00.1944 - 04.05.1945 Kompaniechef in Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland".
04.05.1945 - 01.01.1950 Survived the war and became a prisoner of war.  
01.01.1950 Released from the POW camp and settled in bavaria.
06.06.1956 Enlisted in the West German Bundeswehr. Served in Personal-Abteilung / Bundesminister der Verteidigung
30.09.1967 Retired
He Lived quietly until his death in 1997. He occasionally signed postcards and photos for collectors as a ritterkreuztrager.  

Awards and Decorations:
00.11.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
18.08.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange in Bronze
15.05.1942 Ritterkreuz des eisernen kreuzes #990 as Oberfeldwebel and Führer 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 28 / 8.leichte-Division. In early 1942, Soviet forces had trapped around 100,000 German troops in the Demyansk area, south of Lake Ilmen near Staraya Russa. The pocket endured months of brutal winter isolation, supplied only by air. The 8. leichte-Division, together with the 5. leichte-Division, took part in Operation Bruckenschlag, the ground relief attack to link up with the encircled forces.
The offensive launched on 21 March 1942 under extreme winter conditions: temperatures dropping below -30 degrees Celsius, waist-deep snow, dense forests, and frozen swamps. The Jager troops advanced through this frozen wasteland toward the Lovat River and the village of Ramushewo. Hausmann led his company in these assaults as part of Jager-Regiment 28. His leadership and bravery stood out during what the original account described as "a fight of superhuman exertions, courage, intrepidity and bravery and many sacrifice."
The Jager moved forward in white winter camouflage that helped them blend into the snow but gave almost no protection against the freezing wind. Their breath turned to ice on scarves and beards. Rifles and machine guns frequently jammed as the cold thickened the oil inside the mechanisms. Soldiers dragged sleds loaded with ammunition and wounded comrades, or pushed ahead on skis wherever the terrain allowed.
Soviet positions were well-hidden in the snow, behind fallen trees and in fortified villages. Machine-gun fire ripped across the open ground, with glowing tracer rounds slicing through the dim light. Artillery and mortar shells exploded, throwing up columns of snow, ice, and frozen earth. Shrapnel hissed through the air, cutting men down in sudden sprays of red against the white landscape.
Hausmann's company repeatedly stormed these defenses. In fierce assaults they charged through deep snowdrifts under heavy fire. Hausmann led from the front, shouting encouragement and directing his men. They closed the final distance with grenades and bayonets in savage hand-to-hand combat: rifles swung like clubs, knives flashed, and desperate struggles played out in the snow. Soviet counterattacks came in screaming waves of "Hurrah!" charges, often with superior numbers. Hausmann's troops held their ground or pushed back with disciplined fire and determined counter-charges, relying on their training and willpower.
When April arrived, the thaw transformed the battlefield into a nightmare of mud. Melting snow created knee-deep slush and icy swamps. Vehicles sank and became useless. Men waded through freezing water that soaked their uniforms and worsened frostbite into trench foot. What the cold had not taken, the mud and exhaustion now threatened to destroy. Supplies were scarce, rations minimal, and every step required immense effort.
Despite these conditions, on 20 April 1942 the relief forces, including units from the 8. Jager-Division, finally restored the connection with the encircled comrades at Ramushewo on the Lovat River. The narrow corridor allowed the trapped troops to be relieved after months of suffering.
The Ritterkreuz recommendation: "Reason for the award: Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant Major) Hausmann, through personally exemplary bravery and leadership qualities, when the battalion’s attack came to a halt, used his platoon to seize enemy resistance strongpoints — especially trained for house-to-house combat — despite being heavily outnumbered, and held them until reinforcements arrived three hours later. The independently made decision was of decisive importance for the subsequent fighting.”
(12.05.1942 recommendation received; 13.05.1942 forwarded; 15.05.1942 awarded. Preliminary notification of award and decorations: from 16.05.1942 to the Armee Oberkommando 16)

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Karl Hausmann was a German soldier who served in the Heer during World War II. He earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as an Oberfeldwebel and acting company commander on the Eastern Front for exceptional bravery and leadership in combat. Born on 10 January 1912 in Neuweistritz-Habelschwerdt in Silesia, Hausmann rose through the ranks as a non-commissioned officer known for his steadfastness in the face of overwhelming Soviet opposition. He later lived in Bavaria after the war until his death on 27 July 1997 in Edling.

Hausmann came from Silesia and enlisted in the German Army during the 1930s. He received standard infantry training and was assigned to what became the 8. Infanterie-Division. With the outbreak of war in 1939 he participated in the Polish campaign followed by operations in the west in 1940. When the division moved east for Operation Barbarossa in 1941 it was redesignated first as 8. Leichte Infanterie-Division and then as 8. Jäger-Division. Hausmann served with Jäger-Regiment 28 where he advanced to Feldwebel and then Oberfeldwebel while training as an Offiziersanwärter.

During the harsh fighting on the northern sector of the Eastern Front in 1941 and early 1942 Hausmann demonstrated growing leadership qualities amid mud, snow and relentless enemy attacks. The Jäger troops faced difficult terrain with dense forests and limited visibility that favored Soviet infiltration tactics. As a platoon leader he earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse and Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse for repeated acts of courage under fire. His experience in close-quarters combat and ability to maintain unit cohesion under pressure marked him as a reliable frontline commander.

In spring 1942 the 8. leichte/Jäger-Division engaged in intense defensive operations against repeated Soviet attempts to break through German lines. On a critical day in early May waves of Red Army infantry supported by heavy mortar and machine gun fire assaulted the positions held by 3. Kompanie of Jäger-Regiment 28. With communications disrupted and casualties mounting Hausmann as acting Führer of the company personally led from the front. Exposed to enemy fire he rallied his Jäger soldiers and destroyed a key Soviet machine gun nest with hand grenades. His decisive counterattack sealed a dangerous breach, recaptured lost ground and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers preventing a collapse of the sector. For these actions he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 May 1942.

Hausmann continued to serve with Jäger-Regiment 28 through the demanding defensive battles of 1942 to 1944. The division participated in numerous withdrawal actions and counterattacks as the Eastern Front shifted westward under growing Soviet pressure. Promoted later to Leutnant he held various leadership roles helping to stabilize positions during critical moments. Some postwar memorabilia connect him through signatures to associations with elements of the Großdeutschland Division though his primary service remained with the 8. Jäger-Division. He survived the final campaigns of 1945 and was taken into captivity as a prisoner of war.

After release from captivity Hausmann settled quietly in Bavaria where he lived a private life. Like many Ritterkreuzträger he occasionally signed postcards and photographs for military history collectors. He passed away on 27 July 1997 in Edling. His military career exemplified the role of experienced non-commissioned officers who provided crucial leadership and resilience for German units throughout the Eastern Front campaigns.

Hausmann received several awards during his service including the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, the Nahkampfspange and the Ostmedaille for the Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 along with other campaign and wound badges typical for veteran Jäger soldiers. His story remains part of the historical record of the 8. Jäger-Division and its contributions in the Second World War.

Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann as an officer in the Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland".

This propaganda photo shows three women donating money to two soldiers representing the Kriegswinterhilfswerk, a regular fundraising program aimed at helping underprivileged Germans in winter. The two soldier asking for donations themselves were not ordinary soldiers, but war heroes and Ritterkreuzträger from the Wachbataillon (Watch Battalion) Großdeutschland. They are, from left to right: Leutnant Karl Hausmann (Ritterkreuz on 15 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and Führer 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 28 / 8. leichte Infanterie-Division) and Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (Ritterkreuz on 4 March 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division). This photo itself was taken in March 1943.



This famous video - taken from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 726, 3 August 1944 - shows Otto Ernst Remer (then Major, later promoted straight to Oberst!) giving a propaganda speech to troops of the Wachbataillon Großdeutschland (Greater German Guard Battalion) in Berlin, late July 1944. He stands in front of a Nazi flag, addresses the soldiers, and they march past him. This was a propaganda piece filmed to celebrate the failure of the 20 July 1944 plot and emphasize the unity between the Wehrmacht and the Nazi Party (NSDAP). In his speech, Remer, addressing his troops and emphasizing loyalty to Hitler and the state after the failed plot. Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann is shown in 00:50.

From left to right: Oberleutnant Rudolf Schlee (Chef 5.Kompanie / Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland") and Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann (Kompaniechef in Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland"). This is a screenshot taken from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau' Nr. 726 (3 August 1944) which shows the speech of the commander of Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland", Oberst Otto Ernst Remer, shortly after the failed 20 July 1944 Plot. Other images from this occasion can be seen HERE.

Karl Hausmann as a Hauptmann (Captain) in the Bundeswehr. He Enlisted in the West German Armed Forces on 6 June 1956, served mostly in the Personal-Abteilung of Bundesminister der Verteidigung, and retired on 30 September 1967 with the last rank as Hauptmann.

Source:
Https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47768/hausmann-karl.htm  
Https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/personenregister/h/hausmann.htm  
Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_knights_cross_of_the_iron_cross_recipients_(ha-hm)  
Https://wolfganghistorica.com (memorabilia and signature pages)  
https://forum.axishistory.com/search.php?keywords=hausmann&t=29879&sf=msgonly
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/-1957-medals-orders-and-decorations/705921-kc-group-from-karl-hausmann
http://wehrmachtss.blogspot.com/2018/10/donasi-kriegswinterhilfswerk-oleh.html

Otto Ernst Remer Speaks in front of Grossdeutschland Soldiers

This famous video - taken from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 726, 3 August 1944 - shows Otto Ernst Remer (then Major, later promoted straight to Oberst!) giving a propaganda speech to troops of the Wachbataillon Großdeutschland (Greater German Guard Battalion) in Berlin, late July 1944. He stands in front of a Nazi flag, addresses the soldiers, and they march past him. This was a propaganda piece filmed to celebrate the failure of the 20 July 1944 plot and emphasize the unity between the Wehrmacht and the Nazi Party (NSDAP). In his speech, Remer, addressing his troops and emphasizing loyalty to Hitler and the state after the failed plot.

Oberst Otto Ernst Remer (Kommandeur "Wachbataillon Großdeutschland"). This is a screenshot taken from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau' Nr. 726 (3 August 1944) which was taken shortly after the failed 20 July 1944 Plot.

From left to right: Oberleutnant Rudolf Schlee (Chef 5.Kompanie / Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland") and Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann. This is a screenshot taken from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau' Nr. 726 (3 August 1944) which shows the speech of the commander of Wachbataillon "Großdeutschland", Oberst Otto Ernst Remer, shortly after the failed 20 July 1944 Plot.

Source :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX0_CfJdatQ

Ewald von Kleist Visiting Luftwaffe Unit in Mariupol

In the crisp autumn air of October 1941, as German forces consolidated their stunning victories in southern Ukraine, Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist—soon to be promoted and commanding what would become the 1. Panzerarmee—made a notable visit to forward Luftwaffe elements in the newly captured port city of Mariupol. This stop, though less celebrated than the great encirclements at Kiev or the later drama at Rostov, underscored the close coordination between ground and air forces that defined the early successes of Operation Barbarossa.

Shortly after the fall of Mariupol—likely in the second week of October—von Kleist traveled to the city to inspect troops and confer with air commanders. Contemporary accounts and photographic evidence from the period show senior German officers frequently touring newly seized objectives to boost morale, assess logistics, and refine combined-arms tactics. Kleist, a tall, aristocratic cavalryman with a reputation for methodical leadership (often contrasted with the more flamboyant Heinz Guderian), was known for such hands-on visits.

At a makeshift Luftwaffe airfield on the outskirts of Mariupol—hastily repaired from Soviet facilities and surrounded by the industrial sprawl of steel mills and port cranes—Kleist met with officers of an air force detachment, possibly elements attached to Fliegerkorps V or local Stukagruppen and Jagdgeschwader. The visit included:

1. Briefings on air operations: Luftwaffe staff officers described recent strikes that had shattered Soviet attempts to reinforce the pocket. Dive-bomber pilots recounted low-level attacks on retreating columns and shipping in the Sea of Azov.
2. Inspection of aircraft and facilities: Kleist reportedly viewed parked Ju 87 Stukas and Bf 109 fighters, discussing maintenance challenges in the dusty Ukrainian steppe and the need for rapid forward basing to keep pace with the panzers.
3. Tactical discussions: Emphasis was placed on improving radio coordination between panzer spearheads and orbiting aircraft—a lesson refined from earlier campaigns in Poland and France but tested severely by the vast distances of the Eastern Front.
4. Morale boost: In the tradition of German command style, Kleist congratulated pilots and ground crews on their contributions to the encirclement, pinning awards and sharing rations. The mood was optimistic; the Red Army seemed on the verge of collapse in the south.

Photographs from similar inspections in Ukraine that autumn show Kleist in his characteristic greatcoat, often examining captured infrastructure or conferring with subordinates. One well-known image depicts him inspecting a large iron and steel works in Ukraine, likely near the Donbas region, highlighting the economic importance of the captured territories.

Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber 1. Panzerarmee) examining an optic apparatus.

Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber 1. Panzerarmee) examining a map.



Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber 1. Panzerarmee) going down the stairs.

Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber 1. Panzerarmee) inspecting anti-aircraft position.



Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber 1. Panzerarmee) with saluting Luftwaffe officer.

Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (right, Oberbefehlshaber 1. Panzerarmee) and Oberst Dr.med.dent. Walter Gnamm (Kommandeur der Luftwaffe bei der 1. Panzerarmee).

Oberst Dr.med.dent. Walter Gnamm (left, Kommandeur der Luftwaffe bei der 1. Panzerarmee) and Generalmajor Karl Drum (Kommandeur der Luftwaffe bei der Heeresgruppe Süd).

Unknown Luftwaffe Major, veteran of the Spanish Civil War (note the Spanienkreuz).

Two unknown Luftwaffe officers.

Three unknown Luftwaffe pilots.



Luftwaffe officers and NCO.

Source :
https://www.weitze.com/militaria/87/Luftwaffe_Fotos_General_und_Ritterkreuztraeger_besucht_die_Truppe__457987.html?token=1607eb391415a46848abca73dbaa167d

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony (Video)

-1941-


Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 585 - 20 November 1941: On 21 August 1941, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, personally presented the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross) to six outstanding officers and men of the Fallschirmjäger (German paratroopers) at his headquarters. The recipients—Oberst Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, Oberstabsarzt Dr. med. Heinrich Neumann, Oberst Hans Kroh, Oberleutnant Heinrich Welskop, Leutnant Erich Schuster, and Feldwebel Wilhelm Kempke—were honored for their extraordinary bravery, leadership, and sacrifice during the Battle of Crete (Operation Merkur) in May 1941. Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

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-1943-


Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 654 - 17 March 1943: SS-Sturmmann Gerardus Mooyman, Geschützführer in 14.Kompanie (Panzerjäger) / SS-Freiwilligen-Legion “Nederland”, received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes from Generalleutnant Johann Sinnhuber (Kommandeur 28.  Jäger-Division) on 20 February 1943. He became the first non-German soldier in the entire Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS to receive this prestigious award. The medal was formally presented for “the destruction of thirteen enemy tanks in a single day of combat while taking command of the gun after the death of its leader and personally eliminating an enemy anti-tank gun at night.” He also received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (4 February 1943) and Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (10 February 1943) in rapid succession for the same fighting. By the end of his service on the Eastern Front, Mooyman was officially credited with twenty-three tank kills. Nazi propaganda immediately turned the teenage Dutch volunteer into a poster boy for foreign recruitment: newspapers, magazines, and newsreels across occupied Europe carried his story, and Heinrich Himmler personally congratulated him. Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

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-1944-

Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 700 - 2 Februari 1944: Following the two intense days of combat in the Eastern Front on 8th and 9th January 1944 which had seen the destruction of nine enemy Panzers and an anti-tank gun, on 10 January 1944 panzer ace SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie [schwere] / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH) was recommended by his divisional commander SS-Oberführer Theodor “Teddi” Wisch for the prestigious Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. This video - which was taken in Vinnitsa, Ukraine - shows Wittmann and his four-man Tiger crew being congratulated by his regimental commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim “Jochen” Peiper, followed by congratulations from his comrades-in-arms. The medal ceremony itself had been held a few hours earlier, presided over by Divisionskommandeur, SS-Oberführer Theodor “Teddy” Wisch. In the background is Wittmann's Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Ausf.F “S04” with 88 victory rings (the reporter of ‘Die Deutsche Wochenschau’ had misstated the number as 89). Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

Die Deutsche Wochenschau No. 720 - 21 June 1944: Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Hoffmann (Chef 5. Torpedobootsflottille) and Korvettenkapitän der Reserve Dr.-ing.Victor Rall (Chef 15.Vorpostenflottille) of the Kriegsmarine. The following excerpt stands as a written tribute to the Ritterkreuz action of Heinrich Hoffmann: “From the very start of the Invasion Korvettenkapitän Hoffmann and his unit were present in combat against the allied fleet from one night to the next in an area that was heavily guarded by strong enemy naval formations. In this time he led his ships with great bravery and daring. Thanks to his strong will and outstanding naval acumen, he was able to overcome every difficulty and conduct multiple successful attacks with his unit. At least 3 enemy destroyers were torpedoed during these missions, of which one was almost certainly sunk.” The following press article (dated 10 June 1944) describes why Rall would receive the Ritterkreuz: “The Führer was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Korvettenkapitän d.R. Viktor Rall, commander of a VP-Flotille on the Invasion front, for his bravery in the fighting against the enemy landing fleet. Korvettenkapitän Rall launched a raid into the Allied fleet on the first night of the Invasion, leading his own force of converted fishing boats. He fought against enemy landing craft of all types successfully while avoiding enemy 38-cm salvoes. On the second night he and his heroically fighting crews fought in further battles against overwhelming numbers of enemy destroyers and light craft, while still inflicting considerable damage to the enemy landing formations. In the following nights Rall and his Flottille continued to fight in numerous battles in the most intense moments of the fighting. Rall was born on 27 November 1896 in Reutlingen (Württemberg) and has already participated in the First World War as a Seeoffizier. Before the fighting on the Invasion front he operated with his Flottille in the English Channel for a long time, where he protected valuable German convoys in many hard-fought night battles, safely bringing them into their intended destination harbours.” Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 746 - 21 December 1944: A video of the awarding of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to two experienced platoon leaders of the Panzergrenadiere, late 1944 in Italy. The general is Schwerterträger Ernst-Günther Baade, who later fell on 8 May 1945. He was the commander of the 90. Panzergrenadier-Division, which was fighting at Rimini and Bologna. He wears a neck decoration of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern and a reversible camouflage jacket with the special insignia on the sleeve. The two decorated men are Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel, a Zugführer in 15.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361, and Feldwebel Martin Mitschke, a Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-regiment 200. Heinkel formally received the Ritterkreuz on 16 November 1944. He later joined the Bundeswehr and reached the final rank as Hauptmann. In the other hand, Mitschke received the same medal on 16 October 1944. There is an interesting anecdote about this sequence from "Die Deutsche Wochenschau" newsreel: It does not actually show Feldwebel Mitschke receiving the Ritterkreuz, because he received the award one month before Oberfeldwebel Heinkel. When Generalleutnant Baade wanted to hand over the Ritterkreuz to Heinkel, members of a propaganda company were also present, who were filming for the newsreel. Martin Mitschke was also filmed on this occasion. When the sequence was shown in the "Wochenschau" of the 21 December 1944 edition, it was intended to show Heinkel and Mitschke receiving the Ritterkreuz from their division commander at the same time.  In reality, Mitschke had already received the award from Divisionskommandeur Baade a month earlier. There are recordings of this.  Baade, for example, is wearing different clothing, not this winter jacket. Mitschke had to take off the neck medal again for the "Wochenschau". There was probably only the "new" Ritterkreuz for Heinkel to hand.  That's why you can only see him being presented with the medal. Only he wears it on a long ribbon. You can see it very clearly at the end of the sequence. Mitschke wears his Ritterkreuz the way he had made it suitable for daily wear weeks before.... For the "newsreel", two simultaneous Ritterkreuz ceremonies within a division to sub-commanders were apparently much more interesting, so there was a bit of "trickery". Of course, if you know the background, you will notice it! Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

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-1945-

Die Deutsche Wochenschau No. 755 - 22 March 1945: The start of Altdamm offensive operation near Stettin by the Soviets in 18 March 1945 were halted by intense German resistance. In this clip, we can also see Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel Willi Schmückle (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Fahnenjunker-Regiment 1241 / Panzergrenadier-Division "Kurmark"), who received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 March 1945 for his tenacious defence in the Oder Front. Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

Bio of Leutnant Hugo Heinkel (1914-1985)

Full name: Hugo Heinkel  
Nickname: No information  

Date of Birth: 21 July 1914 - Horb-Dettingen, Württemberg (German Empire)
Date of Death: 27 November 1985 - Ulm an der Donau, Bavaria (West Germany)

Battles and Operations: No specific information available  
NSDAP-Number: No information  
SS-Number: Not applicable (Heer)  
Religion: No information  
Parents: No information available  
Siblings: No information available  
Spouse: No information available  
Children: No information available  

Promotions:  
- Date unknown: Oberfeldwebel  
- Late war or immediate postwar period: Leutnant  
- Bundeswehr service: Hauptmann  

Career:  
- Pre-war years: No detailed information available  
- Second World War: Served as Zugtruppführer (platoon headquarters section leader) in the 15. Kompanie of Grenadier-Regiment 361 (motorisiert), part of the 90. Panzergrenadier-Division  
- Postwar: Continued military service in the Bundeswehr, reaching the rank of Hauptmann  

Awards and Decorations:  
Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung (IV.Klasse)
Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz and Silber (maybe even Gold)
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
Silver Rider's Pin (House Order of General Baade; as did Martin Mitschke)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (16 November 1944) as Oberfeldwebel and Zugtruppführer in the 15.Pionier-Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361 / 90.Panzergrenadier-Division. In the combat area of Borli the enemy had seized, by a sudden thrust, a commanding height already lying behind the German main line of resistance and dominating the entire surrounding terrain. An immediate counterattack by the Berlin-Brandenburg Grenadier regiment was pinned down under the withering defensive fire of two enemy machine-gun nests. Waiting for the support of heavier weapons to neutralize those positions would have cost precious time that the enemy could have used to strengthen his lines even further. Oberfeldwebel Heinkel instantly recognized the danger. With bold determination he let himself slide down a slope, completely alone, skillfully exploiting every fold in the ground to bypass the two resistance nests undetected. Once in position he stormed forward and, using hand grenades and his machine pistol, silenced one of the machine guns. Exploiting the sudden success, the German assault groups were able to surge forward, continue their attack without pause, and wrest the vital height back from the enemy. Through his fearless, resolute action Oberfeldwebel Heinkel created the decisive prerequisite for the recapture of the position. The divisional commander honored this outstanding deed by awarding him the Ritterkreuz.

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Hugo Heinkel was a German non-commissioned officer who served in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War and became one of the last recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in the German Army. Born on 21 July 1914 in Dettingen an der Erms in the kingdom of Württemberg within the German Empire he rose through the ranks as an experienced frontline leader known for his cool-headed initiative under fire. By late 1944 he held the rank of Oberfeldwebel and served as Zugtruppführer the platoon headquarters section leader in the fifteenth company of Grenadier Regiment 361 motorisiert which formed part of the 90th Panzergrenadier Division operating in the Italian theater. His single most famous exploit occurred in November 1944 in the combat zone around Borli where his personal courage turned a stalled counterattack into a successful recapture of a key position earning him the highest German military decoration of the war.

Little is documented about Heinkel's life before he entered military service. Like many young men of his generation in southern Germany he came of age during the economic hardships of the Weimar years and the subsequent rearmament under the National Socialist government. He joined the Heer the regular German Army rather than any party-affiliated formation and by the outbreak of war had already developed the technical and leadership skills that would later distinguish him as a reliable platoon-level commander. His regiment which carried the traditional title of a Berlin-Brandenburg grenadier unit had been reorganized and motorized to meet the demands of mobile defensive warfare in the later phases of the conflict.

In the autumn of 1944 the 90th Panzergrenadier Division was engaged in bitter defensive fighting along the northern Italian front as Allied forces pressed toward the Gothic Line. On the day of the action the enemy had executed a sudden thrust that seized a commanding height already situated behind the German main line of resistance and overlooking the entire surrounding terrain. An immediate counterattack launched by elements of the Berlin-Brandenburg grenadiers ran into devastating fire from two well-sited enemy machine-gun nests. The German assault stalled and any delay while waiting for heavier supporting weapons would have given the opposing forces time to dig in deeper and reinforce their newly won position.

Oberfeldwebel Heinkel instantly grasped the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation he ordered his men to hold and then acted alone. He let himself slide down a steep slope taking advantage of every dip and fold in the ground to approach the enemy nests without being spotted. Once within effective range he stormed forward throwing hand grenades and firing his machine pistol in a rapid assault that knocked one of the machine guns out of action. The sudden silence of the enemy weapon created the opening his comrades had been waiting for. The German assault groups surged forward renewed their momentum and drove the enemy off the height restoring the integrity of the German line.

For this display of personal bravery and tactical initiative Heinkel was recommended for and received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 16 November 1944. The contemporary newspaper account published under the headline Wie Hugo Heinkel zum Ritterkreuz kam described his deed in vivid detail praising the decisive prerequisite he had created for the success of the entire operation. The award placed him among a select group of non-commissioned officers recognized for leadership under the most desperate conditions of the late-war period. Shortly afterward he was promoted to the commissioned rank of Leutnant reflecting the Army's practice of elevating proven combat leaders regardless of their original status.

After the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945 Heinkel like many other experienced soldiers chose to remain in uniform once the opportunity arose. He joined the newly formed Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany and continued his professional military career eventually reaching the rank of Hauptmann. His service in the democratic armed forces of the postwar era symbolized the successful transition of many former Wehrmacht personnel into the defensive forces of the Western alliance. He lived quietly in southern Germany and died on 27 November 1985 in Ulm an der Donau in Bavaria at the age of seventy-one.

Heinkel's story though less widely known than that of famous aces or generals illustrates the crucial role played by veteran non-commissioned officers in sustaining German combat effectiveness during the final defensive battles of the Second World War. Unit histories of the 90th Panzergrenadier Division still record him as a highly regarded platoon leader whose action at Borli prevented a potentially dangerous breach in the line. His postwar contributions to the Bundeswehr further highlight the continuity of professional soldiering across the divide of 1945 demonstrating how individual courage on the battlefield could translate into long-term service to the nation in both war and peace.

A video of the awarding of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to two experienced platoon leaders of the Panzergrenadiere, late 1944 in Italy. The general is Schwerterträger Ernst-Günther Baade, who later fell on 8 May 1945. He was the commander of the 90. Panzergrenadier-Division, which was fighting at Rimini and Bologna. He wears a neck decoration of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern and a reversible camouflage jacket with the special insignia on the sleeve. The two decorated men are Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel, a Zugführer in 15.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361, and Feldwebel Martin Mitschke, a Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-regiment 200. Heinkel formally received the Ritterkreuz on 16 November 1944. He later joined the Bundeswehr and reached the final rank as Hauptmann. In the other hand, Mitschke received the same medal on 16 October 1944. There is an interesting anecdote about this sequence from "Die Deutsche Wochenschau" newsreel: It does not actually show Feldwebel Mitschke receiving the Ritterkreuz, because he received the award one month before Oberfeldwebel Heinkel. When Generalleutnant Baade wanted to hand over the Ritterkreuz to Heinkel, members of a propaganda company were also present, who were filming for the newsreel. Martin Mitschke was also filmed on this occasion. When the sequence was shown in the "Wochenschau" of the 21 December 1944 edition, it was intended to show Heinkel and Mitschke receiving the Ritterkreuz from their division commander at the same time.  In reality, Mitschke had already received the award from Divisionskommandeur Baade a month earlier. There are recordings of this.  Baade, for example, is wearing different clothing, not this winter jacket. Mitschke had to take off the neck medal again for the "Wochenschau". There was probably only the "new" Ritterkreuz for Heinkel to hand.  That's why you can only see him being presented with the medal. Only he wears it on a long ribbon. You can see it very clearly at the end of the sequence. Mitschke wears his Ritterkreuz the way he had made it suitable for daily wear weeks before.... For the "newsreel", two simultaneous Ritterkreuz ceremonies within a division to sub-commanders were apparently much more interesting, so there was a bit of "trickery". Of course, if you know the background, you will notice it! Other pictures from this award ceremony can be seen HERE.

Italian Front, end of 1944: Generalleutnant Ernst-Günther Baade (left, Kommandeur 90. Panzergrenadier-Division) during the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the two members of his division, Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel (Zugführer in 15.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361) and Oberfeldwebel Martin Mitschke (right, Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-regiment 200). This picture was a screenshot from the "Die Deutsche Wochenschau" Nr. 746 clip, 21 December 1944 issue.



Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel (left, Zugführer in 15.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 361) and Oberfeldwebel Martin Mitschke (Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / Panzergrenadier-regiment 200) from 90. Panzergrenadier-Division, after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Heinkel. Italian Front, end of 1944. This picture was a screenshot from the "Die Deutsche Wochenschau" Nr. 746 clip, 21 December 1944 issue.

Here is the English translation of the newspaper article:
How Hugo Heinkel Earned the Knight's Cross
× Dettingen. In the combat area of Borli, the enemy had, through a surprising thrust, seized a height that already lay behind our own main line of resistance and dominated the entire surrounding area. The immediate counterattack launched by a Berlin-Brandenburg grenadier regiment was pinned down under heavy defensive fire from two machine-gun nests. Waiting for the support of heavier weapons to neutralize the machine guns would have taken valuable time that the enemy could have used to further strengthen his positions.
Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel, born on 21 July 1914 in Dettingen an der Erms, also recognized this. He therefore made a bold decision: he let himself slide down a slope and, completely alone and skillfully exploiting the terrain, bypassed both resistance nests. He then stormed forward with hand grenades and his machine pistol, putting one of the machine guns out of action. Exploiting this success, the assault groups were able to continue their attack without interruption and wrest the height back from the enemy. Through his courageous and resolute conduct, Oberfeldwebel Heinkel had created the decisive prerequisite for this outcome. The commander honored this by awarding him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel.

Oberfeldwebel Hugo Heinkel.

Source: 
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=285526
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47222/Heinkel-Hugo.htm

The Funeral of Hans-Valentin Hube

The death of Hans-Valentin Hube on 21 April 1944 came as a sudden and tragic blow to the German Wehrmacht at a moment when its armored forces on the Eastern Front were under increasing strain. Hube, a battle-hardened general who had lost his right arm during the First World War and earned the enduring nickname “Der Mensch” or “The Man” from his troops for his tough yet fair and courageous leadership, had just reached a pinnacle of recognition. On 20 April, he had been summoned to the Obersalzberg to join Adolf Hitler’s 55th birthday celebrations. There, in a personal audience, Hitler awarded him the rare Diamonds to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross—one of only twenty-seven such distinctions granted during the entire war—and promoted him to the rank of Generaloberst. The honors were bestowed in acknowledgment of Hube’s masterful command of the 16th Panzer Division in the early campaigns against the Soviet Union, his leadership of XIV Panzer Corps during the defense of Sicily and the Salerno landings, and above all his skillful extrication of the 1st Panzer Army from the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket earlier that spring, an operation that saved tens of thousands of German soldiers and their equipment from certain destruction. Rumors even circulated within the high command that Hitler had briefly considered elevating Hube to Commander-in-Chief of the Army itself, though that appointment was ultimately postponed. 

The following morning, 21 April, Hube boarded a Heinkel He 111 transport plane at Reichenhall-Berchtesgaden Airport in Ainring, near Salzburg, intending to fly back to his headquarters on the Eastern Front to resume command of the 1st Panzer Army. The aircraft lifted off normally but crashed shortly after takeoff into the mountainous terrain a few miles from Berchtesgaden. All aboard perished except for Walther Hewel, a senior diplomat traveling on the same flight, who survived with severe injuries. Hube’s adjutant, Major von Schwanenfeld, had been spared only because he was on personal leave and had not joined the flight. The wreckage yielded few intact remains; the sole clearly identifiable fragment of Hube’s body was his black metal prosthetic right arm, a grim reminder of the wound he had carried since 1916. Official reports classified the crash as an accident, yet the timing—mere hours after Hitler’s birthday festivities and amid growing paranoia within the Nazi leadership—prompted quiet speculation among some officers about possible sabotage, echoes later with the still-unexplained plane crash that would killed Generaloberst Eduard Dietl two months after. No concrete evidence ever emerged to support foul play, and the incident was accepted as one of the many wartime tragedies that claimed senior commanders without warning. Hitler himself was reportedly shaken by the news and, in the weeks before his own death in 1945, continued to lament the loss of “Der Mensch,” describing Hube as one of the three finest commanders produced by the Second World War and a general whose straightforward reliability could always be counted upon in the fiercest fighting. 

Hube’s passing was accorded the full solemnity of a state funeral, reflecting both his personal standing with Hitler and the regime’s desire to honor a figure whose battlefield record had become emblematic of determined resistance. On 26 April 1944, exactly five days after the crash, a grand ceremony took place in Berlin. Hube’s coffin, draped with a swastika flag, lay in state within the Reich Chancellery, where it was viewed by senior Nazi officials and military leaders. Adolf Hitler attended in person, a rare gesture by that stage of the war that underscored the depth of the Führer’s regard for the fallen general. Heinz Guderian, himself a legendary panzer commander and one of Hube’s closest comrades in the armored branch, delivered the eulogy, paying tribute to Hube’s tactical brilliance, his unyielding spirit, and the personal example he had set for the troops under his command. A guard of honor composed of four fellow generals—Walther Nehring, Hermann Breith, Heinrich Eberbach, and Hans Gollnick—stood vigil beside the coffin throughout the service, their presence a visible symbol of the respect Hube commanded within the officer corps. Following the formal rites, Hube was laid to rest with full military honors at the Invalidenfriedhof, the historic Invalids’ Cemetery in Berlin’s Mitte district. His grave lies near those of other prominent figures from the Nazi era, including the Luftwaffe aces Ernst Udet and Werner Mölders, Field Marshal Walther von Reichenau, Gestapo chief Reinhard Heydrich, and armaments minister Fritz Todt. 

The funeral marked the end of a remarkable military career that had spanned two world wars and seen Hube rise from a young infantry officer to one of the Wehrmacht’s most capable armored leaders. His death removed from the battlefield a commander whose innovative tactics and personal courage had repeatedly turned potential disasters into orderly withdrawals, most notably during the desperate fighting at Stalingrad and in the Ukraine. In the broader context of the collapsing German war effort, Hube’s loss was felt acutely by both the high command and the ordinary soldiers who had served under him; many recalled his habit of appearing at the front lines, directing operations with one hand while maintaining an almost superhuman calm amid chaos. Though the precise circumstances of the crash remain shrouded in the fog of wartime records, the state funeral and the public mourning that accompanied it ensured that Hans-Valentin Hube’s name would endure as a symbol of steadfast duty in the final, bitter phase of the conflict. 

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944 (Hube himself died in a plane crash 5 days earlier). This photo was taken by Eitel Lange and shows Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) flanking the bereaved family, who are likely the widow or children of the deceased. In the front row, we can also see three Wehrmacht Marshals sitting at the left end: Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch (Generalinspekteur der Luftwaffe), Generalfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge (Führerreserve Oberkommando des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht). Meanwhile, sitting in the back row, from left to right: General der Flieger Günther Korten (Chef des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe), Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm (Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres), Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer (Adjutant der Kriegsmarine beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), SS-Obergruppenführer Julius Schaub (Chefadjutant der Führer), and Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmundt (Chefadjutant der Wehrmacht beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht).



The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) flanking the bereaved family, who are likely the widow or children of the deceased. In the background we can see Reichsminister Dr. Joseph Goebbels and Reichskommissar Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Honored guests at the memorial service, front row from left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Hans-Günther von Kluge (Führerreserve), Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und Polizei), Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), and Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht). In the back row between Kluge and Himmler is General der Infanterie Joachim von Kortzfleisch (Kommandierenden General Stellvertretenden Generalkommando III. Armeekorps in Berlin und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis III), while the man with his head bowed between Dönitz and Keitel is Generaloberst Hermann Hoth (Führerreserve).

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. The military attachés of the foreign countries were honored guests at this state ceremony. The picture was taken by Ernst Schwahn.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. The military attachés of the foreign countries were honored guests at this state ceremony.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) saluting the deceased. Hitler rarely attended a funeral (especially late in the war), unless the deceased was considered a really important person. So special was Hube's favor in Hitler's eyes that he made the time to attend this ceremony.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) delivered the eulogy, while generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin. From left to right: General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (Führerreserve), General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps), General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps), and General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach (Inspekteur der Panzertruppe beim Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres). The picture was taken by Eitel Lange and was first published on 3 May 1944.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) performing the marshall salute, while generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin. From left to right: General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps), General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach (Inspekteur der Panzertruppe beim Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres), General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (blocked by Eberbach, Führerreserve), and General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps). Two panzer officers are holding the ordenskissen (medal pillow).

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) performing the Hitler salute at Hube's lying in state, while generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin. From left to right: General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps), General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach (Inspekteur der Panzertruppe beim Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres), General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (Führerreserve), and General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps). Two panzer officers are holding the ordenskissen (medal pillow). This picture was first published in "Das 12 Uhr Blatt", 27 April 1944 edition.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held at the Neue Reichskanzlei in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) performing the Hitler salute at Hube's lying in state, while generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin. From left to right: General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (Führerreserve), General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps), General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps), and General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach (Inspekteur der Panzertruppe beim Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres).

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin, carried by non-commissioned officers of the Panzertruppen, to the gun carriage after the state ceremony at the Neue Reichskanzlei. The two escort generals at left are General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (Führerreserve) and General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps), while the two escort generals at right are General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps) and General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach (Inspekteur der Panzertruppe beim Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres). The picture was taken by Ernst Schwahn.

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin, carried by non-commissioned officers of the Panzertruppen, to the gun carriage after the state ceremony at the Neue Reichskanzlei. The two escort generals at left are General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (Führerreserve) and General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps), while the two escort generals at right are General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps) and General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach (Inspekteur der Panzertruppe beim Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres).

The funeral ceremony of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube which was held in Berlin on 26 April 1944. Generals and recipients of high and highest decorations for bravery escort the coffin, carried by non-commissioned officers of the Panzertruppen, to the gun carriage after the state ceremony at the Neue Reichskanzlei. The two escort generals at left are General der Infanterie Hans Gollnick (Führerreserve) and General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring (Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps). In the center behind the coffin is Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), while at far right is Generalfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge (Führerreserve).

From left to right: Unknown Heer officer, General der Infanterie Wilhelm Wegener (Kommandierender General L. Armeekorps), Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmundt (Chefadjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht), General der Infanterie Werner Kienitz (Kommandierenden General Stellvertretenden Generalkommando II. Armeekorps in Stettin und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis II), and General der Infanterie Joachim von Kortzfleisch (Kommandierenden General Stellvertretenden Generalkommando III. Armeekorps in Berlin und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis III). The picture was taken during the funeral of Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube in Berlin, 26 April 1944.

The grave of Hans-Valentin Hube at the Invalidenfriedhof, Berlin. The cemetery address is Scharnhorststraße 25 (or sometimes listed as 9 or 33 in sources), 10115 Berlin-Mitte, near the Berlin-Spandauer-Schifffahrtskanal. Coordinates for the cemetery: approx. 52.53194°N, 13.37111°E. It is open to the public and one of Berlin's oldest cemeteries (founded 1748), historically used for Prussian military veterans and later notable figures. Hube's grave still exists and can be visited. The original tombstone was replaced in 2000 (a simpler or restitution-style marker is now there), but the burial site remains undisturbed. Photos from 2007 and 2013 show the grave marker in the cemetery.

Source:
Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 713 - 3 May 1944
David Stahel, Hitler’s Panzer Generals: Guderian, Hoepner, Reinhardt and Schmidt Unguarded (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023)
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/36625/dee40d08bd916e4c667770046a213080/
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/?q=hans%20hube&mode=gallery&view=horizontal
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=&yearto=&query=hans+hube#
https://www.bpk-bildagentur.de/shop
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/10/album-foto-terbaik-hans-valentin-hube.html
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Valentin_Hube 
www.findagrave.com/memorial/31534926/hans-valentin-hube
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/huber-hans-valentin-officer-colonel-general-germany29-10-news-photo/543888483
www.ww2gravestone.com/people/hube-hans-valentine-der-mensch/

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Crete Fallschirmjäger with Hermann Göring (1941)

On 21 August 1941, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, personally presented the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross) to six outstanding officers and men of the Fallschirmjäger (German paratroopers) at his headquarters. The recipients—Oberst Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, Oberstabsarzt Dr. med. Heinrich Neumann, Oberst Hans Kroh, Oberleutnant Heinrich Welskop, Leutnant Erich Schuster, and Feldwebel Wilhelm Kempke—were honored for their extraordinary bravery, leadership, and sacrifice during the Battle of Crete (Operation Merkur) in May 1941.

This ceremony, captured in the propaganda newsreel 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau' No. 585 (released 20 November 1941), symbolized the high regard the Nazi leadership held for the airborne troops who had just executed the largest airborne assault in history up to that point. Göring, himself a decorated World War I pilot and a key architect of the Luftwaffe’s airborne forces, conducted the awards in a formal but intimate setting at his headquarters, underscoring the personal connection between the Reichsmarschall and his “green devils.”

The awards directly stemmed from Operation Merkur, launched on 20 May 1941. The 7. Flieger-Division and attached units, including the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment under Ramcke’s overall influence, were tasked with seizing the island from British, Australian, New Zealand, and Greek defenders. The operation was a Pyrrhic victory: German forces prevailed, but at a staggering cost—over 6,000 casualties, including nearly 2,000 dead, mostly among the elite paratroopers who jumped into intense anti-aircraft fire and fierce ground resistance.

The Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment (also known as Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1) played a pivotal role in assaults on key objectives like Maleme airfield and the prison valley near Rethymno and Heraklion. Their success came through aggressive close-quarters combat, improvised tactics, and sheer determination despite heavy losses and disrupted supply lines. Hitler and Göring viewed the operation as proof of the airborne arm’s value, even as it marked the end of large-scale German parachute operations for the rest of the war. The six men honored on 21 August represented the cream of this elite force.

The Recipients and Their Deeds

1.Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (then Oberst and Kommandeur Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment): Already a veteran of earlier airborne actions, Ramcke led elements of the regiment with iron resolve. His leadership during the Crete fighting earned him the Knight’s Cross on this date (he would later receive the Oak Leaves in November 1942, Swords and Diamonds in September 1944). Ramcke’s calm command under fire helped turn the tide at critical moments.

2.Oberstabsarzt Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann (Regimentsarzt Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment): As the regimental physician, Neumann performed heroic medical work under combat conditions, treating wounded paratroopers while exposed to enemy fire. His devotion to the troops exemplified the Fallschirmjäger spirit of “comradeship above all.”

3.Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2, attached to the Sturm-Regiment): Kroh distinguished himself leading assaults on the airfield at Rethymno. His battalion’s determined fighting despite heavy casualties was instrumental in securing objectives.

4.Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Welskop (Zugführer in 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3). After the jump Welskop had taken his men and captured an important height at Chania, which was lodged deep in the Allied defense scheme. He was able to hold this position against Allied counterattacks, which had to be repelled in bitter close combat.

5.Feldwebel Erich Schuster (Gruppenführer in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment). His Zugführer, Feldwebel Arpke, was badly wounded when their glider landed and so Schuster took over the II. Zug of his Kompanie. He and his Zug then proceeded to eliminate an anti-aircraft battery and capture the western end of the Maleme airfield.

6.Feldwebel Wilhelm Kempke (then Oberjäger and Gruppenführer in 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment). When his Zugführer became a casualty, Kempke took over the leadership of his Zug, and with his men he stormed two guns of the enemy battery despite tough resistance by a much superior foe. During the later battles of his Kompanie he again proved to be a model of outstanding bravery and bravado. 

All six had fought in the intense battles around Maleme, Rethymno, and the prison valley, where the paratroopers often jumped without heavy weapons and relied on captured British arms.

The Ceremony: 21 August 1941 at Göring’s Headquarters

The presentation occurred exactly three months after the Crete landings, allowing time for the men to be withdrawn, decorated where possible in the field, and brought together for the formal award. Newsreel footage shows Göring, in his distinctive white summer uniform, awarded the Ritterkreuz case to each recipients. He shook hands, exchanged words, and occasionally patted shoulders—a gesture of paternal approval from the “father” of the Luftwaffe.

The setting was Göring’s personal headquarters in Breitenheide, East Prussia, far from the dusty battlefields of Crete. The event was deliberately staged for propaganda value: it highlighted German airborne supremacy while the Eastern Front campaign was still in its optimistic early phase. The six men stood in parade formation, freshly uniformed, with their new decorations gleaming. The ceremony was brief but solemn, followed by the traditional handshakes and words of praise from Göring.

Footage from the ceremony appears at the end of contemporary videos of Crete veterans’ awards and forms a highlight of *Die Deutsche Wochenschau* No. 585, where the narrator extols the “outstanding bravery” of these Luftwaffe soldiers.

Significance and Legacy

This group award was one of the largest single presentations of Knight’s Crosses to Fallschirmjäger in 1941 and underscored the prestige of the Crete veterans. Ramcke went on to command the famous Ramcke Parachute Brigade in North Africa and later defended Brest in 1944, earning the highest grades of the award. Kroh rose to divisional command. The others continued serving in elite units, many later fighting in Russia, Italy, and Normandy.

The ceremony captured a moment of triumph for the Fallschirmjäger before the realities of total war eroded their elite status. Today, these awards are studied by historians as exemplars of the Nazi regime’s use of military decorations for propaganda, while the recipients’ courage—however controversial the cause—remains part of the documented history of airborne warfare.

The 21 August 1941 event stands as a poignant snapshot of the early-war Luftwaffe at its peak: elite troops, personal leadership from Göring, and the Ritterkreuz as the ultimate symbol of valor in the eyes of the Third Reich.

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. The medal was handed over by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), near his private train (Sonderzug) named "Asien". Behind Göring stands General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student (Kommandierender General XI. Fliegerkorps), while the two individuals with their backs to the camera are two of the three recipients of the Ritterkreuz that day, and they are (from left to right): Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2) and Oberstabsarzt Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann (Regimentsarzt Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment).

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. From left to right: General der Flieger Gustav Kastner-Kirdorf (Chef des Luftwaffen-Personalamts), Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student (Kommandierender General XI. Fliegerkorps), Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (Kommandeur der Ergänzungseinheiten und Schulen des XI. Fliegerkorps), Oberstabsarzt Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann (Regimentsarzt Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment), and Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2).

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring congratulates Feldwebel Wilhelm Kempke (Gruppenführer in 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment) for his newly awarded Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. From left to right: Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (Kommandeur der Ergänzungseinheiten und Schulen des XI. Fliegerkorps) and General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student (Kommandierender General XI. Fliegerkorps). In the background is Hermann Göring's personal train (sonderzug), "Asien". It was an armored special train that served as a mobile headquarters and luxurious transport for the Reichsmarschall. Some sources also refer to it as "Pommern" in certain contexts.

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. From left to right: Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (Kommandeur der Ergänzungseinheiten und Schulen des XI. Fliegerkorps), General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student (Kommandierender General XI. Fliegerkorps), Oberstabsarzt Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann (Regimentsarzt Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment), and Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2).



Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. From left to right: Feldwebel Erich Schuster (Gruppenführer in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment), Oberstabsarzt Dr.med. Heinrich Neumann (Regimentsarzt Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment), and Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2).

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for the six "Fallschirmjäger Heroes of Crete", 21 August 1941. From left to right: Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2), Feldwebel Wilhelm Kempke (Gruppenführer in 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment), and Feldwebel Erich Schuster (Gruppenführer in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment).

Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=&yearto=&query=ramcke&page=1#
https://menofwehrmacht.blogspot.com/2026/02/die-deutsche-wochenschau-german-weekly_16.html