Rudolf Flinzer on the Phone during the Attack

In the Vitebsk sector, Oberst der Reserve Dr.Ing. Rudolf Flinzer (Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division) instructed his infantrymen to secure a railway line with the support of an armored train (Eisenbahn-Panzer-Geschütz-Triebwagen). An armored train provides significant support with its heavy armament, consisting of two 7.62 cm Feldkanone 795 cannons and four MG-34 machine guns. In the Vitebsk sector, two trains are providing support to German units in their fight against the local resistance, which the Germans refer to as partisans: the PZ 61 (Eisenbahn-Panzerzug Nummer 61) commanded by Hauptmann Wilhelm Linke, and the PT 17 (Eisenbahn-Panzer-Geschütz-Triebwagen Nummer 17), commanded by Oberleutnant Max Warda. The PT 17 itself is a captured Soviet train. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Werner Böhmer from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 697 in the winter of 1943/44.

Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2018/01/foto-211-infanterie-division.html
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/un-colonel-oberst-titulaire-de-la-croix-de-chevalier-de-la-croix-de-fer-ritterkreuz-1.html

Ritterkreuz Actions of Rudolf Flinzer

Rudolf Flinzer (9 November 1889 - 17 June 1976) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 6 April 1943 as Oberstleutnant der Reserve and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During the fighting for the Orel salient in early 1943, Oberstleutnant Flinzer and his troops fought around Wydrowka, Pustynka, Buda-Monastyrskaja and Kommuna-Bolschewik. Here they distinguished themselves greatly in the defense. In particular, on 22 February 1943 they withstood a major Soviet offensive in the so-called “Hell of Liwadija”. Flinzer would receive the Ritterkreuz for his outstanding leadership during this time.

Flinzer received the Eichenlaub #575 for his Ritterkreuz on 5 September 1944 as Oberst der Reserve and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During the first defensive battle of Vitebsk (10-16 November 1943) Oberst Flinzer and his men carried out 10 of their own attacks, repelled 62 major enemy attacks and destroyed 29 tanks. Oberst Flinzer would continue to distinguish himself in the Regiment’s battles in the Pripet marshes, the retreat to the Bug and during the fighting in Eastern Poland (which began on 22 July 1944). During this latter stage of fighting a new defensive line near Sycyna and Styrzyniec (south of the Miedzyrzec-Biala Podlaska road) was held by the Regiment for three days against all hostile attacks, even though the enemy had managed to bypass it to the north and south. Flinzer would receive the Eichenlaub for the sum of his achievements.


Source :
ECPAD Archive
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/4471/Flinzer-DrIng-Rudolf.htm

Rudolf Flinzer in Color

Oberst der Reserve Dr.Ing. Rudolf Flinzer (Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division) posed for the camera after Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze, Rastenburg, September 1944. Flinzer received the Eichenlaub #575 on 5 September 1944 for the sum of his achievements during the first defensive battle of Vitebsk, battles in the Pripet marshes, the retreat to the Bug and during the fighting in Eastern Poland.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/07/album-foto-berwarna-perwira-dan.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/search.php?keywords=flinzer&t=46430&sf=msgonly
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/4471/Flinzer-DrIng-Rudolf.htm

Bio of Oberst d.R. Dr.Ing. Rudolf Flinzer (1889-1976)

Rudolf Max Wilhelm Flinzer

Date of Birth: 09.11.1889 - Stollberg-Chemnitz, Sachsen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 17.06.1976 - Opladen, Nordrhein-Westfalen (West Germany)

Promotions:
01.03.1909 Fähnrich
21.01.1910 Leutnant
00.00.1914 Oberleutnant
02.08.1917 Hauptmann
26.08.1939 Major der Reserve
01.06.1942 Oberstleutnant der Reserve
01.09.1943 Oberst der Reserve

Career:
01.03.1909 Fähnrich in Infanterie-Regiment 105
00.00.1914 - 00.00.1918 Zugführer, Kompanieführer und Regiment-Adjutant in World War I
00.00.1918 Stabsoffizier 45. Landwehr-Division
25.08.1919 Discharged from the military
00.00.192_ studied chemistry at the technischen Hochschule Dresden Chemie
00.00.1927 Graduated as Dr.Ing. and then went into the chemical industry
00.00.1936 Leiter Landwehr-Offiziersgemeinschaft Köln / Heeresdienststelle 9
00.08.1939 Renamed as 211. Infanterie-Division
00.08.1939 Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 317
00.06.1942 Kommandeur Feldausbildungs-Bataillon 211
28.01.1943 Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317
29.09.1944 Kommandant Seefestung Hoek van Holland

Awards and Decorations:
18.09.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
04.12.1914 Ritterkreuz des königlichen Sächsen Militär St. Heinrichs-Orden
10.06.1915 Sachsen Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung II.Klasse
15.08.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
24.04.1917 Sachsen Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung I.Klasse mit Schwertern
05.10.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918
21.05.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.1941 Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
06.06.1942 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
06.06.1942 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
27.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
06.04.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #1669, as Oberstleutnant der Reserve and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During the fighting for the Orel salient in early 1943 Oberstleutnant Flinzer and his troops fought around Wydrowka, Pustynka, Buda-Monastyrskaja and Kommuna-Bolschewik. Here they distinguished themselves greatly in the defense. In particular, on the 22.02.1943, they withstood a major Soviet offensive in the so-called “Hell of Liwadija”. Flinzer would receive the Ritterkreuz for his outstanding leadership during this time.
27.01.1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
05.09.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #575, as Oberst der Reserve and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 317 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During the first defensive battle of Vitebsk (10.-16.11.1943) Oberst Flinzer and his men carried out 10 of their own attacks, repelled 62 major enemy attacks and destroyed 29 tanks. Oberst Flinzer would continue to distinguish himself in the Regiment’s battles in the Pripet marshes, the retreat to the Bug and during the fighting in Eastern Poland (which began on the 22.07.1944). During this latter stage of fighting a new defensive line near Sycyna and Styrzyniec (south of the Miedzyrzec-Biala Podlaska road) was held by the Regiment for three days against all hostile attacks, even though the enemy had managed to bypass it to the north and south. Flinzer would receive the Eichenlaub for the sum of his achievements.

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Rudolf Flinzer joined the 105th Infantry Regiment on March 1, 1909 as an ensign, was promoted to lieutenant on January 21, 1910 and fought in World War I as a platoon commander, company commander and regimental adjutant. On August 2, 1917 he was promoted to captain and served on the staff of the 45th Landwehr Division at the end of the war. On August 25, 1919 he was discharged from the army and then studied chemistry at the Technical University of Dresden. Ing. and then went into the chemical industry. In 1936 he became head of the Landwehr officers' community in Cologne at Army Office 9, which developed into the 211th Infantry Division in August 1939. Promoted to major on August 26, 1939, he became commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment 317. In May 1940 he took part in the French campaign with his battalion and came to Russia in early 1942. On June 1, 1942, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the reserve, became commander of the 211th Field Training Battalion and took command of the 317th Grenadier Regiment on January 28, 1943. He distinguished himself in the heavy defensive fighting south of Orel in early 1943 The regiment was particularly distinguished, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross on April 6, 1943. Promoted to colonel in the reserve on September 1, 1943, he earned the German Cross in Gold during retreat fighting in autumn and winter 1943, which he was awarded on January 27, 1944. After the Russian summer offensive in 1944, he led his regiment during heavy defensive fighting, for which he was awarded the Oak Leaves on September 5, 1944. From September 29, 1944 he was commander of the sea fortress Hoek van Holland, where he was taken prisoner at the end of the war.

Source :
ECPAD Archive
https://alchetron.com/Rudolf-Flinzer
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/F/FlinzerR.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/4471/Flinzer-DrIng-Rudolf.htm

Bio of Major Erich Becker (1911-1993)

Erich Becker
Date of birth: 8 April 1911 in Angermünde, Brandenburg (German Empire)
Date of death: 16 June 1993 in Hanover, Niedersachsen (Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.1930 Grenadier
00.00.1932 Obergrenadier
00.00.1934 Gefreiter
00.00.1934 Unteroffizier
00.00.1935 Feldwebel
00.00.1938 Oberfeldwebel
10.04.1940 Leutnant
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant
00.00.1942 Hauptmann
00.00.1944 Major

Career:
00.00.1930 Volunteer in 15.Ausbildungs-Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 15 (later in 6.Kompanie)
00.09.1933 - 00.02.1934 Unteroffizier-Anwärter-Lehrgang
00.10.1934 Gruppenführer und Rekrutenausbilder in 16.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 15
00.00.1935 Rekruten-Offizier in 3.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 50
00.10.1938 Führer 3.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 50
00.00.1939 Assistant instructor in the weekend courses for Reserve-Offizier
00.09.1939 Truppführer in 2. Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 50
00.00.1940 Elected an officer by the officer corps of the I. Bataillon
00.04.1940 Transferred to 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 385
00.00.1942 Ausbildungs-Offizier of XIII. Fliegerkorps in Fallingbostel
00.00.1943 Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 385
00.08.1944 Kommandeur Regimentsgruppe 425

09.05.1945 Surrendered to the Soviets and taken prisoner in the USSR, first in Nachod transit camp near Königgrätz and then to the Borsig camp in Breslau. Arrived in October 1945 after a 52-day trip to Finnish Karelia to the Segesha prisoner-of-war camp
07.01.1950 Released from the POW camp

Awards and Decorations:
01.10.1936 Dienstauszeichnung III.Klasse
23.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
19.01.1940 Sudetenland-Medaille
20.04.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
04.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
12.10.1942 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
20.04.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold
28.04.1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
00.00.1944 Nahkampfspange in Silber

21.09.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Major and Kommandeur Regimentsgruppe 425 / 211.Infanterie-Division

Source ;
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2015/10/foto-211-infanterie-division.html
https://www.hna.de/kassel/rechts-panzer-erich-becker-erkennt-sich-foto-1943-3733764.html
https://www.lotsearch.de/lot/feine-dame-jugendstildarstellung-neujahr-1899-58293143
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28296/Becker-Erich-Grenadier-Regiments-Gruppe-425.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Erich Becker

Erich Becker (8 April 1911 - 16 June 1993) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 September 1944 as Major and Kommandeur Regimentsgruppe 425 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During August 1944 Major Becker and his Regimentsgruppe received the mission of holding the important cornerstone of Brok (south of Ostrow), which was located along the Bug river. The village was declared to be a fortified place in order to cover the withdrawal of the 211. Infanterie-Division. The Soviets were quick to get into the rear of the Regimentsgruppe and begin an enveloping attack with several battalions. Realizing that the loss of his position would have resulted in the collapse of the entire front, Major Becker decided to strip his already thin frontline to an even greater extent in order to build up a blocking position around the village. He led a counterthrust at the head of the few men of his staff and manage to establish this blocking position with the help of his brave Grenadiers. Those Soviet forces that continued to attack here were either destroyed or thrown back. During the later course of the combat Becker managed to hold the won terrain against all furious Soviet counterattacks. He even threw them back further eastwards with his own bold counterthrusts until he had attained a favourable frontline disposition. By doing all this he managed to hold this cornerstone of the front at a very critical time for the Division. After three days of combat, having completed his mission, he sent a message to the Division in which he stated that he would break out and rejoin the Division. Becker would be awarded the Ritterkreuz a short while after this for his outstanding defensive success. By the time the decoration was presented, the Regimentsgruppe 425 was reformed as II. Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 385.

Source :
https://www.lotsearch.de/lot/feine-dame-jugendstildarstellung-neujahr-1899-58293143
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28296/Becker-Erich-Grenadier-Regiments-Gruppe-425.htm

Studio Portrait of Johann-Heinrich Eckhardt

Generalleutnant Johann-Heinrich Eckhardt (3 December 1896 - 15 May 1945), the recipient of Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves). He received the Ritterkreuz in 20 May 1941 as an Oberst and Kommandeur of Jäger-Regiment 38 / 8.leichten Infanterie-Division, and Eichenlaub #644 in 3 November 1944 as a Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 211. Infanterie-Division.

Source :
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=932541