Gotthard Heinrici and Theodor Scherer

General der Infanterie Gotthard Heinrici (wearing ledermantel, Oberbefehlshaber 4. Armee) with his subordinate officers during war conference in the field. With hand on chin beside him is Generalmajor Hans Röttiger (Chef des Generalstabes 4. Armee), while behind Röttiger is Generalmajor Theodor Scherer (Kommandeur 34. Infanterie-Division). Last one, behind Heinrici is Oberleutnant Salm (at least that is what written on the back of the photo). The picture was taken in the Eastern Front, summer of 1942.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/b/General-in-Militaria-Fotos-1900-1918-1945/15504/bn_7004515776

Bio of Major Kurt Sunkel (1913-1997)

Kurt Sunkel

Date of Birth: 27.02.1913
Date of Death: 23.05.1997

Promotions:
00.00.194_ Major

Career:
00.00.194_ Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 107 / 34.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.19__ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
00.00.19__ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange in Bronze
14.05.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberleutnant and Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 107 / 34.Infanterie-Division
20.04.1945 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

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* Kurt Sunkel belongs to a group of soldiers who have "credibly proven" ("glaubhaft nachgewiesen") to have been awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold in 1945. The "Nachauflage" (1992) [addendum/2nd ed.] of the book by Horst Scheibert lists 50 recipients like that. 11 of them have been listed in the new standard work by Patzwall/Scherzer (2001,2003,2007) in the meatime and therefore can be regarded as confirmed.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=73773
https://reibert.info/threads/fotografii-voennosluzhaschix-vermaxta-s-rycarskim-krestom-zheleznogo-kresta.319758/page-90
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/s.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28202/Sunkel-Kurt.htm

Willy Zimmermann with MP 40

Unteroffizier Willy Zimmermann of 6.Kompanie / Grenadier-Regiment 80 / 34.Infanterie-Division - awarded the Nahkampfspange and the ribbon bar of the Ostmedaille - sitting with MP 40 submachine gun in winter landscape. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Wehmeyer of Propaganda-Kompanie 697 (PK 697) on the Eastern Front in January 1944. Wilhelm "Willy" Zimmermann (21 March 1920 - 9 February 2002) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 October 1944 as Feldwebel and Zugführer in the 6.Kompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 80. His additional medals and decorations: Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (6 December 1941), Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (10 April 1942), Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (22 April 1942), Eisernes Kreuz II klasse (31 July 1942), Eisernes Kreuz I klasse (3 September 1942), Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (1 March 1943), Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (14 September 1943), and Nahkampfsprange in Bronze (13 October 1944). His last rank was Oberfeldwebel.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-278-0899-26,_Russland,_Soldat_mit_MP_40_im_Schnee.jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/41612/Zimmermann-Willy.htm

Grave of Unteroffizier Wilhelm Brückner

 

 

Grave of Unteroffizier and Ritterkreuzträger Wilhelm Brückner (Geschützführer in 14.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 253 / 34.Infanterie-Division) who fell on 15 November 1941 at Melchow/Russia, Soviet Union. He just received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 October 1941 previously.

Source :
Peter van Holsteijn photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4002873949827931&set=p.4002873949827931&type=3

Ritterkreuz Action of Wilhelm Brückner

Wilhelm Brückner (27 April 1915 - 15 November 1941) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 October 1941 as Unteroffizier der Reserve and Geschützführer in 14.(Panzerjäger) Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 253 / 34.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Brückner was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “Unteroffizier Brückner was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse for destroying 4 light, 3 medium and 2 heavy tanks on 3 September 1941. Later, on 10 September 1941, he and his medium cannon were positioned on the right wing of the Regiment as security against tanks. At around midday a 52 ton tank appeared, however he destroyed this through multiple hits to its rear. A short while later another 52 ton tank appeared, but Unteroffizier Brückner also dealt with it at the closest range. In order to completely destroy these two tanks the gun crew approached them under cover of darkness. They poured gasoline into the air vents and caused both 52 ton tanks to explode with hand grenades. By doing all this Unteroffizier Brückner prevented a breakthrough of the enemy on the right wing of the Regiment as well as the rolling up of the defensive sector towards the southwest and north.”

Source :
Peter van Holsteijn photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3895061483915896&set=gm.270151461225622
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28740/Br%FCckner-Wilhelm.htm

Kaspar Harscheidt

 

Kaspar Harscheidt (9 May 1913 - 12 August 1990) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 August 1943 as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 253 / 34.Infanterie-Division.

 

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2320192#p2320192
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/87061/Harscheidt%C2%A0Kaspar.htm