Bio of Major Herbert Megow (1913-1981)

Herbert Megow

Date of Birth: 09.03.1913 - Sønderborg, Region Syddanmark (Denmark)
Date of Death: 14.01.1981 - Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg (West Germany)
Buried: Hauptfriedhof Freiburg

Mother: Katharina Bruhn (1889-1976)

Promotions:
00.00.194_ Major

Career:
00.00.194_ Kommandeur Heeres-Artillerie-Pak-Abteilung 1037 (bo)

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.194_ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
09.12.1944 Ritterkreuz des, Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Kommandeur Heeres-Artillerie-Pak-Abteilung 1037 (bo)

Gefreiter Herbert Megow.

Leutnant Herbert Megow.

Herbert Megow in white summer uniform.

Herbert Megow. With his father?

The grave of Herbert Megow at Hasbach bei Freiburg.

Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis (Preliminary Certificate) of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes dated 15 December 1944 for Hauptmann Herbert Megow (who formally received it on 9 December 1944), signed by Generalleutnant Viktor Linnarz. At first, usually the recipient receives a brief telegram with the news that he has been awarded the Ritterkreuz (or a medal of the equivalent/higher grade). With this announcement, he is entitled to have a Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis as well as the posting of the date of the award on his Soldbuch. Next, he will receive an official award document known as "Ritterkreuzurkunde" (Certificate of the Knight's Cross). This document always comes with the medal which is housed in a red leather case bearing the Reichsadler's insignia. Most of the times the Hitler's signature was printed, but when there was time, the Führer always took the time to write his own signature.

A complete Ritterkreuz for Hauptmann Herbert Megow with its presentation box and outer card cover, It is rare to find these and this card cover is maker marked for the firm of Klein and Quenzer, of Idar-Oberstein.

Newspaper clipping of the award of the Ritterkreuz for Hauptmann Herbert Megow.

Source :
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auctions/78-752714
https://www.thirdreichmedals.com/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/50593/Megow-Herbert.htm
https://warbadges.tripod.com/jamie_cross.htm
https://www.weitze.net/militaria/73/Wehrmacht_Vorlaeufiges_Besitzzeugnis_fuer_das_Ritterkreuz_des_Eisernen_Kreuzes_fuer_Hauptmann_Herbert_Megow_Art_Pak_Abt_10378__461273.html

Ritterkreuz Action of Willy Apitz

Willy Apitz (27 January 1916 - 28 February 2004) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 1 January 1944 as Obergefreiter and Funker in 10.Batterie / IV.Abteilung / Artillerie-Regiment 81 / 97.Jäger-Division. In the autumn of 1943, after heavy fighting at the Kuban bridgehead, the 97. Jäger-Division withdrew to the Kerch Strait on the Crimean peninsula. From there they moved to the lower Dnieper, between the bridgeheads of Nikopol and Kherson, fighting against the 4th Ukrainian Front. Obergefreiter Apitz found himself engaged in his Division’s heavy defensive combat. In this time, while he was serving as a radio operator at a forward observation post, all of his comrades were killed during a large-scale Soviet attack. When the Soviets proceeded to launch a renewed thrust with tanks and infantry, Apitz decided to personally direct the fire of his attached artillery even though he had no training in this role. However, despite being all alone, he managed to fulfill this role effectively and direct devastating artillery fire onto the attacking Soviet forces. A unit of Soviet infantry that were passing by suddenly attacked Apitz at his position. He initially held them off with his carbine before ordering his own artillery to bombard his position. He had to repeat the order twice before his stunned comrades proceeded to do just that. Fierce artillery fire was then plastered on Apitz’s position for about a minute. However Apitz survived. By the time the firing ceased and the smoke cleared, the Russians had suffered such losses that they withdrew to their starting positions. The enemy attack was finally completely repulsed.

For this feat, Obergefreiter Willy Apitz was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse on 27 November 1943. Oberkommando der Wehrmacht also appreciated that his action was decisive for the success of the defense against the Soviet offensive and he was awarded the Ritterkreuz at the recommendation of his superiors, also receiving his promotion to Unteroffizier.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=207409&p=2450865#p2450865
https://sites.google.com/site/gymdietaexplosive2015/a/apitz-willy
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28123/Apitz-Willy.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Stefan Mlinar

Stefan Mlinar (13 December 1915 - 3 February 1983) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June 1944 as Gefreiter and Funktruppführer in 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 / 4.Gebirgs-Division. Here follows a report by the Ia of the 4. Gebirgs-Division which describes why Stefan Mlinar would receive the Ritterkreuz:

“Heroic deed of a radio operator:

On the dark night of 03-04 March 1944 the Bolsheviks succeeded in penetrating the line held by the left wing of the 2. Kompanie of a Gebirgsjäger-Bataillon (located along the road Ryschanowka—Olchowez) in company strength. As a result of the knee deep mud and incessant rain the German MGs were completely silted up and could not fire. The Bolsheviks succeeded in penetrating through the German trenches near a heavy machine-gun squad that was tasked with protecting the gap between two Bataillone.

The commander of 2. Kompanie resolutely decided to launch a counterattack with parts of his Kompanie staff and the reserve squad. In the meantime Gefreiter Mlinar stayed behind as a radio troop leader at the command post, with the role of maintaining uninterrupted radio contact with the Bataillon. In the muddy trenches the counterattack group could only make slow progress. Suddenly shots rang out in the trenches behind the Kompanie command post.

With a clear understanding of the thorny situation, in this moment Mlinar acted no longer as a communication specialist, but like an experienced combat trooper. With unstoppable energy he rallied his radio operator and messenger and on his own initiative stormed into the trenches behind the command post with his 2 comrades, with machine-pistol, rifle and grenade in hand. Knee deep in the mud, he pushed forward in the twilight 50 meters towards the enemy who had made it here. After his first grenades detonated he sprang forth without hesitation in an incomparable defiance of death. Screaming “Hurra”, he killed 6 Bolsheviks in close combat with his MP and took 3 prisoners. Behind him his radio operator died a hero’s death while fighting in a hand grenade duel. Capitalizing on his success, Mlinar continued to storm forth alone through the waterlogged trenches with only 10 rounds in his magazine, again screaming “Hurra”. Through this fearless display of ferocity he put the totally surprised Bolshevik Kompanie to flight. The enemy left behind 4 light machine guns, 14 sub-machine guns and several rifles.

Gefreiter Mlinar thus prevented an imminent Bolshevik penetration at the seam between two Bataillone through his independent resolve, personal readiness for duty and fearless attitude.

For this deed Gefreiter Mlinar, hailing from Judendorf (Kreis Loeben, Steiermark), became the 23rd man of the 4. Gebirgs-Division to receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.”

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/84921/Mlinar-Stefan.htm

Bio of General der Nachrichtentruppe Albert Praun (1894-1975)

General der Nachrichtentruppe Albert Eduard Praun

Born: 11.12.1894 in Staffelstein.
Died: 03.03.1975 in Würzburg.
Vater: Theodor Praun, Justizrat und Notar
Mutter: Marie Praun, geb. Haubs
03.06.1922 Heirat mit Helene-Anna Röhrs
2 Söhne (*1929/1939), 3 Töchter (*1925/1934/1935)

Promotions:
01.10.1913 Fahnenjunker
27.09.1914 Leutnant mit Patent vom 07.01.1913 (110)
06.04.1918 Oberleutnant (94)
01.07.1922 neues RDA vom 18.04.1918 (27) erhalten
01.12.1926 Hauptmann (1)
01.10.1931 umernannt zum Rittmeister
xx.xx.193x umernannt zum Hauptmann
01.09.1934 Major (10)
01.03.1937 Oberstleutnant (34)
xx.xx.193x neues RDA vom 01.10.1936 (47a) erhalten
01.08.1939 Oberst (17)
31.03.1942 neues RDA vom 01.01.1939 (2a) erhalten
01.08.1942 Generalmajor (2)
20.04.1943 Generalleutnant mit RDA vom 01.02.1943 (5a)
01.10.1944 General der Nachrichtentruppe (3)

Career:
01.10.1913 eingetreten als Fahnenjunker
04.08.1914 Halbzugführer in der Korpsfernsprechabteilung 3
15.01.1915 Zugführer
01.10.1916 Führer des Fernsprech-Doppelzuges 6
01.09.1917 Kommandeur der Divisions-Fernsprechabteilung 14
20.01.1918 Divisionsnachrichtenkommandeur 501
11.12.1918 Gerichtsoffizier im Nachrichtenbataillon 3
01.02.1920 stellvertretender Führer der Fernsprechabteilung 124
15.09.1922 im Reiterregiment 16
01.07.1923 im Artillerieregiment 6
01.04.1924 in der 11. (r) / Artillerieregiment 6 (Verden) [laut Stellenbesetzung]
01.10.1924 in der 1. / Nachrichtenabteilung 7 (München)
01.05.1927 in der 2. / Nachrichtenabteilung 7 (München) [laut Stellenbesetzung]
26.08.1927 Adjutant der Nachrichtenabteilung 7 (München)
01.02.1928 Chef der 2. / Nachrichtenabteilung 7 (München)
01.10.1931 im Stab des Reiterregiments 2 (Osterode / Ostpreußen)
01.05.1933 im Stab der 1. Division (Königsberg) [laut Stellenbesetzung]
01.10.1933 zur Verfügung des Chefs der Heeresleitung / Lehrer bei den Offizierlehrgängen
01.10.1934 Lehrer an der Kriegsakademie (Berlin) [laut Stellenbesetzung]
15.10.1935 Kommandeur der Nachrichtenabteilung 38 (Würzburg)
26.08.1939 Kommandeur des Armeenachrichtenregiments 596
10.02.1940 Armeenachrichtenführer der 7. Armee
10.05.1940 Nachrichtenführer der Panzergruppe Hoth
01.06.1940 Nachrichtenführer der Panzergruppe Guderian
01.07.1940 Nachrichtenführer C im Stab des Militärbefehlshabers in Frankreich
10.12.1940 Nachrichtenführer der Panzergruppe 2
25.04.1942 mit der Führung des Infanterieregiments 482 beauftragt
xx.xx.1942 mit der Führung des Infanterieregiments 486 beauftragt
xx.xx.1942 mit der Führung der 4. Panzerbrigade beauftragt
xx.xx.1942 mit der Führung der 262. Infanteriedivision beauftragt
xx.xx.1942 mit der Führung der 18. Panzerdivision beauftragt
25.08.1942 Kommandeur der 129. Infanteriedivision
01.10.1943 Höherer Nachrichtenführer im Stab der Heeresgruppe Mitte
01.04.1944 Führerreserve OKH (XVII)
05.04.1944 Kommandeur der 277. Infanteriedivision
10.08.1944 Sonderverwendung im Oberkommando des Heeres
15.08.1944 Chef der Wehrmachtnachrichtenverbindungen im OKW und Chef des Heeresnachrichtenwesens im OKH

Awards & Decorations:
27.10.1943 -- Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as Generalleutnant and Kdr. 129.Infanterie-Division
07.02.1943 -- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as Generalmajor and Kdr. 129.Infanterie-Division
00.00.19__ -- 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
00.00.19__ -- 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
00.00.191_ -- 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
00.00.191_ -- 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
00.00.191_ -- Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern
ca. 1918 -- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
ca. 1942 -- Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942”
00.00.19__ -- Spange "Prager Burg" zur Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 01. Oktober 1938
00.00.19__ -- Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 01. Oktober 1938
00.00.19__ -- Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
ca. 1934 -- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
00.00.193_ -- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse

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Albert Praun (11 December 1894, Bad Staffelstein – 3 March 1975) served during World War I. He was retained in the Reichswehr and then served in the Wehrmacht; between 1935 and 1940 he commanded signals units. In 1940 he was then appointed Chief Signals Officer of Panzer Group Hoth and Panzer Group Guderian in France. He was then posted to the Eastern Front where he served as Chief Signals Officer of the 2nd Panzer Group. He later was the commanding officer of the 4th Panzer Grenadier Brigade and then of the 18th Panzer Division, and the 129th and the 277th Divisions.

When General Erich Fellgiebel and then his deputy Fritz Thiele were arrested and subsequently executed for their roles in the 20 July plot, Praun was appointed to succeed them on 1 November 1944 as Chief Signals Officer at the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and Oberkommando des Heeres and was promoted to General der Nachrichtentruppe.

At the end of the war in May 1945 Praun was taken into captivity by the western allies and interrogated in France about his activities when serving there. At the end of August 1945 he was moved to prison camps at Neustadt, Hesse and Bad Hersfeld and he was released from captivity in June 1947. In 1950 France requested Praun's extradition for war crimes committed when he served there, but the request was refused by the Americans on grounds of lack of evidence. He lived in Munich until his death aged 80.

Praun was the author of a lengthy report on German SIGINT in WW2, prepared for the USA, which was only released to the public in 2014.

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/albert-praun_F924105A14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Praun
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=191549&hilit=albert+praun
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/PRAUN_ALBERT.html

Ritterkreuz Action of Hans Passegger

Johann "Hans" Passegger received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 27 August 1943 as Unteroffizier and Fernsprechtruppführer in Nachrichten-Staffel II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 480 / 260.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself during the heavy fighting for the Ssnopot Position in August 1943. During this time he was attached to an infantry Kompanie in the main battle line, and while serving in this capacity he personally organized the defense against a Soviet attack after the Kompanie commander and all Zugführer had fallen. He ultimately succeeded in this task and threw back the Soviet attack. Later, during a new Soviet flank attack, he took over the machine-gun of a fallen MG crew and used it to separate a group of attacking Soviet infantry from their tank support. By doing so he prevented a hostile breakthrough.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2281360#p2281360
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/87271/Passegger-Hans.htm