Hubert Brinkforth Funeral

The funeral of Hubert Brinkforth, the first enlisted soldier to receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. During the fighting in the summer of 1942, Hubert Brinkforth, a non-commissioned officer in Schützen-Regiment 25 / 12.Panzer-Division, fell to a direct artillery hit south of Pogostje am Wolchow on 5 June 1942. The burial took place on 8 June 1942 at the Ivanovskoye military cemetery, south of Shapki. Brinkforth rests today at the war cemetery in Sologubovka-St.Petersburg - final grave location: Block 4 Row 12 Grave 1184.

The grave of Hubert Brinkforth in wartime.

From the newspaper.

Source:
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Brinkforth,_Hubert

Treffen der Afrika-Kämpfer in Düseldorf

"Treffen der Afrika-Kämpfer" in Düseldorf: Lucie Rommel, the widow of the "desert fox" Erwin Rommel, drawing a ticket for the raffle - the first prize was a Volkswagen. Standing in the background are, from left to right: retired British General John Hackett, retired General der Kavallerie Siegfried Westphal, and retired General der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell. Around 500 former member of DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) gathered on Sunday morning, September 30, 1956, for a field service at Gefallenen-Ehrenmal (Memorial to the Fallen) in Düsseldorf. After a sermon by clergy from both denominations, Lucie Rommel, Siegfried Westphal and delegations from the traditional associations laid wreaths at the memorial. The picture was taken by Fritz Fischer.



"Treffen der Afrika-Kämpfer" in Düseldorf: The British General John Hackett during his speech on September 30, 1956 in the football stadium in Düsseldorf, in the background are, from left to right: retired General der Kavallerie Siegfried Westphal, retired General der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell, and Lucie Rommel, the widow of Erwin Rommel. The focus of the Afrika Kops meeting in Düsseldorf on Sunday afternoon (September 30, 1956) was a football game between a team from the British 7th Division, the "Desert Rats", and a selection of eleven former Afrikakorps from Rommel's army, the "Desert Foxes". The game was started with introduction speeches by John Hackett, Ludwig Crüwell and Lucie Rommel. The picture was taken by Fritz Fischer.

"Treffen der Afrika-Kämpfer" in Düseldorf: Veterans of the war in Africa (World War I and World War II) gathered during the field service at the Gefallenen-Ehrenmal (Memorial to the Fallen) in Düsseldorf, behind the wreath is Lucie Rommel, widow of the "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel, and retired General der Kavallerie Siegfried Westphal. Around 500 former member of DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) gathered on Sunday morning, September 30, 1956, for a field service at the Fallen Memorial. After a sermon by clergy from both denominations, Lucie Rommel, Siegfried Westphal and delegations from the traditional associations laid wreaths at the memorial. The picture was taken by Bernard Frye.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=5

Bio of Oberstleutnant d.R. Curt Ehle (1899-1986)

Curt Ehle

Date of Birth: 21.10.1899 - Salzwedel, Sachsen-Anhalt (German Empire)
Date of Death: 16.08.1986 - Uelzen, Niedersachsen (West Germany)

Battles and Campaigns: Invasion of Poland (1939), Battle of France (1940), North African Campaign (1941-1943), Operation Battleaxe (1941), Operation Crusader (1941), Battle of Gazala (1942), First Battle of El Alamein (1942), Second Battle of El Alamein (1942), Eastern Front (1943-1945)

Promotions:
00.00.1939 Leutnant der Reserve
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant der Reserve
00.00.1940 Hauptmann der Reserve
01.10.1941 Major der Reserve
01.11.1944 Oberstleutnant der Reserve (RDA 09.11.1944)

Career:
15.06.1917 Fahnenjunker in Infanterie-Regiment 93
00.05.1920 Left the Military
00.00.1936 Reserve officer
00.00.1939 Nachr.Zugf. in Infanterie-Regiment 93 / 13.Infanterie-Division (mot.)
00.09.1939 Führer 9.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 93 (mot.)
00.11.1940 Served with Kradschützen-Bataillon 15 / 15.Panzer-Division
00.00.1944 went on a course for Regimentskommandeur
00.04.1944 Served with Panzergrenadier-Regiment 93
Summer 1944 moved to the Neuruppin to join Panzer-Brigade 102
00.00.1945 Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7
Last days of the war fought in the north of Berlin.

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.191_ Schlesischer Adler
00.00.193_ Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
07.10.1939 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
21.06.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
27.07.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #401, as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer 1.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 15 / 15.Panzer-Division. Awarded for preventing a British breakthrough attempt that was ultimately intended to result in the recapture of Cyrenaica. Submitted on 24.07.1941. Preliminary document and decoration on 28.07.1941 to Afrikakorps.
00.00.1943 Ärmelband Afrika
29.11.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #673, as Major der Reserve and Führer Panzer-Brigade 102 / 561.Panzergrenadier-Division. Awarded for the achievements of his Panzer-Brigade, which first saw action in August 1944. It distinguished itself first at Ostrolenka and later in the defensive battles for East Prussia. Submitted on 19.11.1944.
17.02.1945 Mentioned in Wehrmachtbericht

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Curt Ehle joined the ranks on September 1, 1939 as a Leutnant d.R. into the Wehrmacht. In 1941 he was leader of the 1.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 15 in the 15th P.D. in Africa. After Ehle prevented the attempted breakthrough by the English in Bardia, it became possible to reconquer Cyrenaice. For this courageous act he was awarded the Ritterkreuz on July 27, 1941. Curt Ehle acquired the oak leaves in Russia as the leader of the Panzer Brigade 102 on the Eastern Front and later in the fighting in East Prussia with the 3rd Panzer Army.

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Hauptmann der Reserve Curt Ehle (Führer 1.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 15 / 15.Panzer-Division) which were held on 1 August 1941 near Fort Capuzzo, Libya. The medal was presented by Generalmajor Walter Neumann-Silkow (right, Kommandeur 15. Panzer-Division). Ehle formally received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 27 July 1941. The medal was awarded for preventing a British breakthrough attempt that was ultimately intended to result in the recapture of Cyrenaica. The Ritterkreuz recommendation was submitted on 24 July 1941, while preliminary document and decoration were sent to the headquarters of Afrikakorps on 28 July 1941. The picture was taken by Bildberichter Weisgärber of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) "Afrika". Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.

Curt Ehle as Hauptmann der Reserve.

Curt Ehle (second from left) in a party.

Oberstleutnant der Reserve Curt Ehle wearing the Eichenlaub which he received on 29 November 1944 as Major der Reserve and Führer Panzer-Brigade 102 / 561.Panzergrenadier-Division. The medal was awarded for the achievements of his Panzer-Brigade, which first saw action in August 1944. It distinguished itself first at Ostrolenka and later in the defensive battles for East Prussia. The Eichenlaub recommendation was submitted on 19 November 1944 previously.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2494170#p2494170
https://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/de/nodes/1450#page/109/mode/inspect/zoom/4
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi11cHm5cWBAxWkzzgGHSz7A7E4ChAWegQIBhAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ritterkreuztraeger.info%2Frkel%2Fe%2FEL673Ehle.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2kiL0ksNSy1UDPaA0BtBxJ&opi=89978449
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Curt_Ehle
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/984299-rkt-identifications#post7416439