Heinz Guderian and Enigma Machine

General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian (Kommandierender General XIX. Armeekorps) in a Sd.Kfz. 251/3 halftrack during German military campaign in France, May 1940. Note early 3-rotor Enigma machine in use. The Enigma was used by the German Army, Air Force, and Navy—as shown here. The SS, police, secret services, Reichspost (postal) service, railways, and German Foreign Office all used Enigma, too. Altogether, the Germans used about 50,000 Enigma machines during the war. Guderian, like many German commanders, preferred to direct operations from as close to the frontline as possible. His vehicle is fitted with a large radio and an enigma cipher machine for communications with high command and other units in the field. Waiting close by are several motorcycle dispatch riders, ready to carry messages to units in the thick of the fighting. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Erich Borchert.

General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian (Kommandierender General XIX. Armeekorps) in a Sd.Kfz. 251/3 halftrack during German military campaign in France, May 1940. Note early 3-rotor Enigma machine in use. The Enigma was used by the German Army, Air Force, and Navy—as shown here. The SS, police, secret services, Reichspost (postal) service, railways, and German Foreign Office all used Enigma, too. Altogether, the Germans used about 50,000 Enigma machines during the war. Guderian, like many German commanders, preferred to direct operations from as close to the frontline as possible. His vehicle is fitted with a large radio and an enigma cipher machine for communications with high command and other units in the field. Waiting close by are several motorcycle dispatch riders, ready to carry messages to units in the thick of the fighting. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Erich Borchert.

General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian (Kommandierender General XIX. Armeekorps) in a Sd.Kfz. 251/3 halftrack during German military campaign in France, May 1940. Note early 3-rotor Enigma machine in use. The Enigma was used by the German Army, Air Force, and Navy—as shown here. The SS, police, secret services, Reichspost (postal) service, railways, and German Foreign Office all used Enigma, too. Altogether, the Germans used about 50,000 Enigma machines during the war. Guderian, like many German commanders, preferred to direct operations from as close to the frontline as possible. His vehicle is fitted with a large radio and an enigma cipher machine for communications with high command and other units in the field. Waiting close by are several motorcycle dispatch riders, ready to carry messages to units in the thick of the fighting. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Erich Borchert.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-769-0229-12A
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/photograph-of-general-field-marshal-heinz-guderian-and-a-radio-operator-with-the-enigma-encryption-machine-in-a-medium-weight-radio-tank-sd-kfz-251-3-during-the-battle-of-france-in-may-1940-eric-borchert-1911-1942/egFgPmhlnuoChA?hl=en
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/general-heinz-guderian-france-1940-news-photo/809916960
https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=9077
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2021/01/02/german-army-frontline-leadership/

Hasso von Manteuffel being Interviewed

Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel (left, Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland") during a radio interview in April 1944. On 22 February previously he received the news that he had been awarded the Schwerter for his Ritterkreuz, not for his achievements as a Commander of Grossdeutschland but for his previous assignment as a Commander of 7. Panzer-Division.

Source :
https://www.ca-collecting.com/shop/en/army-generals-generalstaff/manteuffel-hasso-von-48775.html

Hasso von Manteuffel using Field Telephone on a Halftrack

Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland") chatting through the field telephone while sitting on the Sd.Kfz.250 halftrack, during the battle in the Eastern Front, 1944. At right is a Gefreiter from Nachrichtentruppe (signal unit), possibly a radio operator. Interestingly, the corporal sported a Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in his right sleeve, meaning that he had at least destroyed an enemy tank by hand-held weapon, such a rare feat for a rear-echelon man!

 
Source :
https://onb.digital/result/10DE77E5

Hans-Ulrich Rudel in the Stuka Cockpit

Oberleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel (Flugzeugführer in 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2) doing some microphone check before his 333rd combat mission on Volkhov front near Leningrad, September 1941. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Karl Bayer. On 21 September 1941, Rudel took part in an attack on the Soviet battleship Marat of the Baltic Fleet. Marat was sunk at her moorings on 23 September 1941 after being hit by one 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb) bomb near the forward superstructure. It caused the explosion of the forward magazine which demolished the superstructure and the forward part of the hull. 326 men were killed and the ship gradually settled to the bottom in 11 meters (36 ft) of water. Her sinking is commonly credited to Rudel alone, but Rudel dropped only one of the two bombs that sank her.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Image-No.: 50153877)
https://biography.wikireading.ru/85230
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Ulrich_Rudel
https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/ln0hy9/oberleutnant_hansulrich_rudel_microphone_check/

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

Wilhelm Walther in Color

 

Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) Wilhelm Walther of the Brandenburger. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June 1940 as Oberleutnant and Stosstruppführer 4.Kompanie / Baulehrbataillon z.b.V. 800. Walther was awarded his Ritterkreuz for capturing a strategic bridge at Gennep during the assault on the Netherlands. Leading an 8-man team disguised as Dutch military police escorting German prisoners, they made their assault seizing the bridge and disabling the detonators.

Unpublished eyewitness interviews and photos of members of the "Brandenburg Division" (Source Agentur Meier zu Hartum). A special unit of the Wehrmacht whose tasks included attacks far behind enemy lines, sabotage and cooperation with opposition groups abroad, is still known today under the name “Brandenburger”. The commander of the 1st regiment of the Brandenburg Division reports in a detailed interview about his war experiences in Holland, France, in the Balkans, in Russia and as a prisoner of war. About 160 private photos (b/w and color) come exclusively from the hand of the first Ritterkreuzträger of the "Brandenburger". The statements of the Ritterkreuzträger are supplemented by his Ordonanzoffizier Heinz D. Heinz D. has written down his personal memories of the war in detail on 120 pages. A very interesting bundle on the history of the German commando force of the 2nd World War that is waiting to be processed or published. We are happy to help colleagues from production companies, as well as book authors and "special-interest" magazines with handpicked photo and film material. More information can be found HERE.

Source :
https://www.brennpunkt-zeitgeschichte.de/neuigkeiten/unveroffentlichte-zeitzeugeninterviews-fotos-von-angehorigen-d-division-brandenburg/?fbclid=IwAR0wGdAoxLzUybefdzayKVugRsfcVSjeUxGmWDAjONMnkArn_fDS5EbaJHw
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1676376285881121/?__cft__[0]=AZXcZGt2RqqpjxzvRzDznAUsmpaO4hLbZAPXvoQzQVPGm9ofqGLQmdmdKDEnh-BZNtab7aGep7cfgmrrzALbJ9z72rWVrp2-ejRQfLpWdypAfTtyLR-X8su1uVvJQ5qeSe2WpwXJHc47bBJXgSYa2Cuc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R