Panzer Ace Karl Brommann

 

Denis J. Horgan (the owner of the picture above): "Karl Brommann was another Panzer man who welcomed me into his home with my friend Peter Mooney. We spent a whole day with him and his wife. He joined the SS in 1937 and served in Totenkopf Standarte 2 and in 1939 joined the Totenkopf Artillery Regiment. In August 1940 he transferred to KG Nord and served in Finland in 1941 where he was seriously wounded. In May 1943 he transferred again , this time to the Nordland Division where he was in the Panzer Regiment. Brommann was wounded several times during the war and was holder of the wound badge in gold. While attached to SS Panzer Abteilung 503 he destroyed over 60 Soviet tanks between February and March 1945. On March 26 he destroyed six Josef Stalin tanks in one engagement. Later that day he was again injured and his war was over. He was removed to hospital and taken POW by the British on May 21, 1945. On April 29, 1945 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his actions. I have a collection of material which Karl gave me about the operation and actions of his unit 503, hopefully in the future when I have time I post up this material . The photos I am posting were given to me by Karl the day I met him with Peter."

Source :
Denis J. Horgan photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=162642689022793&set=gm.789533545306861

Horst Gresiak and His Panther Crew

SS-Untersturmführer Horst Gresiak (center) and his mate. It is possible that this foto was taken in the summer 1943 when I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich" were reequipped with new Panther tanks. Gresiak received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 25 January 1945 as SS-Obersturmführer and Führer 7.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich".

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=275940870554737&set=gm.786120228981526

Otto Schneider in Deutsche Wochenschau

This is a screenshot captured from the Deutsche Wochenschau video about IV. SS-Panzerkorps fighting at Poland, summer of 1944. When this SS Officer is shown, the commentary voice said that he is Hubert-Erwin Meierdress from Totenkopf Division, while in fact he is SS-Obersturmführer Otto Schneider (Chef 7.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"). He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in that capacity on 4 May 1944 for his achievement during the Battle of Kovel.

 

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/703371800589703/permalink/783667979226751/?__cft__[0]=AZUNIfT-PZvryeTpnrR8qgNy2Etb-nTl6z0Q-jKS2vd9vviYjekG5BQTAS2xv8_5z_5-BLkDnBQo3xM_M2_HX7IsBa452Mims9klSemVHwrfJSKqABDPClTheaGEmpJGSGdPqoOWxa04FxA6b_1RSblYLl9ObhHLCLAAHqH-GpNrfQUPo_KQS1X0Eus8P3K6rzY&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Erich Löwe sits atop Panzer III

 

Major Erich Löwe sits atop his Panzer III command tank. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 September 1940 as Hauptmann and Chef 3.Kompanie / Panzer-Abteilung 65 / 6.Panzer-Division. Löwe was killed on 23 December 1943 in Losovka, Russia. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant and awarded the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz on 8 February 1944.

Source :
Denis Daum photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152986901863424/permalink/1031558694006236/

Bio of Oberstleutnant Karl Roßmann

 

Karl Roßmann (November 23, 1916 in Kempten - April 1, 2002 in Bad Kreuznach).

He joined Flak-Regiment 5 on April 1, 1936 as a Fahnenjunker (Officer Cadet). On September 1, 1937, he was transferred as Oberfähnrich to the II.Bataillon (Flak) / Regiment "General Göring". He was promoted to Leutnant on April 1, 1938. In the summer of 1939, he and his unit were dispatched to the Führer's Headquarters, where they provided anti-aircraft cover for Adolf Hitler's trips to the front lines. On April 1, 1940, he was promoted to Oberleutnant and in early 1941 went on to command the 16th Battery of the Flak-Regiment Hermann Göring.

On August 2, 1941, as the Battle of Uman came to an end, the encircled Soviet forces attempted a desperate breakout at night. One of the German units on their way, located between Uman and Slatopol near the town of Swerdlikowo, was the Batterie Roßmann along with a handful of infantry, including troops from the SS "Wiking" Division. This small force, under the command of Roßmann himself, was able to withstand all attacks for 14 hours and thus played an important role in ensuring the destruction of the trapped 6th, 12th and elements of the 18th Soviet Armies. For this act he would receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 12 November 1941.

In late 1941, he and his unit were transferred to France. On July 1, 1942, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and appointed Commander of the I. Abteilung of the Panzer Regiment Hermann Göring. With this unit he fought in Sicily and later in Italy. On January 1, 1944 he was promoted to Major and in June 1944 he was appointed Commander of the Reconnaissance Detachment "Hermann Göring". But already in October 1944 he took over the former I. Abteilung from him in the Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment "Hermann Göring". His next employment was in East Prussia, at the Russian bridgehead on the Vistula near Warka. On February 1, 1945, as Major and Commander of Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiments 1, he received the Eichenlaub for the Ritterkreuz. On March 1, 1945 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). Towards the end of the war, Roßmann and his unit withdrew across the Oder and Neiße rivers and surrendered to American forces to avoid capture by the Red Army.

Roßmann died on April 1, 2002 in Bad Kreuznach

Source :
Bundesarchiv photo collection
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=102216&sid=aa75913a32b3fb9003dcd601cd579d01
https://reibert.info/media/karl-rossmann-jpg.323359/
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-headgear/what-your-preferred-tr-uniform-look-772533-3/

Farewell Ceremony for Otto Paetsch

 

Officers of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" posed together in front of a flower-filled Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf.D on its turret. This photo itself was taken on the Eastern Front in June 1944, most likely at the time of the release of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Paetsch (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking") who moved to his new assignment in 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg" as the commander of their panzer regiment (22 June 1944). The panther in the background is a Befehlspanther (Commander's Panther) belonging to Paetsch, which can be characterized by its turret-mounted antenna and a closed machine gun mount. Paetsch himself is an officer holding a flower bouquet in the center, while on his right in shorts is SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (Chef 8.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"). The final identification is SS-Obersturmführer Manfred Renz (Adjutant SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), wearing the black Panzer uniform at right. BTW, in this photo Nicolussi-Leck is not wearing the Ritterkreuz in his neck even though he has already receive it since April 1944!

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2019/10/foto-pelepasan-dan-pindah-tugas.html

Oberst Rudolf Sieckenius in his Command Tank

 

Oberst Rudolf Sieckenius (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division). Oberst Sieckenius on his command tank "0", summer 1942. Oberst Sieckenius had been commanding his Panzer regiment of 16.Panzer-Division since May 1941 and had won Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his achievement on 17 September 1941. He would escape the Stalingrad tragedy and would be commanding reestablished 16.Panzer-Division next year as a Generalmajor. His command tank had been painted in dark gray but was camo'ed with one of Tropen brown colors in thick bands.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10222753427217768&set=gm.1642500865935330

Panzergraf in His Command Tank

Oberst der Reserve Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland" / Infanterie-Division "Großdeutschland") on the turret of his command vehicle, a Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.K "01" medium tank. This photo was taken in March 1943 during the opening of the Third Battle of Kharkov. The Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.K itself is a commando variant of the Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.J, with its main weapon a 50mm (99 rounds) KwK 39 L / 60 gun. At least 50 tanks of the K model were produced by the German manufacturers, with a Fahrgestellnummer numbering from 70201 to 70250.

Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2020/08/foto-hyazinth-graf-strachwitz-von-gro.html

Eichenlaub Action of Franz Bäke

Major der Reserve Dr.med.dent. Franz Bäke in front of a Panzerkampfwagen III. He is wearing the Eichenlaub #262 zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, which he received on 1 August 1943 as Kommandeur II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 11 / 6.Panzer-Division. The following wartime excerpt describes why Bäke was awarded the Eichenlaub: “On the 11 July 1943 the reinforced Panzer-Regiment 11 reached the village of Kasatschja, which was located northeast of Belgorod at a point 12 km before the Donez river. Bäke persuaded his regimental commander to go against the divisional order by capturing the village of Rschawez by night and creating a bridgehead over the Sswernyi Donez. During the following night Bäke’s Vorausabteilung (II./Panzer-Regiment 11 and the II.(SPW)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 114) thrust past enemy anti-tank gun positions before finding itself side by side with a column of 20 T-34s. Then 6 T-34s began to surround Bäke’s command Panzer, which was only armed with a wooden gun as camouflage. Bäke and his Ordonnanzoffizier, Leutnant Zobel, left the command Panzer and eliminated 4 T-34s with magnetic anti-tank grenades. The charges placed by the Major on the 5th and 6th tanks did not explode. Bäke clambered onto an approaching Panzer sent to support them and directed it to destroy both of these enemy tanks. The partially destroyed bridge near Rschawez was taken.” The recommendation was Submitted on 27 July 1943.

Source :
ECPAD Archives (courtesy of Blanluet Christophe)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152986901863424/?ref=search
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28188/B%C3%A4ke-Franz.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of StuG Ace Fritz Amling

Ritterkreuz award ceremony of Wachtmeister Fritz Amling (Zugführer in 3.Batterie / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202), 27 February 1943. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself while his Abteilung was deployed in the sector of the 78. Infanterie-Division during Operation Mars. The following wartime excerpt describes why he would be awarded the Ritterkreuz: “Ritterkreuzträger and Wachtmeister Fritz Amling… received the Ritterkreuz on the 11 December 1942 while serving as the commander of a Sturmgeschütz. This was for his actions during the defense against the Soviet offensive to the southwest of Kalinin that began on the 25 November 1942. In this time he destroyed 40 enemy tanks within a few days (including 24 in just 8 hours!) despite being wounded himself.” Amling had reached a total of 56 Soviet tanks destroyed altogether by the time he received the Ritterkreuz.

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/edff893a-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/914df33e-1262-c220-c6ce-8834817fa47e?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=Gesch%C3%BCtzf%C3%BChrer%20eines%20Sturmgesch%C3%BCtzes&rows=1&page=1

Franz Begemann Playing Chess Inside the Tank

Ritterkreuzträger Leutnant Franz Begemann from 20. Panzer-Division playing chess inside the turret of his Panzerkampfwagen IV. The picture was taken in the winter of 1943-44 in the Eastern Front.

Source :
Blanluet Christophe photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158352920238308&set=pcb.843587482803359&type=3&theater&ifg=1