Helmuth Förster during Front Visit in the West

General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.

General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (center, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (2nd from right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (back to the camera at left, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.

General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (pointing, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.

General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (center, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (2nd from right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (right, Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) during one of the front visit to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.

Luftwaffe officers chatting during the visit of General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.



Luftwaffe officers have a toast during the visit of General der Flieger Helmuth Förster (Chef der Luftabwehr im RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium) to the Luftwaffe unit in the Western Front, 1942-1944. The picture was taken from the photo album of a Luftwaffe soldier with the name of Franz Bausen, courtesy of Indonesian collector Joko Nugroho.

Source :
Joko Nugroho photo collection

Heinz Harmel and Luftwaffe Ritterkreuzträger

SS-Oberführer Heinz Harmel (right, Kommandeur 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg") and Oberstleutnant Helmut Bruck (Geschwaderkommodore Schlachtgeschwader 77). The picture was taken in Galicia, spring 1944.



SS-Oberführer Heinz Harmel (left, Kommandeur 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg") and Hauptmann Alexander Gläser (Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 77). The picture was taken in Galicia, spring 1944.

From left to right: Oberstleutnant Helmut Bruck (Geschwaderkommodore Schlachtgeschwader 77), SS-Oberführer Heinz Harmel (Kommandeur 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg"), and Hauptmann Alexander Gläser (Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 77). The picture was taken in Galicia, spring 1944.

Source :
"Die 10. SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg" by Rolf Michaelis
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/heinz-harmel_7AB422B8A7
https://www.ca-collecting.com/shop/en/autographs-1933-1945-ss-police/harmel-alexander-glaeser-90392.html
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/ss-uniforms-insignia/heinz-harmel-uniform-regulations-4384/

Welcoming Ceremony for Wolfgang Lüth after 205 days at the Sea

Welcoming ceremony in Bordeaux for U-boat ace Wolfgang Lüth who had just returned from his 205 days patrol (23 March 1943 - 14 October 1943). In March 1943 Lüth left Bordeaux for patrol mission in African waters and the Indian Ocean. This patrol, under difficult conditions, was also very successful, with ten ships sunk totalling 45,331 tons. During this patrol Lüth became the first Kriegsmarine member to receive the Brillanten for his Ritterkreuz! This patrol was also outstanding because it was the second longest patrol of the war, second only to Eitel Friedrich Kentrat's incredible 225 days on U-196. From left to right: Kapitän zur See Hans Rudolf Rösing (Führer U-Boote West), Korvettenkapitän Klaus Scholtz (Flottillenchef 12. U-Flottille) and Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Lüth (Kommandant U 181).



Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Lüth (Kommandant U 181) opens his mail send by the fans. The picture was taken on 14 October 1943 during the welcoming ceremony in Bordeaux for his return after 205 days at the sea. This patrol was so long that Lüth was promoted to the rank of Korvettenkapitän(1 April 1943), awarded the Schwerter (15 April 1943) and Brillanten (9 August 1943), all while he was still as the sea! That's why we see him still wearing the Eichenlaub is his neck and not the higher grade.

From left to right: Kapitän zur See Hans Rudolf Rösing (Führer U-Boote West), Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Lüth (Kommandant U 181), and Korvettenkapitän Klaus Scholtz (Flottillenchef 12. U-Flottille).The picture was taken during welcoming ceremony in Bordeaux for U-boat ace Wolfgang Lüth who had just returned from his 205 days patrol (23 March 1943 - 14 October 1943).



Toast! The welcoming ceremony in Bordeaux for U-boat ace Wolfgang Lüth who had just returned from his 205 days patrol (23 March 1943 - 14 October 1943). From left to right: unknown, Kapitän zur See Hans Rudolf Rösing (Führer U-Boote West), Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Lüth (Kommandant U 181), Korvettenkapitän Klaus Scholtz (Flottillenchef 12. U-Flottille), unknown, unknown, and Oberleutnant (Ing.) der Reserve Carl-August Landfermann (Leitender Ingenieur U-181).

"See und Luftkrieg gegen Großbritannien und der USA" (Sea and air war against Great Britain and the USA). Welcoming ceremony in Bordeaux for U-boat ace Wolfgang Lüth (sitting in the middle) who had just returned from his 205 days patrol (23 March 1943 - 14 October 1943).

Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Lüth (right, Kommandant U-181) on 14 October 1943 after the 205 day patrol. In the middle is Oberleutnant (Ing.) der Reserve Carl-August Landfermann (Leitender Ingenieur U-181).

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive (Image-No.: 50072449)
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/korvettenkapit%C3%A4n-u-boot-kommandant-d-l-wird-nach-seiner-news-photo/545331749
https://uboat.net/men/luth.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-xSeT1kWJA

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Franz Hack

SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") presenting the Ritterkreuz to SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), 14 May 1944. On the left of the photo (not visible) is the future Ritterkreuzträger Paul Senghas.

After the fighting for Kovel (April 1944), a number of men of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” were given awards for their achievements. This began with the division commander, SS-Gruppenführer Herbert Gille, who was the 12th member of the German armed forces to receive the Brillanten to the Ritterkreuz, and worked its way down. Many of the division’s bravest officers were presented with awards for their achievements and those of their men.

In addition to Franz Hack, a battalion commander of imposing size in SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment “Germania”, the regimental commander, Fritz Ehrath, the future Nahkampfspange in Gold recipient, Werner Meyer, a company commander in SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 “Wiking”, Willi Hein, the tank hunter, Gerhard Fischer, and the tanker who was the first to break through the Soviet encirclement, Karl Nicolussi-Leck, all received the coveted Ritterkreuz.

Franz Hack (3 February 1915 - 9 June 1997) formally received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 May 1944 as SS-Sturmbannführer and Kommandeur III.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking".

Hack’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows:

“During the night attack on 17 April 1944 against Hill 189.5 and the high ground south of it (1.5 km southwest of Kovel), SS-Sturmbannführer Hack, commander of the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. Germania, particularly distinguished himself through his outstanding bravery before the enemy.

The enemy was entirely aware of the importance of Hill 189.5, from which it was possible to have a commanding view of Fortress Kovel, the only supply road that led to the city as well as the entire area to the north and northwest of the place. With this in mind they had heavily fortified the hill, and its defenders would fight bitterly for it.

The capture of this commanding enemy position was very much necessary in order to fully bring about the relief of Fortress Kovel. Due to the strong enemy defenses both here and on the eastern and western flanks, the only way this could be achieved was by a night attack.

After assembling at Gleisdreieck (west of Kovel), Bataillon Hack received the order to thrust southwards along the Kovel—Wlodzimicrz railway line in a night attack. The enemy strongpoints along both sides of the railroad would be seized via surprise attack, and thereafter the enemy position on Hill 189.5 would be attacked, captured and held.

The surprise attack against the first strongpoint at the railway bridge, conducted by 2 assault groups, became pinned down in the Soviet barbed wire obstacles. Fire support by heavy weapons was no longer possible as both our troops and the enemies’ were now too close together. Knowing that everything depended on the success of this first phase of the attack, Hack rushed to the forefront of both assault groups. He bombarded enemy resistance nests that had been cleverly positioned between the bridge abutments with 5 Panzerfausts. Then, after a hand grenade salvo, he was the first to penetrate into the enemy strongpoint with one of the two assault group leaders.

Through this exemplary and ruthless commitment to the battle, Hack brought the two assault groups forward and cleared out the enemy positions while personally participating in the fighting with his own machine-pistol and hand grenades.

Here he was wounded by hand grenade splinters in the face and right hand. However Hack continued the attack undaunted by his wounds, capturing the second strongpoint during the breakthrough. After a swift assembly of the Bataillon’s follow-up units he began the assault against Hill 189.5, where the Soviets were prepared to defend with grim determination.

However the enemy couldn’t resist the attacking spirit of the Bataillon, with the commander himself fighting in the forward line. After a short, hard close-quarter battle the enemy was thrown out of his positions at Hill 189.5 and forced to retreat to the south. In order to facilitate the continuation of the friendly attack, Hack initiated a swift pursuit thrust further south along the railway line on his own initiative, wresting control of one Soviet strongpoint after another. By first light the Bataillon had captured and occupied the enemy positions at the overpass 400 metres to the southwest of Hill 188. An enemy counterthrust launched shortly afterwards from the southwest was defeated, and over the course of the day the newly conquered position was prepared to take on further enemy counterattacks.

Only now, after he had organized the defense, did Hack allow himself to be treated for his wounds. Through his prudent leadership and personal daring he has a decisive share in the success of this offensive operation, one which was of great importance for the relief of ‘Fortress’ Kovel.

Hack has been wounded six times in this war, and is a holder of the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, Nahkampfspange in Bronze and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold.

Hack is worthy to be awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.”

SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (right, Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") congratulates SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") for his newly awarded Ritterkreuz, 14 May 1944.

SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (left, Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") is being congratulated by his Regimentskommandeur, SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr, after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony which were held on 14 May 1944.




SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack as Kommandeur of III.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking". The picture was possibly taken after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Hack, 14 May 1944.

From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") and SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"). The picture was possibly taken after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Hack, 14 May 1944.

Source :
"The Face of Courage. The 98 Men Who Received the Knights Cross and the Close-Combat Clasp in Gold" by Florian Berger
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Hack,_Franz
https://www.forosegundaguerra.com/viewtopic.php?t=13119&start=165
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/8802/Hack-Franz-Waffen-SS.htm
https://twitter.com/bartutarih/status/956596957845311489/photo/1

Bio of SS-Obersturmführer Søren Kam (1921-2015)

Søren Kam

Date of Birth: 02.11.1921 - Kopenhagen (Denmark)
Date of Death: 23.03.2015 - Kempten, Allgäu, Bayern (Germany)

Nationality: Denmark
Wife: Eleonore Fritzenschaft (23.06.1927 - 07.03.2015)

Promotions:
02.09.1941 SS-Sturmmann
30.11.1941 SS-Rottenführer
20.04.1942 SS-Unterscharführer
01.05.1942 SS-Junker
01.09.1942 SS-Standartenjunker
20.12.1942 SS-Standartenoberjunker
10.03.1943 SS-Untersturmführer
30.01.1945 SS-Obersturmführer

Career:
10.03.1943 SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
01.11.1943 SS-Hauptamt
01.11.1943 - 28.03.1944 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"
28.03.1944 SS-Panzergrenadier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon "Wiking"
00.00.194_ Führer 1.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"

Awards and Decorations:
22.09.1941 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
20.04.1944 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
00.00.1944 Nahkampfspange in Bronze
00.00.1945 Nahkampfspange in Silber
07.02.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Untersturmführer and Führer 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Søren Kam (2 November 1921 – 23 March 2015) was born on 2 November 1921 in Copenhagen, Denmark as the second of six children to Rasmus Hansen Kam and wife Inger née Hermansen.

The young Kam was a member of the youth faction of the DNSAP (NSU) where he was a close associate of Christian Frederik von Schalburg, one of his so called "blood boys". According to the Bovrup File, Kam's mother became a member of DNSAP in December 1940.

Kam volunteered with the SS in June 1940. He served with the 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking on the Eastern Front. He was transferred to SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz and was promoted to SS-Untersturmführer.

From 1 May to 2 September 1943, Kam was heading the school at Høveltegaard responsible for the training of new members of the Schalburg Corps. The initial six week training had 50-70 recruits.

According to Efraim Zuroff of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in August 1943 Kam participated as a Waffen-SS soldier in a robbery during which the birth records of the Jewish community in Denmark were stolen. He thereby ensured that the German file on Danish Jews was as complete as possible, in preparation for the attempt to arrest and deport them in October that year. Kam denied the allegation.

From 15 July to 2 September 1943 Kam had seven meetings with Werner Best, whose service calendar describes Kam as commander of the Schalburg Corps.

During the week before Saturday August 28, 1943 Kam participated in one such meeting with among others Best, who on the morning of that Saturday met with Erik Scavenius to make the demands that the following day led the Germans to officially dissolve the Danish government and institute martial law.

On the evening of 30 August 1943 or after midnight in Lundtofte, next to Lundtofte Airfield Søren Kam and two others killed newspaper editor Carl Henrik Clemmensen, who was struck while standing by eight bullets fired from three different pistols. Kam later gave different explanations for his participation, lastly that the three shot the unarmed newspaper editor in self-defense.

The September 1943 issue of De frie Danske proclaimed Kam and Flemming Helweg-Larsen as Schalburg-bandits and the murderers of Clemmensen. The June 1944 issue denounced a female member of the Nazi Party, along with Carl Henrik Clemmensen's murderers, namely Flemming Helweg-Larsen and Søren Kam.

On 15 February 1945 the newspaper Politiken brought an official statement from Berlin via Reuters that on 7 February Adolf Hitler had awarded Kam, a company Commander of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania", the Knight's Cross for "especially decisive action in the battle against the enemy" making Kam the third Dane to receive this award. The statement proceeded to mention that Kam had been wounded in battle several times and for battlefield bravery been awarded the Iron Cross Second and First Class, the Infantry Assault Badge, Close Combat Clasp and the silver Wound Badge and that he had seen combat in the battles of Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Kovel and Warsaw.

While in 1946 the Danish authorities presumed Kam to be dead they executed Helweg-Larsen for his part in the murder of Clemmensen. According to the evidence presented in the trial, Clemmensen had been killed using three different pistols firing eight bullets all impacting him while he was standing. A third accomplice in the murder the SS-man Jørgen Valdemar Bitsch was held in the Frøslev Prison Camp after the liberation, but managed to escape and his whereabouts remain unknown.

In 1956 Kam lived in West Germany under the name Peter Müller as stateless and he was therefore at risk of being extradited to Denmark on a murder charge. The same year Kam applied for and obtained West German citizenship. In 1968 the public prosecutor in Munich investigated the murder. Kam admitted to have fired at Clemmensen but only as an "act of solidarity" after Helweg-Larsen had shot and killed Clemmensen who was lying dead on the ground. The case against Kam was dropped in 1971 on the principle of in dubio pro reo.

In 1985 Minister of Justice of Denmark Erik Ninn-Hansen confirmed that there was still a warrant for the arrest of Kam. The statement formed part of a response to a question from member of parliament Jørgen Lenger, who had been informed via telephone by Kam personally that Kam had visited his family in Denmark several times. In 1986 Kam and the two other Danish bearers of the Knight's Cross posed for a photograph together with Christian Frederik von Schalburg's widow Helga Schalburg in Ulrichsberg in the Austrian state Kärnten.

In 1998 Kam was interrogated again because his explanation that he shot Clemmensen as he was lying dead on the ground was contradicted by the autopsy report which shows that Clemmensen received all eight shots while standing. Kam changed his explanation and stated that although unarmed, Clemmensen attacked Kam and his two associates who thus fired the eight shots in self-defence. In 1999 Danish Minister of Justice Frank Jensen requested an extradition of Kam. This was refused by Germany. This request was later repeated by Jensen's successor Lene Espersen.

In 2004 a grandson of Clemmensen, Søren Fauli, produced the documentary Min morfars morder (My grandfather's murderer) in which he himself interviewed Kam. During the interview Fauli forgives Kam, but asks him to admit his guilt. The documentary was aired on Danish television in 2004 and 2005. On 21 September 2006 Kam was detained in Kempten, Bavaria in accordance with a European arrest warrant issued by Denmark. On 4 February 2007 Germany denied his extradition to Denmark, after a German court claimed that the killing of Clemmensen was not murder but manslaughter, thus falling under the statute of limitations, which had expired. Kam had stated that he admits having taken part in the abduction and killing of Clemmensen, but that he considers the case to be under the statute of limitations and the killing an accident.

In February 2008 BBC World Service presented a radio program titled The Danish Nazi. This included a recorded statement by Kam in which he says in English, "I am a good man, I never did anything wrong." According to the London Daily Telegraph, while in Germany, Kam "has regularly attended veterans' rallies of SS men. He has also been closely associated with Heinrich Himmler's daughter Gudrun Burwitz and her network Stille Hilfe (Silent Aid), set up to support arrested, condemned or fugitive former SS men." As of 1 April 2014, he was number five on Simon Wiesenthal Center's list of most wanted Nazi war criminals.

Kam wrote his memoirs and had a middle man hand them over to head of research at the Royal Library, Denmark John T. Lauridsen and Danish historian Mikkel Kirkebæk, so they could publish them after his death. The 400 page book The memoirs of Søren Kam (Danish: Søren Kams erindringer) is prefaced and commented by Lauridsen and published in Danish from September 2015.

On 23 March 2015 Kam died in Kempten at the age of 93, two weeks after his wife.

Source :
Steve Otis Deqa photo collection
http://ailsby-collection.blogspot.com/2012/03/schalburg-cross.html
https://www.bt.dk/nyheder/danmarks-mest-eftersoegte-nazist-om-sit-moede-med-hitler-han-var-rolig-og-hans
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Kam,_S%C3%B6ren
https://ekstrabladet.dk/krimi/avis-dansk-ss-boeddel-doed/5502263
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kam
https://www.facebook.com/groups/691098008051629/user/100006306574540/
https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/historikere-udgiver-unik-kilde-til-indsigt-i-nazisme
http://www.mourningtheancient.com/truth48b-kam3.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/35278/Kam-S%C3%B8ren.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGwEDagrnzc

Bio of SS-Sturmbannführer d.R. Julius Riepe (1903-1983)

Julius Riepe

Date of Birth: 18.12.1903 - Warburg, Westfalen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 22.06.1983 - Aachen, Regierungsbezirk Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen (West Germany)
NSDAP Number: 383 823 (joined 01.12.1930)
SS Number: 8 396 (joined 04.05.1931)

Promotions:
04.05.1931 SS-Anwärter
00.00.1931 SS-Mann
20.04.1934 SS-Sturmführer
15.09.1935 SS-Obersturmführer
13.09.1936 SS-Hauptsturmführer
00.00.1936 Unterführer-Anwärter
01.04.1937 SS-Sturmbannführer
30.01.1939 SS-Obersturmbannführer
01.08.1940 SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve der Waffen-SS
30.01.1942 SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve der Waffen-SS
21.06.1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve der Waffen-SS
09.11.1944 SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve der Waffen-SS

Career:
01.04.1935 Hauptamlicher SS-Führer in Allgemeine-SS
00.00.1934 - 00.00.1935 Fûhrer 2.Sturm / I.Sturmbann / 24.SS-Standarte
00.00.1935 - 00.00.1937 Führer III.Sturmbann / 24.SS-Standarte
00.00.1937 - 00.00.1945 Führer 67. SS-Standarte
00.00.1936 Entered the Wehrmacht
00.00.1938 Received military training from the Wehrmacht
22.01.1940 Dismissed from the Wehrmacht
02.03.1940 - 25.08.1940 Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
00.03.1940 - 00.07.1940 3.Kriegslehrgang SS-Junkerschule Tölz
01.08.1940 - 25.08.1940 SS-Untersturmführer d.R. der Waffen-SS in LSSAH
00.08.1940 - 01.06.1941 uk gestellt, Polizeipräsident,
01.06.1941 - 31.12.1941 Ordonnanzoffizier in Kommandostab Reichsführer-SS
25.06.1941 - 01.01.1942 Leiter Abteilung Quartermeister 2 / Kommandostab Reichsführer-SS
00.01.1942 1. SS-Infanterie-Brigade
30.06.1943 Zugführer, ?, zunächst ab 1.42 Kdt.Stabsquartier 1.SS-Inf.Brig., dann erst Zugführer i. SS-IR 8 bis 7.42,
00.07.1942 - 00.09.1943 Kp.Fhr.b.SS-IR 8 und 10,
15.01.1943 Fhr.11./SS-IR 10
00.04.1943 Hstuf. (?) u.Chef 11./Inf.Rgt 10
01.07.1943 - 30.09.1943 KpFhr, ab 1./15.10.43 Fhr. I./SS-IR10 (mot) (lt.RK-Vorschl.) bis 23.11.43
00.10.1943 Hstuf.u. Kdr I/ Inf Rgt 10
24.11.1943 - 27.12.1943 Fhr.Kp. in KGr.1.SS-Inf.Brig.
28.12.1943 Fhr I./SS-Gren.Rgt
00.01.1944 Hstuf. (Stubaf.?) u.Kdr.I./Pz. GR.40

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.1931 Abzeichen des SA-Treffens Braunschweig 1931
00.02.1934 Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer
01.07.1935 Totenkopfring der SS
01.12.1936 Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen in Silber
01.12.1936 SA-Sportabzeichen in Gold
00.00.19__ SS-Dienstauszeichnungen
00.00.19__ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze
15.06.1939 Ehrendegen des-Reichsführers-SS
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber
30.01.1942 Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
01.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
04.01.1943 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
13.05.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
21.07.1943 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
27.12.1943 Nahkampfspange in Silber
13.02.1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
17.10.1944 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
13.01.1945 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
13.01.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40 / 18.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"

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* Riepe is wrongly mentionned as SS-Standartenführer der Allgemeine-SS in some Waffen-SS files therefore stammkarte, Dienstlaufbahn don't mention such promotion.

Source :
Martin "MaLUFix" photo collection
Michael D. Miller photo collection
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=269802&p=2458911#p2458911
https://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/index.php?thread/49957-riepe-julius-ss-sturmbannf%C3%BChrer/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/13837/Riepe-Julius.htm