Gerhard Konopka in the Train

Oberleutnant der Reserve Gerhard Konopka (Führer II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" / Panzergrenadier-Division  "Großdeutschland") posing with his comrades in the train. This picture was taken after he received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (9 October 1942) but before he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (29 August 1943). Strangely enough, the pic comes from the photo album belong to Ritterkreuzträger Johann Port, which was not even in the same unit as Konopka!

Source :
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auktionen/76-752528

Four NCOs Ritterkreuzträger Greeted at the Train Station

Four non-commissioned officers of the Wehrmacht who were also Ritterkreuzträger from Heer, were photographed at the train station after returning home from the front and welcomed by the "fans" who greeted them with great fanfare. They are, from left to right: Obergefreiter Franz Schmitzer (Ritterkreuz on 26 September 1942 as Richtschütze in 4.Batterie / II.Abteilung / Artillerie-Regiment 6 / 6.Infanterie-Division), Feldwebel Johann Port (Ritterkreuz on 25 August 1942 as Zugführer in 8.Kompanie [maschinengewehr] / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 266 / 72.Infanterie-Division), Oberfeldwebel Albrecht Schnitger (Ritterkreuz on 7 October 1942 as Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 18 / 6.Infanterie -Division), and Obergefreiter Joseph Schuss (Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1942 as MG-Schütze in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 520 / 296.Infanterie-Division). This photo was taken in the period of October-November 1942, and was first published in the "Illustrierter Beobachter" magazine dated 26 November 1942.

Four non-commissioned officers of the Wehrmacht who were also Ritterkreuzträger from Heer, were photographed at the train station after returning home from the front and welcomed by the "fans" who greeted them with great fanfare. They are, from left to right: Oberfeldwebel Albrecht Schnitger (Ritterkreuz on 7 October 1942 as Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 18 / 6.Infanterie -Division), Feldwebel Johann Port (Ritterkreuz on 25 August 1942 as Zugführer in 8.Kompanie [maschinengewehr] / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 266 / 72.Infanterie-Division), Obergefreiter Joseph Schuss (Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1942 as MG-Schütze in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 520 / 296.Infanterie-Division), and Obergefreiter Franz Schmitzer (Ritterkreuz on 26 September 1942 as Richtschütze in 4.Batterie / II.Abteilung / Artillerie-Regiment 6 / 6.Infanterie-Division). This photo was taken in the period of October-November 1942, and was first published in the "Illustrierter Beobachter" magazine dated 26 November 1942.

Four non-commissioned officers of the Wehrmacht who were also Ritterkreuzträger from Heer, were photographed at the train station after returning home from the front and welcomed by the "fans" who greeted them with great fanfare. They are, from left to right: Oberfeldwebel Albrecht Schnitger (Ritterkreuz on 7 October 1942 as Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 18 / 6.Infanterie -Division), Feldwebel Johann Port (Ritterkreuz on 25 August 1942 as Zugführer in 8.Kompanie [maschinengewehr] / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 266 / 72.Infanterie-Division), Obergefreiter Franz Schmitzer (Ritterkreuz on 26 September 1942 as Richtschütze in 4.Batterie / II.Abteilung / Artillerie-Regiment 6 / 6.Infanterie-Division), and Obergefreiter Joseph Schuss (Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1942 as MG-Schütze in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 520 / 296.Infanterie-Division). This photo was taken in the period of October-November 1942, and was first published in the "Illustrierter Beobachter" magazine dated 26 November 1942.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2015/04/foto-pahlawan-perang-third-reich.html

Hermann Göring and Hermann Graf

Duo Hermann: Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and Major Hermann Graf in the event of the 50th birthday of the Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe, 12 January 1943. In July 1943, Göring asked Graf to set up a special high-altitude fighter unit to contend with British de Havilland Mosquito light bombers. Geschwaderkommodore Graf was granted the authority to select any member he wished for the new Jagdgruppe 50, which would operate out of Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airdrome. Graf chose close friend and wingman Alfred Grislawski, as well as Ernst Süss and Heinrich Füllgrabe, to form the ‘Karaya Quartet.’

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/d4155414-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/4f52bc5b-3c89-aa70-ea1e-50a53ec10ddd?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=hermann%20graf&rows=1&page=1
http://luftwaffelovers.blogspot.com/2016/11/luftwaffe-ace-pilot-hermann-graf.html

Hinrich Schuldt on the Phone

SS-Standartenführer Hinrich Schuldt on the phone in a special train belong to Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, July-August 1943. Smoking beside him is SS-Hauptsturmführer Rupert Dangl. Schuldt is wearing the Eichenlaub on his neck and "Langemarck" sleeve stripes. The picture was taken when the train stopped at Angerburg, East Prussia. Still in the recovery phase after his wounds in previous March, Schuldt wrote on 29 June 1943 to SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Hans Jüttner, requesting that he be transferred to a new front-line operation. Thereupon Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler determined that Schuldt had to take over the 2nd (Latvian) SS Volunteer Brigade of the Latvian SS units after his health had been restored. After Schuldt was released from the hospital in the same month, he was given command of the brigade intended for him with effect from September 1, 1943.

Source:
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Bio of Major Erich Becker (1911-1993)

Erich Becker
Date of birth: 8 April 1911 in Angermünde, Brandenburg (German Empire)
Date of death: 16 June 1993 in Hanover, Niedersachsen (Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.1930 Grenadier
00.00.1932 Obergrenadier
00.00.1934 Gefreiter
00.00.1934 Unteroffizier
00.00.1935 Feldwebel
00.00.1938 Oberfeldwebel
10.04.1940 Leutnant
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant
00.00.1942 Hauptmann
00.00.1944 Major

Career:
00.00.1930 Volunteer in 15.Ausbildungs-Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 15 (later in 6.Kompanie)
00.09.1933 - 00.02.1934 Unteroffizier-Anwärter-Lehrgang
00.10.1934 Gruppenführer und Rekrutenausbilder in 16.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 15
00.00.1935 Rekruten-Offizier in 3.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 50
00.10.1938 Führer 3.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 50
00.00.1939 Assistant instructor in the weekend courses for Reserve-Offizier
00.09.1939 Truppführer in 2. Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 50
00.00.1940 Elected an officer by the officer corps of the I. Bataillon
00.04.1940 Transferred to 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 385
00.00.1942 Ausbildungs-Offizier of XIII. Fliegerkorps in Fallingbostel
00.00.1943 Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 385
00.08.1944 Kommandeur Regimentsgruppe 425

09.05.1945 Surrendered to the Soviets and taken prisoner in the USSR, first in Nachod transit camp near Königgrätz and then to the Borsig camp in Breslau. Arrived in October 1945 after a 52-day trip to Finnish Karelia to the Segesha prisoner-of-war camp
07.01.1950 Released from the POW camp

Awards and Decorations:
01.10.1936 Dienstauszeichnung III.Klasse
23.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
19.01.1940 Sudetenland-Medaille
20.04.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
04.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
12.10.1942 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
20.04.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold
28.04.1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
00.00.1944 Nahkampfspange in Silber

21.09.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Major and Kommandeur Regimentsgruppe 425 / 211.Infanterie-Division

Source ;
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2015/10/foto-211-infanterie-division.html
https://www.hna.de/kassel/rechts-panzer-erich-becker-erkennt-sich-foto-1943-3733764.html
https://www.lotsearch.de/lot/feine-dame-jugendstildarstellung-neujahr-1899-58293143
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28296/Becker-Erich-Grenadier-Regiments-Gruppe-425.htm

Ritterkreuz Action of Erich Becker

Erich Becker (8 April 1911 - 16 June 1993) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 September 1944 as Major and Kommandeur Regimentsgruppe 425 / 211.Infanterie-Division. During August 1944 Major Becker and his Regimentsgruppe received the mission of holding the important cornerstone of Brok (south of Ostrow), which was located along the Bug river. The village was declared to be a fortified place in order to cover the withdrawal of the 211. Infanterie-Division. The Soviets were quick to get into the rear of the Regimentsgruppe and begin an enveloping attack with several battalions. Realizing that the loss of his position would have resulted in the collapse of the entire front, Major Becker decided to strip his already thin frontline to an even greater extent in order to build up a blocking position around the village. He led a counterthrust at the head of the few men of his staff and manage to establish this blocking position with the help of his brave Grenadiers. Those Soviet forces that continued to attack here were either destroyed or thrown back. During the later course of the combat Becker managed to hold the won terrain against all furious Soviet counterattacks. He even threw them back further eastwards with his own bold counterthrusts until he had attained a favourable frontline disposition. By doing all this he managed to hold this cornerstone of the front at a very critical time for the Division. After three days of combat, having completed his mission, he sent a message to the Division in which he stated that he would break out and rejoin the Division. Becker would be awarded the Ritterkreuz a short while after this for his outstanding defensive success. By the time the decoration was presented, the Regimentsgruppe 425 was reformed as II. Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 385.

Source :
https://www.lotsearch.de/lot/feine-dame-jugendstildarstellung-neujahr-1899-58293143
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28296/Becker-Erich-Grenadier-Regiments-Gruppe-425.htm

Birthday Celebration of Karl-Lothar Schulz

Major Karl-Lothar Schulz (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1) receives his 34 years birthday cheers from his officers, 30 April 1941.

Source :
Herm Van Gorp photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/groups/624017700958728/permalink/4745787998781657/?__cft__[0]=AZXq0KpmyMqEacL2og_QgHSsyaiWmSdEimRZAVh3ZJ7xtjIKkGrRoRPUasRf3-atwCYpX39iuFTKayxbfTZSYRPuxwr9MOFdqIjbe77a8_KEEDUwJ0PXbXAXqQlZqA_nQa2eAHAXlqBq18aP95Y9wFYtF7kZgPmH9kDmgcVeq78Hu3JrkF5WCVLjI4F8LkuktoY&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R