Hugo Sperrle during Hunting Event in the West

Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle (center, Chef Luftflotte 3) during the Luftwaffe hunting event 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.



Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle (center, Chef Luftflotte 3) during the Luftwaffe hunting event 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.



Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle (center, Chef Luftflotte 3) during the Luftwaffe hunting event 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 hunting event 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.

Man in the uniform of Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft (German Hunting Society) blowing the horn during Luftwaffe hunting event 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 hunting event 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 hunting event 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 hunting event 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.



Two unknown Luftwaffe officers during the hunting event 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.



Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle (right, Chef Luftflotte 3) during the Luftwaffe hunting event 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

SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment Training in France 1940

SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment training in France in the late summer or early autumn 1940. Standing in the middle is probably SS-Sturmbannführer Dr.jur. Eduard Deisenhofer (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1), while the officer holding stick at right is SS-Obersturmführer Adolf Pittschellis (Chef 1.Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment).

SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment training in France in the late summer or early autumn 1940. Standing at left is probably SS-Sturmbannführer Dr.jur. Eduard Deisenhofer (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1), while the officer holding stick second from right is SS-Obersturmführer Adolf Pittschellis (Chef 1.Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment).

SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment training in France in the late summer or early autumn 1940. Standing at right is probably SS-Sturmbannführer Dr.jur. Eduard Deisenhofer (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1).

Source :
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/747932-kz-ss-tk-officers-id#post6018582

Herbert Otto Gille and Hellmuth Becker

Polish Front, January 1945: While holding a wolchowstock (the walking stick for German officers and non-commissioned officers typical of the Eastern Front), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandierender General IV. SS-Panzerkorps) chatted with SS- Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Hellmuth Becker (Kommandeur 3. SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf") who was under his command. Far left behind Gille is SS-Sturmbannführer Adolf Pittschellis (Führer SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf") who would later be killed in battle on January 26, 1945, just a few days after this photo was taken! BTW, the Ärmelstreifen (cufftitle) attached to Becker's arm is different from the ärmelstreifen commonly worn by other Totenkopf Division personnel. The ärmelstreifen bearing the skull was a sign that the wearer was a former member of the SS-Totenkopfstandard "Oberbayern" in Dachau, and they were allowed to keep it on their arm even after moving to another unit as a form of pride in their old unit.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2016/02/foto-hellmuth-becker.html

Three Luftwaffe Aces from 7./JG 53

Three of the most successful pilots of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik-As" pose for the camera at the conclusion of the French campaign in June 1940, having each just been awarded with the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse. They are, from left to right, Oberfeldwebel Franz Götz (who was credited with five confirmed and two unconfirmed victories during the campaign), Leutnant Heinz Altendorf (four victories) and Unteroffizier Hermann Neuhoff (seven victories). Amazingly, all three survived the war, with Götz and Neuhoff subsequently receiving the Ritterkreuz. Like Altendorf, Neuhoff was forced down behind enemy lines and captured – he crashlanded on Malta on 10 April 1942.

Source :
"Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik'As' Bf 109 Aces of 1940" by Chris Goss & Chris Davey

Ritterkreuz Action of Ulrich Gunzert

Ulrich Gunzert (8 July 1915 - 12 October 2000) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 December 1941, as Oberleutnant and Chef 3.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 258 / 258.Infanterie-Division. Description: “Received for leading a bold defense against the strong attacking power of a Bolshevik unit. He established a connection with cut off German forces and at this point in the fight the German unit’s has succeeded. Oberleutnant Gunzert was born in 1915 in German East Africa; He received his military training in Upper Bavarian with a Pionier Battalion. In the course of the Russian campaign he destroyed a Bolshevik tank near Grodek with a concentrated charge, and carried out a successful scouting troop operation by making an independent decision to destroy an enemy bunker construction on the Djessna. Later, he also contributed to a flak position being conquered.”

Source :
http://ritterkreuztraeger.blogspot.com/2023/05/bio-of-oberleutnant-ulrich-gunzert-1915.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/45948/Gunzert-Ulrich.htm

Bio of Oberleutnant Ulrich Gunzert (1915-2000)

Ulrich Gunzert

Date of Birth: 08.07.1915 - Muansa/Mwanza, Deutsch-Ostafrika
Date of Death: 12.10.2000 - Ottobrunn, Bayern (Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.194_ Oberleutnant

Career:
00.00.194_ Chef 3.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 258 / 258.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
20.12.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberleutnant and Chef 3.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 258 / 258.Infanterie-Division. Description: “Received for leading a bold defense against the strong attacking power of a Bolshevik unit. He established a connection with cut off German forces and at this point in the fight the German unit’s has succeeded. Oberleutnant Gunzert was born in 1915 in German East Africa; He received his military training in Upper Bavarian with a Pionier Battalion. In the course of the Russian campaign he destroyed a Bolshevik tank near Grodek with a concentrated charge, and carried out a successful scouting troop operation by making an independent decision to destroy an enemy bunker construction on the Djessna. Later, he also contributed to a flak position being conquered.”

Source:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/knights-cross-medal.html?sortBy=relevant
https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/scherl/knight-s-cross-bearer-ulrich-gunzert-1941-b-w-photo/black-and-white-photograph/asset/6364264
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=159818&p=2385475&hilit=gunzert#p2385475
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/g.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/45948/Gunzert-Ulrich.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk99rd9KbCk

Theodor Eicke in Demyansk

SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Theodor Eicke (Kommandeur SS-Division Totenkopf) with his adjutant, SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Friedrich, in the Demyansk region on 1 May 1942 where his unit has been surrounded by the Red Army since 8 February 1942. Eicke joined the suffering of many of his soldiers. He camped in a pile of snow, wore wet clothes for days, was repeatedly exposed to enemy fire, and ate the same ration as received by the lowest ranking soldier! It is no wonder that his men adored their leader so much, and called him "Papa" Eicke! Friedrich shares the same fate with his boss, when they were both killed in an air crash one year later. On 26 February 1943, during the opening stages of the Third Battle of Kharkov, the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch reconnaissance aircraft that took them was shot down by flak of the Red Army between the villages of Artil'ne and Mykolaivka, 105 kilometers (65 mi) south of Kharkov near Lozova. The plane crashed behind Soviet lines. Several attempts were made by reinforced assault squads to recover the remains of their commander. They finally succeeded after losing several men. Eicke was given an elaborate funeral at one of the cemeteries of the Division near Orelka. Later, when the Germans were forced to withdraw, officers from the divisional staff together, with a few selected men, exhumed Eicke’s corpse and brought it by truck to Kiev.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/foto-theodor-eicke.html
http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/othercamps/eicke.html
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60