Showing posts with label 6 Wounded. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 6 Wounded. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Wounded Ritterkreuzträger


German soldiers in the Second World War suffered a wide range of devastating wounds, with the great majority inflicted by artillery and mortar fire whose high-explosive shells and fragmentation produced multiple penetrating injuries from jagged metal shards that tore through flesh, shattered bones, and introduced dirt and clothing fragments deep into the body. Gunshot wounds from rifles and machine guns ranked second, typically creating relatively clean but high-velocity channels that could still prove lethal when they struck vital organs or major blood vessels, while grenade and mine explosions added blast trauma, traumatic amputations, and severe soft-tissue destruction. On the Eastern Front, where roughly eighty percent of all German combat deaths occurred, extreme cold produced widespread frostbite of the feet, hands, and face, often progressing to gangrene that necessitated amputation, and hypothermia claimed many lives without any visible external injury. Burns from vehicle fires, aircraft crashes, and flamethrower attacks, though less common overall, caused deep tissue damage that was especially difficult to treat under field conditions. Statistical analyses of Wehrmacht medical records indicated that approximately five percent of wounds involved the skull, eight percent the face, and the remainder were distributed across the shoulders, trunk, and extremities, with lower limbs most frequently affected. Compound fractures of the long bones, open chest wounds, abdominal penetrations leading to peritonitis, and head injuries with brain contusions or hemorrhage were among the most serious cases evacuated to field hospitals. Even relatively minor shrapnel wounds frequently became infected because of delayed treatment, poor hygiene, and the absence of modern antibiotics until late in the war, resulting in high rates of sepsis and secondary amputations. The cumulative effect of these injuries, combined with combat exhaustion and inadequate winter clothing, left hundreds of thousands of survivors permanently disabled, many of whom received the Wound Badge in recognition of their suffering.

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ARM WOUNDS


SS-Sturmbannführer Hubert-Erwin Meierdrees - often rendered Meierdress - (1916-1945) was born on 11 December 1916 in Wesel and joined the SS-Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler as a volunteer on 1 April 1934. After attending the SS-Junkerschule he was commissioned SS-Untersturmführer on 20 April 1939 and served in the artillery regiment of the SS-Verfügungs-Division. Following the Polish campaign he became Adjutant of the I./SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment and fought with the SS-Division Totenkopf through the Western Campaign and into the Soviet Union. From January 1942 he commanded the Sturmgeschütz-Batterie of the SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment. During the encirclement battles of the Demjansk pocket he led a Kampfgruppe that held the vital locality of Byakovo against repeated assaults by far superior Soviet forces; despite being reduced to a handful of men and vehicles he maintained the position for weeks, enabling the pocket to hold. For this outstanding leadership and personal bravery he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 March 1942 as SS-Obersturmführer and Führer of the Sturmgeschütz-Batterie. Severely wounded and evacuated from the pocket, he later transferred to the Panzerwaffe, completed a Panzer commanders’ course, and in late 1942 assumed command of the I. Abteilung / Bataillon of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 “Totenkopf”. As SS-Hauptsturmführer and Kommandeur of this battalion he distinguished himself in the battles for Kharkov, during Operation Citadel, on the Mius front and in the fighting around the Oka and Dnieper, repeatedly leading his tanks from the front and destroying numerous enemy armoured vehicles. For these sustained achievements he received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 5 October 1943. Promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer, he continued to lead his battalion, now equipped with Panthers, until 2 or 4 January 1945, when his tank was destroyed near Dunaalmás in Hungary and he was killed in action. His other decorations included the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (15 November 1939), Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse (15 January 1942), Demjanskschild, Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (after five serious wounds), Panzerkampfabzeichen and Ostmedaille.

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HEAD WOUNDS


Major Johann Zemsky (1909-1942) was born on 11 April 1909 in Vienna as the son of a civil servant and entered the Austrian Bundesheer in 1928 as a non-commissioned officer in the artillery, completing an officer course in 1932 and receiving promotion to Leutnant in 1936 before volunteering for the Luftwaffe after the Anschluss in 1938. By 1939 he served as an Oberleutnant and flying instructor at the Stukaschule in Insterburg, then flew combat missions with Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 against Britain in 1940, earning the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse on 24 February 1940. On 1 September 1940 he was promoted to Hauptmann and appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1, distinguishing himself in anti-shipping operations near Crete, Malta and the eastern Mediterranean that brought him the Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse in May 1941. Transferred to the Eastern Front for Operation Barbarossa, he assumed command of II. Gruppe/Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 in September 1941 after the death of Hauptmann Anton Keil and led highly successful dive-bomber attacks against ground targets around Bialystok, Minsk, Vitebsk, Gomel, Kiev and Moscow. For completing more than 300 combat sorties he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 February 1942 as Hauptmann und Gruppenkommandeur of II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1. Continuing operations on the southern sector through the battles for Kharkov and toward Stalingrad, where he marked his 500th sortie in July 1942, he was slightly wounded by anti-aircraft shrapnel in June yet remained in command. On 28 August 1942, during his 600th combat mission near Mal-Rosowka in the Battle of Stalingrad, his Ju 87 was shot down by Soviet anti-aircraft fire; although he managed to bail out, his parachute failed to open and he was killed. Posthumously promoted to Major with effect from 1 August 1942, he was awarded the 117th Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 3 September 1942 as Major und Gruppenkommandeur of II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 in recognition of his 600 operational sorties.

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EYE WOUNDS


Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel Georg Gransee (1917-1945) was born on June 29th, 1917 in Berkenbrück/Pommerania, Germany, and served as a non-commissioned officer in the Heer during the Second World War, rising through the ranks from Obergefreiter on April 16th, 1941 to Unteroffizier, then Feldwebel on July 12th, 1943, and finally Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel der Reserve in 1944. Assigned to the 5. Panzer-Division, he fought primarily on the Eastern Front as a tank crewman and later as Zugführer of the 7./Panzer-Regiment 31. Early in the campaign he earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on May 6th, 1941 and the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on December 23rd, 1941, both as Obergefreiter, followed by the Medaille „Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42“, the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, the Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV. Klasse and the Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber. On September 19th, 1943, while serving as Feldwebel and Zugführer in the 7./Panzer-Regiment 31, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in recognition of his outstanding personal bravery and determined leadership of his panzer platoon during the heavy defensive and counter-attack fighting on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1943. Gransee remained with his regiment until he was killed in action on January 23rd, 1945 near Wartenberg/Silesia, Germany. His remains were never recovered or lie in an unknown grave; his name is entered in the memorial book of the German War Cemetery Groß Nädlitz at Nadolice Wielkie.



Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/06/album-foto-terluka-nazi-jerman.html

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Max Wünsche, Fritz Witt and Kurt Meyer


The last situation briefing at the command post of the 12. SS-Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" in Caen-Venoix on June 13-14, 1944. From left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 12), SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Fritz Witt (Kommandeur 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") and SS-Standartenführer Kurt Meyer (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25). It can be said that this is the last photo of Divisionskommandeur Witt, because on June 14, 1944, he was killed instantly by shrapnel from a cannon fired by British ships off the coast of Normandy. As his replacement, SS-Standartenführer Meyer was appointed. At the age of 33, Meyer was recorded as the youngest division commander in the entire Wehrmacht!



Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=&yearto=&query=kurt+meyer&page=2

Georg von Küchler with SS-Verfügungstruppe

Facing the camera, from left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Werner Ostendorff (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier SS-Verfügungstruppe Division), General der Artillerie Georg von Küchler (Oberbefehlshaber 18. Armee), and SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Kommandeur SS-Verfügungstruppe Division). This photo was taken between May 10 and 14, 1940, during the German invasion of the Netherlands. At that time, the SS-Verfügungstruppe was under the command of the 18th Army.




Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2018/06/foto-paul-hausser.html

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Georg Lindemann with Fritz von Scholz and Franz Augsberger


Soviet Union, May 1944. From left to right: Generaloberst Georg Lindemann (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Nord), SS-Brigadeführer Fritz von Scholz (Kommandeur 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland"), and SS-Oberführer Franz Augsberger (20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS [Estland Nr.1]).


Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Image-No.: 50061355
https://www.bpk-bildagentur.de/shop

Fegelein Brothers: Hermann and Waldemar


Two brothers who were also a Ritterkreuzträger. From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Waldemar Fegelein and SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Fegelein. They came from a family involved in equestrian activities in Ansbach, Bavaria. The brothers' careers were tied to the Nazi regime's elite SS circles, with family connections boosting Hermann's proximity to Hitler. Their father ran an equestrian school, which helped launch their early involvement in SS cavalry units.




Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=&yearto=&query=fegelein#

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

First Volkssturm Ritterkreuzträger Ernst Tiburzy

Ernst Tiburzy (1911-2004) was a battalion leader of the Volkssturm and the first Volkssturm soldier to be awarded with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. He destroyed 5 or 9 Soviet tanks (sources vary) during the Battle of Königsberg on February 10th, 1945, preventing a breakthrough into the city and was awarded for that. He was one of only four or five Volkssturm soldiers who received the Ritterkreuz.

The following newspaper excerpt (dated 3 March 1945) describes why Tiburzy was awarded the coveted medal:

“First Volkssturm Ritterkreuzträger:

The Bolsheviks had succeeded in achieving a penetration in the Königsberg area. In response a German Volkssturm Bataillon commander, SA-Hauptsturmführer Tiburzy (who had previously been badly wounded during the Eastern campaign), initiated a counterthrust at the head of a small shock troop. The Volkssturm managed to roll up the trench that had been occupied by the enemy with Panzerfausts and hand grenades. In the process Tiburzy destroyed 2 Soviet T-34s with Panzerfausts. Later, as the Soviets launched a new attack against the Volkssturm blocking position two days later with tanks and infantry, Tiburzy launched a counterattack with his Bataillon on his own initiative. In the fighting which followed he personally destroyed another 3 T-34s in close combat, and the situation was restored. For this reason the Hauptsturmführer was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes by the Führer.”






Source :
Die Deutsche Wochenschau No. 755 - 22 March 1945
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWxWY4rFhTg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/61903/Tiburzy-Ernst.htm

Sunday, January 7, 2024

After 20 July 1944

Hitler took a small walk with his "trusted people" in the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze (Rastenburg/East Prussia), the afternoon after the failed bomb attempt on 20 July 1944. From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), and Reichsleiter Martin Bormann (Leiter Parteikanzlei der NSDAP und Privatsekretär Führer und Reichskanzler). Behind Göring is SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Günsche (Persönlicher Adjutant Führer und Reichskanzler), while behind Hitler with a bandaged head is Generaloberst Alfred Jodl (Chef der Wehrmachtsführungsamt). Between Hitler and Bormann is Oberst Nicolaus von Below (Adjutant der Luftwaffe beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht). The three men chatting in the right corner are, from left to right: Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und Deutschen Polizei), SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Hermann Fegelein (Verbindungsoffizier zwischen dem Reichsführer-SS und dem Führerhauptquartier ), and Generaloberst Ferdinand Schörner (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Südukraine).



Reichsminister Dr.phil. Joseph Goebbels (left) chats with Generaloberst Alfred Jodl (Chef Wehrmacht-Führungsamt), while half-visible on the right is Generaloberst Ferdinand Schörner (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Südukraine). This photo was taken in the afternoon on 20 July 1944, just a few hours after the failed assassination attempt by Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze. Jodl himself was slightly injured in the head in the incident.


Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/09/album-foto-plot-20-juli-1944.html
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/27953/5d129355608ee73a1e66e787e58a02d9/
https://www.hitler-archive.com/photo.php?p=LIU8TbZm

Monday, January 1, 2024

Bio of Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (1892-1961)

Kurt-Jürgen Henning Bruno Robert Freiherr von Lützow

Date of Birth: 07.08.1892 - Marienwerder, Westpreußen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 20.07.1961 - Hannover, Niedersachsen (West Germany)
Buried: Stadtfriedhof Seelhorst, Hannover

Battles and Operations: Invasion of Poland (1939), Battle of France (1940), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Siege of Leningrad (1941-1942), Demyansk Pocket (1942), Operation Bagration (1944), and Bobruysk Offensive (1944)

Promotions:
20.01.1914 Leutnant
18.08.1917 Oberleutnant
01.04.1925 Hauptmann (17)
01.05.1934 Major (13)
01.10.1936 Oberstleutnant (12)
01.06.1939 Oberst (9)
01.01.1942 Generalmajor (7a)
21.01.1943 Generalleutnant mit RDA vom 01.01.1943 (32)

Career:
20.01.1914 1. Brandenburgisches Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "König Friedrich Wilhelm III" Nr. 8
00.00.1914 Adjutant I.Bataillon / Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "König Friedrich Wilhelm III" Nr. 8
03.05.1915 Chef 6.Kompanie / Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "König Friedrich Wilhelm III" Nr. 8
25.08.1915 Adjutant Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "König Friedrich Wilhelm III" Nr. 8
18.05.1917 Adjutant 10. Infanterie-Brigade
26.02.1918 Stabsoffizier of the Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres
30.09.1919 auxiliary officer with Wehrkreiskommando III
01.10.1920 Stabsoffizier in the 3. Division
01.11.1921 transferred to Reiter-Regiment 14
00.00.1922 Infanterie-Regiment 6 in Lübeck
01.04.1924 in 16.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 6 (Ratzeburg)
01.05.1925 Chef 15.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 6 (Ratzeburg)
01.05.1926 Chef 7.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 6 (Eutin)
01.05.1929 Chef 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 6 (Flensburg)
01.05.1932 Stabsoffizier Infanterie-Regiment 6 (Lübeck)
01.05.1933 Stabsoffizier II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 6 (Lübeck)
01.02.1935 Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 9 (Potsdam)
15.10.1935 Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 67 (Berlin)
01.04.1937 - 01.09.1939 Erster Adjutant Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen
12.10.1937 Stabsoffizier II.Armeekorps und Adjutant Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen
01.09.1939 - 09.02.1942 Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division
09.03.1942 - 11.07.1942 mit der Führung 12. Infanterie-Division beuaftragt
11.07.1942 - 25.06.1944 Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division
25.06.1944 - 05.07.1944 Kommandierender General XXXV. Armeekorps
05.07.1944 - 16.01.1956 in Soviet captivity

Awards and Decorations:
29.09.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
27.01.1915 Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militär-Verdienstkreuz I.Klasse
16.03.1916 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
24.11.1917 Ritterkreuz des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
17.05.1918 Ritterkreuz II.Klasse des Sächsische Albrechts-Orden mit Schwertern
07.10.1918 Turkish Ḥarp Madalyası (Eiserner Halbmond / Gallipoli Star)
19.10.1918 Österreichisches Militär-Verdienstkreuz III.Klasse
29.03.1934 Cruz del Mérito Militar de 1. Clasa con Distintivo Blanco (Spain)
01.01.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung II.Klasse (18 Jahre)
20.01.1939 Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung I.Klasse (25 Jahre)
00.00.193_ Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen (DRL-Sportabzeichen)
14.09.1939 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
13.10.1939 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
15.08.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #186, as Oberst and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Lützow received the Ritterkreuz “Oberst Freiherr von Lützow was previously wounded by a shell splinter during the Polish campaign, however at the time he nonetheless retained the leadership of his Regiment. Later, in France, he proved himself to be an outstanding leader wherever his Regiment found itself in action. In all these situations he led his Bataillone from the foremost line in an outstanding manner and without heed for the enemy artillery/infantry fire. His personal boldness and intervention in the combat were major factors that enabled his men to achieve their assigned tasks within a very short time and while sustaining only minimal losses. A prime example of this was during the attack across the Scarpe river at Monchy (east of Arras) on the 23.05.1940.”
21.10.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #37, as Oberst and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for his actions during Operation Barbarossa. After breaking through the Soviet border security lineeast of Schoßbach, Lützow led his Regiment in a 65 km march that reached the attack objective of Szeszupa. Later, during the attack on Kowno, he and his Regiment formed a bridgehead over the Njemen while capturing two forts despite having had to fight through bitter resistance by Soviet Kyrgyzstani and Tatar regiments. On the 15-16.07.1941 the Regiment especially distinguished itself near Putoschka. Finally, after hard fighting, the Regiment reached the line Nikitina—Kokotschina and from here were able to repel all tank-supported Soviet breakthrough attempts. This last victory was of special importance for securing the encirclement of several Soviet divisions near Newel.
10.11.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
00.07.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.00.194_ Demjankschild

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On the 20 January 1914, after Officer training in the Imperial Corps of Cadets, a young Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow joined his first unit (1st Brandenburg Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "King Friedrich Wilhelm III" No. 8) as a second lieutenant.

After the outbreak of WW1 von Lützow took up the position of adjutant of the 1st Battalion, on the 3rd May 1915 put in command of the 6th Company and on the 25th August 1915 appointed regimental adjutant.

On the 18th May 1917, von Lützow transferred to the 10th Infantry Brigade as adjutant, was promoted to first lieutenant on the 18th August 1917, and on the 26th February 1918 was transferred the staff of the Chief of the General Staff of the Army where he remained until the war’s end.

At the end of WWI, the forces of the German Empire had mostly split up, the men making their way home individually or in small groups. Many of them joined the Freikorps ("Free Corps"), a collection of volunteer paramilitary units that were involved in revolution and border clashes between 1918 and 1923.

The newly formed Weimar Republic did need a military though, and on 6 March 1919 a decree established the Vorläufige Reichswehr ("Provisional National Defence"), consisting of a Vorläufige Reichsheer ("Provisional National Army") and a Vorläufige Reichsmarine ("Provisional National Navy"). On 30 September 1919, the army was reorganized as the Übergangsheer ("Transitional Army"). About 400,000 men served in the armed forces. This lasted until 1 January 1921, when the Reichswehr was officially established according to the limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles (Articles 159 to 213).

Von Lützow continued his army career in the Transitional Army as an auxiliary officer with Wehrkreiskommando III until the 1st October 1920 when he was transferred to the staff of the 3rd Division.

The official establishment of the ‘Reichswehr’ saw von Lützow’s experience being used in the reorganization of various units.

On the 1st November 1921 he transferred to the 14th Cavalry Regiment (14./Reiter-Regiment) and a year later to the 6th Infantry Regiment in Lübeck where he stayed until 30th September 1934.

During his deployment with the 6th Infantry Regiment, he received promotion to Captain (1 April 1925) and given command of the 15th Company in Lauenburg (1st June 1924), 10th Company in Flensburg (1st February 1929) and in April 1932 appointed to the Staff of the 2nd Battalion, Lübeck where he was promoted to Major on the 1st May 1934.

A year later von Lützow was transferred to the newly formed Infantry Regiment 67 and put in command of the 3rd Battilion.

On the 1st October 1936 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and on 1st April 1937 was transferred to the ’Generalkommando des II. Armeekorps’ as Adjutant to Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen.

During his time as Adjutant to von Mackensen, von Lützow received his promotion to Colonel (1st June 1939) and on the 26th August 1939 took over command of Infantry Regiment 89 (12. Infantry-Division - Schwerin) from Colonel Alexander von Zülow.

In September 1939, The 12th Division was mobilized and entered Poland as part of Armeekorps 'Wodrig' of Generalleutnant von Kuchler's 3rd Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord.

von Lützow’s Infantry Regiment served with distinction during the Polish Campaign in the North and the battles around Warsaw.

In the spring of 1940 the Division prepared for the Western Campaign.  On the 10th May the Division moved into Belgium as part of 2nd Armeekorps of the 4th Armee where it was involved in the plan devised by Generalmajor von Manstein known as 'Sikelschnitt’ (Sickle Cut) which divided the French and British forces as they moved through Belgium forcing the British Expeditionary Force to the coast at Dunkirk.

von Lützow’s Regiment were operational in the arm that swept round the Allied force, and were instrumental in preventing a desperate attempt by the French to punch through and rescue their beleaguered allies. The Division marched on after Dunkirk and reached the coast of Biscay in the Vendee before France signed an armistice.

On the 15th August 1940, von Lützow was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes  (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) for his distinguished service in the Polish and Western Campaigns.

The 12th Infantry Division remained in the West as part of the occupying forces until the 25th May 1941 when it was moved to East Prussia.

On the 22nd June 1941 the Division, as part of Second Armeekorp of the sixteenth army, Heeresgruppe Nord marched into Lithuania, and so started the largest invasion in the history of warfare, “Operation Barbarossa”

Crossing the Niemen River the division captured Kaunas (Kovno) and reached the Dvina on 2nd July. In early August the division approached the area of Kholm and following a series of heavy engagements there and in the Valdia Hills it reached the source of the Volga River south of the Demyansk in mid-September.

On the 21st October 1941 von Lützow was awarded ‘Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub’ (The Oak Leaves to Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) which was not only a great honour for von Lützow, being the first army officer to receive the award, but for his regiment and division as well.

On the 17th December 1941, von Lützow was promoted to Major General and in January 1942 took over command of the 12th Infantry Division from Generalleutnant Walter von Seydlitz-Kurzbach.

On the 1st November 1943, he received a promotion to Lieutenant General, and on the 25th June 1944 was given command of the XXXV.Corps of the 9th Army during the time of the ‘Babruysk Offensive’.

By June 27, Soviet forces were converging near Babruysk, trapping the five divisions of Ninth Army's northernmost corps, von Lützow's XXXV Corps, east of the Berezina. Elements of the central XXXXI Panzer Corps were also trapped, along with the 20th Panzer Division. The disorganised German divisions commenced a series of desperate attempts to escape the pocket, which stretched for several miles along the river's eastern bank: the Soviets reported large fires on 27 June as the Germans destroyed their heavy equipment and attempted to break out, but Soviet air attack and artillery inflicted appalling casualties on the encircled forces. In the meantime, Hitler had relieved General Hans Jordan of command due to his confusing instructions to 20th Panzer; Ninth Army was dealt another blow when its main communications headquarters was destroyed by bombing. On the following day, reinforcements arrived behind German lines in the form of 12th Panzer Division, whose commander was greeted by Ninth Army's chief of staff with the words "Good to see you — Ninth Army no longer exists!"

On the 5th July 1944, von Lützow, along with the remnants of his shattered XXXV Corps were finally taken prisoner by the Red Army on the east bank of the river Berezina.




Young Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow as a Hauptmann in the 1920s. He is wearing Reichswehr uniform with three Imperial awards: ribbon of 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (29 September 1914), 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (16 March 1916) and the ribbon of Ritterkreuz des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern (24 November 1917).



Oberst Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division) with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 15 August 1940. The following wartime excerpt (dated 30 August 1940) describes why Lützow received the Ritterkreuz: “Oberst Freiherr von Lützow was previously wounded by a shell splinter during the Polish campaign, however at the time he nonetheless retained the leadership of his Regiment. Later, in France, he proved himself to be an outstanding leader wherever his Regiment found itself in action. In all these situations he led his Bataillone from the foremost line in an outstanding manner and without heed for the enemy artillery/infantry fire. His personal boldness and intervention in the combat were major factors that enabled his men to achieve their assigned tasks within a very short time and while sustaining only minimal losses. A prime example of this was during the attack across the Scarpe river at Monchy (east of Arras) on 23 May 1940.”



Generalmajor Walther von Sedlitz-Kurzbach (left, Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division) and Oberst Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division). The picture was probably taken during Unternehmen Barbarossa, 1941, when the division became a part of 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord. It took part in the capture of Latvian city of Daugavpils, sweeping north-eastward to Leningrad where it was finally stopped in its tracks during the siege effort.



Generaloberst Ernst Busch (left, Oberbefehlshaber 16. Armee) and Oberst Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division) studying a map somewhere in the Eastern Front, 11 August 1941. Original caption: "Siegreiche deutsche Heerführer im Osten. Der Oberkommandierende einer Armeegruppe Generaloberst Busch bei einer Besprechung mit Oberst von Lützow" (Victorious German military leaders in the East: The commander-in-chief of an army group, Colonel General Busch, at a meeting with Colonel von Lützow).


Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) at Eichenlaub award ceremony for Oberst Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division) which were held at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, on 26 October 1941. This picture was taken by unknown photographer from Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann and was published by 'Berliner Morgenpost' on 4 January 1942. Oberst Lützow received the Eichenlaub #37 for his Ritterkreuz on 21 October 1941 for his actions during Operation Barbarossa. After breaking through the Soviet border security lineeast of Schoßbach, Lützow led his Regiment in a 65 km march that reached the attack objective of Szeszupa. Later, during the attack on Kowno, he and his Regiment formed a bridgehead over the Njemen while capturing two forts despite having had to fight through bitter resistance by Soviet Kyrgyzstani and Tatar regiments. On the 15-16 July 1941 the Regiment especially distinguished itself near Putoschka. Finally, after hard fighting, the Regiment reached the line Nikitina—Kokotschina and from here were able to repel all tank-supported Soviet breakthrough attempts. This last victory was of special importance for securing the encirclement of several Soviet divisions near Nevel.



A picture of young Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow with added Ritterkreuz. This picture was published in August 1942 with original caption: "Generalmajor von Lützow - 60 Jahre.
Generalmajor Freiherr von Lützow, dem der Führer als 37.Soldaten der deutschen Wehrmacht und Kommandeur eines Infanterie-Regimentes das Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes verliehen hatte, begeht am 7.August seinen 60. Geburtstag" (Major General von Lützow - 60 years.
Major General Freiherr von Lützow, to whom the Führer awarded the Oak Leaves for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as the 37th soldier of the German Wehrmacht and commander of an infantry regiment, celebrates his 60th birthday on August 7th).


Oberst Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow as Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division, possibly in the autumn of 1941.



Oberst Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow as Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division, possibly in the autumn of 1941.



Private portrait of Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (center) on the Eastern Front with two of his staff officers. Notice the Eichenlaub in wear and the very tired look on his face! Von Lützow was awarded the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz on 21 October 1941 while still commanding the Infanterie-Regiment 89. Little later he would be promoted into the General ranks and assume command of the 12. Infanterie-Division.



Generalmajor Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division) with a wounded hand in sling, April 1942. The text in the back of the photo reads: "General von Lützow, Oberst Blom, Leutnant Fenner, and Hauptmann von Horn."



Generalmajor Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division) in the Eastern Front, 1942. During the early months of 1942, the II. Armeekorps was subject to a Soviet counteroffensive to relieve Leningrad, resulting in five army divisions (the 12th, included) and the SS-Totenkopf division being encircled along with several other elements of the 16. Armee in the Demyansk Pocket. With support from Hermann Göring, planes containing supplies were flown in to aid the divisions while they were in the pocket for some 81 days between 8 February and 20 March 1942. Göring would later gloat about his success in freeing the pocket during the Battle of Stalingrad later that year when a similar airlift concept was applied. While liberated, the 12th Infantry had left the pocket in a much-weakened state.



Generalmajor Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division) after crossing the river, somewhere in the Eastern Front.



Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandierender General XXXV. Armeekorps) after being captured by the Soviets, July 1944.



Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandierender General XXXV. Armeekorps) after being captured by the Soviets, July 1944.



Parade of high ranking Wehrmacht officers captured by the Red Army during Operation Bagration (also known as "Parade of the Vanquished" or "Operation Big Waltz"), which was held on the streets of Moscow on Monday, 17 July 1944. Approximately 57,000 German soldiers and officers from Heeresgruppe Mitte (most of whom were captured by Soviet troops from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Belorussian Fronts) were ordered to march through the Sadovoye Koltso (Garden Ring) and other main streets of the Soviet capital. This photo shows the parade starting point at Begovaya railway station. From left to right: 1.Generalleutnant Vincenz Müller (Kommandierender General XII. Armeekorps), 2.Generalleutnant Rudolf Bamler (Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division), 3.General der Infanterie Paul Völckers (Kommandierender General XXVII. Armeekorps), 4.Generalleutnant Walter Heyne (Kommandeur 6. Infanterie-Division), 5.Generalleutnant Adolf Hamann (Kommandant Festung Bobruisk), 6.Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl von Steinkeller (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle”), 7.General der Infanterie Friedrich Gollwitzer (Kommandierender General LIII. Armeekorps), 7a.Generalleutnant Hermann Böhme (Kommandeur 73. Infanterie-Division), 8.Generalmajor Gustav Gihr (Kommandeur 707. Infanterie-Division), 9.Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandierender General XXXV. Armeekorps), and 10.Generalmajor Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff (Kommandant Festung Mogilev). Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.



The Parade of the Vanquished (Russian: Парад побеждëнных), also known as The Defeat Parade (Russian: Парад поражения), was a march of German prisoners of war on 17 July 1944 in Moscow. The parade was a result of the ongoing Operation Bagration on the Eastern Front, during World War II. Large numbers of German troops were held captive by the Soviets, and the operation was considered a turning point in the war and represented the largest losses of German troops. Approximately 57,000 captured troops were chosen, organized and paraded in Moscow. These men were among the most healthy to make the march as close to half of the total losses for Germany during the operation came from 160,000 troops dying on the march to Soviet prison camps. The parade was used by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to demonstrate the success of the operation.



NKFD (National Committee for a Free Germany) 14th session in Moscow, October 1944. Minute of silence to honour the deceased Wilhelm Florin. From left to right: Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow, Erich Weinert, Generalleutnant Edmund Hoffmeister, General der Artillerie Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach, unknown, Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Paulus, and Generalleutnant Vincenz Müller. The National Committee for a Free Germany (German: Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland, or NKFD) was a German anti-Nazi organisation that operated in the Soviet Union during World War II.



8 December 8th 1944: Co-signer of the appeal 'To the people and the Wehrmacht' of the Bundes Deutscher Offiziere (BDO, Federation of German Officers) in the National Committee "Freies Deutschland" (NKFD, Free Germany). It was a German anti-Nazi organization that operated in the Soviet Union during World War II, with members mostly came from German officers and generals in captivity. The identification (with their last rank and position) as follow: 1.Generalleutnant Vincenz Müller (Kommandierender General XII. Armeekorps), 2.Generalmajor Joachim Engel (Kommandeur 45. Infanterie-Division), 3.Generalleutnant Hans Traut (Kommandeur 78. Sturm-Division), 4.Generalmajor Günther Klammt (Kommandeur 260. Infanterie-Division), 5.Generalmajor Alexander Conrady (Kommandeur 36. Infanterie-Division), 6.Generalmajor Herbert Michaelis (Kommandeur 95. Infanterie-Division), 7.Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl von Steinkeller (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle"), 8.Generalmajor Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff (Kommandeur "Festung Mogilev"), 9.General der Infanterie Friedrich Gollwitzer (Kommandierender General LIII. Armeekorps), 10.Generalleutnant Rudolf Bamler (Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division), 11.Generalmajor Claus Mueller-Bülow (Kommandeur 246. Infanterie-Division), 12.Generalmajor Adolf Trowitz (Kommandeur 57. Infanterie-Division), 13.Generalmajor Aurel Schmidt (Höherer Pionierführer 10 / 9.Armee), 14.General der Infanterie Paul Völckers (Kommandierender General XXVII.Armeekorps), and 15.Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandierender General XXXV. Armeekorps).



The painting of Eichenlaubträger Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow by Wolfgang Willrich (31 March 1897 – 18 October 1948), a German artist of the 20th century, who created propaganda art during the time of Nazi Germany. In 1933, Willrich was employed by the Nazi government, for which he drew art depicting idealized racial standards and portraits of soldiers and party officials.



Source :
Fakatona photo collection
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/09/daftar-generalleutnant-heer-letnan.html
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/?q=l%C3%BCtzow&mode=gallery&view=horizontal
http://www.cimilitaria.com/wolfgram.htm
https://crainsmilitaria.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2072
https://en.topwar.ru/171615-svobodnaja-germanija-gitlerovcy-protiv-fjurera.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&keywords=j%C3%BCrgen+von+l%C3%BCtzow
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/hitler-adolf-20-04-1889-politician-nsdap-germany-colonel-news-photo/543922549
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/L/LuetzowKJv-R.htm
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Kurt-J%C3%BCrgen_Freiherr_von_L%C3%BCtzow
http://shop.photos-of-the-past.com/2nd-Worldwar/Medals-and-awards/Ritterkreuztraeger-des-Heeres-General-Kurt-Juergen-Freiherr-von-Luetzow-in-Demjansk-Kommandeur-der-12-Infanterie-Division::4336.html?language=en
http://sylviolassance.blogspot.com/2013/07/lutzow-kurt-jurgen-von-0708189220071961.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34934/L%C3%BCtzow-Freiherr-von-Kurt-J%C3%BCrgen.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027113001fw_/http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant2/LUETZOW_KURT-JUERGEN.html
https://www.weitze.com/militaria/45/Wehrmacht_Heer_Originalunterschrift_und_widmung_von_nbsp_Eichenlaub_zum_Ritterkreuz_des_Eisernen_Kreuzes_Traeger_Generalleutnant_Kurt_Juergen_Freiherr_von_Luetzow__428245.html

Monday, December 25, 2023

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Franz Bredemeyer


Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Feldwebel Franz Bredemeyer (Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 156 / 16.Panzergrenadier-Division) which were held at the Lazarett in August/September 1943. Awarded the medal is Generalleutnant Gerhard Graf von Schwerin (Kommandeur 16. Panzergrenadier-Division).


Franz Bredemeyer (12 October 1913 - 13 February 1985) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 August 1943 as Feldwebel and Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 156 / 16.Panzergrenadier-Division. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself during the major defensive battles around Ssemenowskij in the time period 23-25 July 1943. During this period he managed to master seemingly hopeless battlefield situations on two occasions, and by doing so he significantly contributed to the successful German defense to contain the Soviets along the Mius river. The first time was when he prevented an armoured breakthrough via a counterthrust that he led at the head of a few Panzergrenadiers. The second was when he held his position despite being attacked on all sides until a friendly counterattack restored the situation.

Two days after being awarded the Ritterkreuz on 23 August 1943, Bredemeyer was seriously wounded for the fifth time since 1940 and transferred to Haupt-Verbandplatz 51 behind the frontline. There his lower leg is amputated. Shortly afterwards, Generalleutnant Gerhard Graf von Schwerin (Kommandeur 16. Panzergrenadier-Division) handed him the medal in the hospital. The award ceremony was shown in the 'Deutsche Wochenschau' (German Newsweek Reel)  Nr.680 which were published on 15 September 1943.



Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28674/Bredemeyer-Franz.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20110105171709fw_/http://ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/B/Br/Bredemeyer-Franz.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PsLnKV96Qg

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Rudolf von Ribbentrop and Kurt Meyer in Kharkov


SS-Untersturmführer Rudolf von Ribbentrop (arm in sling) and SS-Obersturmbannführer Kurt Meyer (with binoculars behind Ribbentrop, Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") during the Battle of Kharkov, second week of February 1943. That month Ribbentrop arrived in sector near Kharkov and fought with Meyer in his battle group. At the start of the battle Ribbentrop was a Zugführer of 1.Zug in 6.Kompanie / II.Abeilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", but on 3 March 1943 he was promoted as Führer of 6.Kompanie in the same Abteilung after SS-Untersturmführer Rolf Janke got wounded. This image itself is a snapshot from the "1943-02-xx-Descheg-monatsschau Nr.1218" propaganda reel.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=205532&hilit=rudolf+ribbentrop

Max Wünsche and Rudolf von Ribbentrop at Rots after the Failed HJ Offensive


SS-Obersturmführer Rudolf von Ribbentrop (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") is in the sidecar of a BMW R75 while driving the motorcycle is SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") who are going back to the regiment headquarters. In the background are the Panzergrenadiers from III. Zug of 15.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25. Far right is SS-Oberschütze Klaus Schuh, while fourth from right is SS-Sturmmann Otto Funk. This picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Siegfried Woscidlo after both men visited the members of Ribbentrop's company and also soldiers from III.Zug / 15.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 in Rots who just survived the failed attack against the Canadian 2nd Armored Brigade at Norrey-en-Bessin, Normandy, 9 June 1944. the 3rd Company was ambushed by the British army on the way to attack, damaging 7 tanks. Note that Ribbentrop and Wünsche were both wounded. Wünsche received his wound on that day, 9 June, while Ribbentrop since 4 June 1944, two days before D-Day, which made him could not take part in the joint attack carried out by his company.


At the end of the morning of 9 June 1944, an attack was planned to seize the Norrey village (tu dois surement connaitre,camarade normand!) as a starting point for a future offensive of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" up North. The attack was made by the 3rd Panzer-Kompanie of the HJ (strength 12 Panthers), temporarily commanded by Heer officer Hauptmann Lüdemann (who replaced SS-Obersturmführer Rudolf von Ribbentrop, son of the Foreign Affairs Minister, who was wounded and in a hospital). III.Zug of the 15.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 was going to provide the accompanying infantry. At around 09:00 hours the 3./SS-Pz.Rgt.12 rumbled through Rots towards la Villeneuve on the Caen-Bayeux highway. The attack was to be in conjunction with infantry attack from the I Battalion of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 south of the village.

Just after noon, Twelve Panthers fanned out in a single line at a right angle to the rail embankment. Approaching the village the company swung left keeping in a solid line with their fronts towards the village in anticipation of confronting the Canadian anti-tank guns. However, nine Sherman tanks from the Canadian 1st Hussars including several "Fireflys" equipped with 17 pdrs, were moving towards the front to reinforce the Reginas' position in Norrey. The majority of the Sherman tanks were navigating through the village, but one Firefly, commanded by Lt G. K. Henry, had worked his way around the village to the front where he spotted the advancing Panthers. Catastrophically for the 3rd Panzerkompanie, their swing to the left, though protecting them from the 6-pounders in Norrey, exposed their flanks to Lt Henry at not more than 1000 metres distance. The Canadian tank opened fire hitting the tank nearest the rail-line first. Incredibly Lt Henry fired five shots and knocked out five Panthers. A sixth was accounted for by another “C” squadron tank. The crews from the burning Panthers along with their supporting infantry retreated back to an underpass where Canadian artillery began to pound the area inflicting even more casualties. In all, they all fell in an ambush by 6 Sherman Tanks and 2 or 4 well-camouflaged 6 pounds canadians antitanks guns, also infantry with PIATs.

The attack of the I Battalion, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 never materialized leaving the assault a complete failure.

7 Panthers were destroyed on the spot. 3rd Panzer-Kompanie lost 16 dead, 17 severely wounded and one prisoner (SS tankist Werner Uhr who lost a leg). The infantry platoon fell under artillery fire. Tanks and infantry retreated to the village of La Villeneuve where the wounded were regrouped in a bar. The wounded tankists were burning alive, their skins hanging down from flesh and bones, some enclosed in a strange silence while others screaming histerically. In the bar, some mechanics of the Panzer-Regiment 12 rubbed them with motor oil (it's a wonderful balsam for burns!). The older ones learned this front recipe in the Eastern Front.

It seems that most of the Panthers, despite their heavy armour, exploded easily (under the relatively ''small'' calibers of Sherman and antitank guns- wich normally bounced on the Panther armour) because their gas-tank was half full, wich accumulated gas steam.

Leopold Heindl, an Austrian, was the radioman of Panther 315. They get hit in the tracks and comeback with their tank on half wheels.

Not far from there, SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") and SS-Obersturmführer Rudolf von Ribbentrop (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") - wounded with a broken arm and who had just escaped from the hospital to comeback to his company - had observed the situation. Both were nearly in tears.

After visiting the wounded men in the bar, Wünsche and von Ribbentrop, on a side-car BMW R75 bike, visited the survivors of the 3rd platoon of 15.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25, who are now resting in a small road. This is where the pictures was taken, during a reportage of SS-Kriegsberichter Friedrich Zschäckel and Wilfried Woscidlo.

Note: After the failed attack, Hauptmann Lüdemann suffered a nervous break down. He was killed in action 5 days later and von Ribbentrop regained command of the 3rd Panzer-Kompanie.



SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") on a visit to members of III.Zug from 15.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" who just survived the failed attack against the Canadian 2nd Armored Brigade at Norrey-en-Bessin, Normandy, on 9 June 1944. From left to right: SS-Unterscharführer Peter Koslowski, unknown, Wünsche (back to the camera with a bandage on his head), SS-Oberschütze Klaus Schuh, SS-Sturmmann Otto Funk (at the far back), SS-Hauptscharführer Wilhelm Boigk, and SS-Obersturmführer Rudolf von Ribbentrop (half-visible, Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"). Wünsche got injured in the head in the same day this pic was taken. When he was watching the Panthers from the 1st and 4th companies under his command in Villeneuve de Rot who had just returned from the attack on Bretteville, suddenly a mortar shells hits the front of one of the Panthers. One of the fragment from the explosion injured Wünsche in the head and even rendered him unconscious. Another officer on the scene, SS-Obersturmführer Jürgen Chemnitz (1. Kompanie), was hit from head to toe by the same shrapnel, while SS-Untersturmführer Nehrlich from the Stab of SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 was seriously injured and died on the way to the hospital. Wünsche's injury was light, so he had only his wounds dressed and he never left the Regiment. Photo by SS-Kriegsberichter Wilfried Woscidlo.



Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/10/foto-12-ss-panzer-division-hitlerjugend.html
https://www.facebook.com/worldwarincolor/photos/ss-obersturmbannf%C3%BChrer-max-w%C3%BCnsche-with-the-bandaged-head-rgt-komm-of-ss-pzrgt-1/823898601073267/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43033214@N07/5341240983/
https://twitter.com/WWIIpix/status/1137657059804176385/photo/1
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/68385806

Monday, December 4, 2023

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Harmel and Baum


From left to right: SS-Standartenführer Heinz Harmel (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment "Deutschland" / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"), SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Baum (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 “Totenkopf” / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf"), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), and Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und deutschen Polizei). The picture was taken in October 1943 during the Eichenlaub award ceremony for Harmel and Baum, which were held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia. Harmel formally received the Eichenlaub #296 on 7 September 1943, while Baum received the Eichenlaub #277 on 22 August 1943. In this picture, you can see the bandage still wrapped around Harmel's injured neck, a wound he received on the battlefield on 2 October 1943. This photo itself was taken from the book "On the Field of Honor: A History of the Knight's Cross Bearers" by John R. Angolia.


Source :
"On the Field of Honor: A History of the Knight's Cross Bearers" by John R. Angolia
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/foto-adolf-hitler-di-tahun-1943.html

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Erwin Meierdrees and Comrade during Convalescence


From left to right: SS-Obersturmführer Richard Pauly (Adjutant Divisionskommandeur SS-Division "Totenkopf") and SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Führer Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division "Totenkopf"). The picture was possibly taken in the spring of 1942 when both men were wounded during the battles in Demyansk Pocket. After convalescence, Meierdrees was posted for a short time at SS-Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment in München. The skull cuffband wore by Meierdrees represented the SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 1 "Oberbayern", not limited to the Concentration Camp guards. The SS-TS "Oberbayern" itself was stationed at the Dachau Complex, and the members of that Standarte was, before the war, regularly serving in the KZ as Guards. the other time of their time at SS-T.St. Oberbayern they had regular military training. The division name on the cuffband was introduced in 1942 and the band with skull was only for ex-members of TS-''Oberbayern''. They were entitled to wear it even after the unit ceased to exist. The men that formed the SS-Kavallerie-Division originated from the SS-Totenkopf-Kavallerie-Standarte 1 and 2. These men were cavalry and not KL guards. Although the skull collar tab changed (from facing left to facing down) for the division, officers and men continued to wear the double SS-TV collar tabs, some to include both collars, as well as the skull cuffband throughout the war, as clearly shown in this picture.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=49725&hilit=meierdress

New Ritterkreuzträger Erwin Meierdrees


New Ritterkreuzträger SS-Obersturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Führer Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division 'Totenkopf') in a series of picture taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Dürr, April 1942. He was presented with the Ritterkreuz on 13 March 1942 by Generaloberst Ernst Busch while still in convalescence in the hospital. Meierdrees was awarded the Ritterkreuz in recognition of his courage and resourcefulness while encircled near Bjakowo, Demyansk Pocket. The SS newspaper 'Das Schwarze Korps' published a story on his actions.


Early in the winter of 1941, the German advance in the Soviet Union had ground to a halt. Totenkopf, as part of Army Group North’s 16th Army, stabilized in the region of Lake Valdai-Lake Ilmen-Stara Russa-Demyansk. It appeared the months of action had taken their toll and the units could advance no further. Some desultory action took place over November and December when a massive attack in early February cut off some six German divisions, including Totenkopf in the so-called Demyansk pocket. A massive Luftwaffe airlift was mounted while the Fuhrer issued a “No Retreat” order both in January 1941 and later in February.

It is against this backdrop Meierdrees earned his Ritterkreuz in Bjakowo, a small village some 50km southeast of Staraya Russa and 50km northwest of Demyansk. On the 30th of January 1942, Meierdrees was ordered to relieve Kampfgruppe Saumenicht, in the Jaswy region. Meierdrees headed in this direction with his Sturmgeschütze, resting in Ramuschewo, another small village, for the night. The following morning, however, the village was attacked by the Russians, and Meierdrees and his outfit only barely were able to escape. Some way further down the road, Meierdrees discovered a small village, Bjakowo. This village was small, elongated, and located on a small hill. It was manned by a small security detachment. It was here that Meierdrees decided to fortify. The total sum of the available men were some ninety men, Meierdrees’ StuGs and several 10.5cm guns.

The enemy attacks began almost immediately; a general pattern of alternating between fierce infantry and armour attacks, and artillery attacks, was observed. While Bjakowo was on a hill, nearby forests that reached almost into the village entrances themselves gave the Russians plenty of cover. Attacks were almost continuous until the 19th of February; by now, the defenders were running out of ammunition, while almost no buildings or trees had been left standing.

The defenders were granted a few days respite while the Russians focused attacks on the nearby Kobykino, while Meierdrees hoped he could break out and link up with Sturmbannführer Kleffner in Wassiljewschtschwka. By this stage, his hope was Kleffner could break through to him. Further attacks took place, while Meierdrees constantly radioed for supplies, which were duly dropped in the Bjakowo vicinity, giving his men some much-needed supplies. After a failed large attack on the 10th of March from the West, North and North East of the village, the Russians requested the surrender of the defenders on the 11th. Meierdrees was severely wounded the next day and was flown out by Fieseler Storch on the 13th. After his injury, Meierdrees’ men were placed under the command of Kleffner. On the 18th, the survivors break out and some eighty-five men reached friendly lines, of which only sixteen were not wounded. For his heroic leadership, Erwin Meierdrees was recommended for the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes by Eicke and received the award on the 13th of March 1942.





Source :
Konstantinos Laios photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/groups/691098008051629/?multi_permalinks=1412885159206240&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen
http://livinghistory.ru/topic/88498-liudi-litca-sobytiia-panzerwaffe/page-32
http://sylviolassance.blogspot.com/2013/11/meierdress-hubert-erwin-1112191602011945.html
https://www.warhats.com/store/p1078/Waffen-SS-Panzer-Officers-Cap-Pink-Piping-Gaberdine-Aged.html#/