Bio of Oberleutnant Otto Ude (1911-1987)

Otto Ude

Date of Birth: 12.08.1911 - Einbeck, Hannover (German Empire)
Date of Death: 13.12.1987

Promotions:
00.00.19__ Oberwachtmeister
00.00.194_ Leutnant
00.00.194_ Oberleutnant

Career:
00.00.194_ Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 Jahre)
21.07.1941 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
29.08.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
10.10.1941 Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen
30.09.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (for wounds received on 18.09.1942)
11.10.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (for the third wound received on 06.10.1942)
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
15.01.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper excerpt (dated 29.01.1943) describes why Ude was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “Oberwachtmeister Ude successfully defended a strongpoint near Lake Ilmen with a handful of soldiers.”
07.08.1943 Nahkampfspange in Bronze (for 15 days of close-combat)
09.09.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (for the fifth wound received on 28.08.1943)

From the personal photo album of Otto Ude.

From the personal photo album of Otto Ude.

Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude in a studio photo taken in Kurt Julius Photo Werkstätte, Hannover, Georgstrasse 24.

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division). The medal was awarded by Generalleutnant Thomas-Emil von Wickede (Kommandeur 30. Infanterie-Division). Ude formally received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 January 1943. The following newspaper excerpt (dated 29 January 1943) describes why Ude was awarded the medal: “Oberwachtmeister Ude successfully defended a strongpoint near Lake Ilmen with a handful of soldiers.”

Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude in a studio photo taken in Kurt Julius Photo Werkstätte, Hannover, Georgstrasse 24.

Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude.



Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (center) with comrades.


Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (right) with comrade, possibly his Company commander.



Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (center) with comrades.

Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (center) with comrades in a happy mood.

Dr.phil. Joseph Goebbels (Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda) receiving a Wehrmacht combat group from the Demyansk pocket in Berlin, 4 May 1943. The Ritterkreuzträger with him is Major Otto Benzin (Führer Grenadier-Regiment 89 / 12.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 31 December 1941), while other Ritterkreuzträger in the background is Oberwachtmeister Otto Ude (Zugführer in 1.Schwadron / Radfahr-Abteilung 30 / 30.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943). Standing at right is Generalleutnant Paul von Hase (Stadtkommandant von Berlin). Other pictures from the same occasion can be seen HERE.



Otto Ude signature.

Oberleutnant Otto Ude.




Medals and decorations of Otto Ude (front and back). Other pictures from this grouping can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auctions/78-752749
https://www.ca-collecting.com/shop/de/photos-ritterkreuztraeger-heer/ude-otto-42685.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154701007577
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/u.html
https://www.team-militaria.de/2x-Fotoportrait-Ritterkreuztraeger-Otto-Ude-1-Radfahr-Abteilung-30
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/40781/Ude-Otto.htm
https://war-relics.com/product/smgm-3604-otto-ude-knights-cross-winner-signatures-w-note-from-wife-to-emilie-caldwell-stewart/
https://www.wolfganghistorica.com/product/otto-ude-radfahr-abteilung-30-30-infanterie-division/

Richard Schimpf in Normandy

Three views by Kriegsberichter Hermann Czirnich of Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf pictured while commanding the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division in Contances, St. Lo (Normandy), during June-July 1944. Note the unique 7.92mm FG42 paratrooper rifle with its side-mounted 20-round magazine slung over his back. In these views, Schimpf is wearing the Luftwaffe "splinter" pattern camouflage smock and the unit badge of the II. Fallschirm-Korps, also known as the Meindl badge, pinned to the left side of his M43 field cap.

3. Fallschirmjäger-Division were placed at the disposal of Generaloberst Friedrich Dollmann’s 7. Armee in France in May of 1944. General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl’s II. Fallschirmkorps oversaw the formation and training of the new 3. and 5. Fallschirmjäger-Divisions. Soon after the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944, the II. Fallschirmkorps with the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division and the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” deployed from Brittany to counter U.S. forces in the area of St. Lô. Following an unsuccessful effort to recapture Carentan in mid-June, Meindl’s corps remained heavily engaged with American forces in the St. Lô sector for the next two months. With the German 5. Panzerarmee and 7. Armee almost completely encircled at Falaise by the advancing American and Anglo-Canadian-Polish forces, the remnants of Meindl’s corps desperately held open a narrow corridor that allowed thousands of German troops to escape. On the night of 19-20 August 1944, Meindl and his chief of staff, Oberst Ernst Blauensteiner, each led an assault group formed from the remnants of the 3. Fallschirmjäger Division, the 7. Armee staff and a few Waffen-SS tanks in a last chance bid to escape from the Falaise Pocket. On 20 August 1944 Schimpf was Severely wounded in the leg by a 20mm shell during the breakout from the Falaise Pocket in Normandy, and hospitalized until 5 January 1945. Following a brief period during which General der Fallschirmtruppe Meindl exercised direct control of the remnants of the 3. Fallschirmjäger Division, formal command passed to Generalmajor Walter Wadehn on 1 September 1944.

 

Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?topicid=dcx-thes_fotograf_779xk33vg46qjdsu6kc&page=1#
http://www.specialcamp11.co.uk/Generalleutnant%20Dipl%20Ing%20Richard%20Schimpf%20(Luftwaffe).htm

Reinhard Suhren with His Lucky Charm

 

An interesting photo showing Kapitänleutnant Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren (Kommandant U-564) with a beards on his face. This photo was taken on 6 June 1942, when Suhren and U-564 had just returned from a successful patrol mission in the coastal waters of the United States. In his neck was a red scarf that had been embroidered by his beloved mother. Suhren considered it a lucky charm, and almost never let it go when he was on patrol in the ocean!

Source :
"U-Boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary Of U-564" by Lawrence Paterson