Ritterkreuz Actions of Heinz Greiner

Heinrich "Heinz" Greiner (12 August 1895 - 19 November 1977) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 22 September 1941 as Oberst and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 499 / 268.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for distinguishing himself during the defensive battles in the Yelnya pocket in 1941. The regiment he led were responsible for preventing a complete Soviet encirclement in the Yelnya Offensive, during which Greiner, for his stiff, hold-out defense of Wehrmacht forces evacuating the salient, earned the nickname the "Lion of Yelnya" from his soldiers.

Greiner received the Eichenlaub #572 for his Ritterkreuz on 5 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 362. Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for his outstanding command of a Kampfgruppe composed of Heer and Fallschirmjäger troops in the area Velletri—Valmontone (on the Anzio front). His unit repelled a total of 38 Allied attacks on both sides of Velletri through either a successful initial defense or via immediate counterthrusts against hostile penetrations. The Wehrmachtbericht aired on 2 June 1944 mentioned his name as follows: "In diesem Frontabschnitt haben sich die 65. Infanteriedivison unter Generalleutnant Pfeiffer, die durch Teile der 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision verstärkte 3. Panzergrenadierdivision unter Generalmajor Hecker und eine aus Einheiten des Heeres und der Fallschirmtruppe zusammengestellte Kampfgruppe unter Generalleutnant Greiner, hervorragend unterstützt durch Artillerie und durch Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe, besonders ausgezeichnet." (In this section of the front have the 65th Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Pfeiffer, augmented by parts of the 4th Airborne Division which reinforced the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division under Major General Hecker and units from the Army and the parachute troops assembled combat group under Lieutenant General Greiner, well supported by artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe, particularly distinguished themselves)

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/heinz-greiner_CD04AECA6C
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Heinz_Greiner
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/35945/Greiner-Heinrich-Heinz.htm

Wilhelm List and Hans von Greiffenberg

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm List (Oberbefehlshaber 12. Armee) and Generalmajor Hans von Greiffenberg (Chef des Generalstabes 12. Armee). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Theodor Scheerer in April 1941. The two generals were photographed in front of the aircraft hangar in Greece.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=list+greiffenberg&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

Ritterkreuz Action of Heinrich-Anton Deboi

Heinrich-Anton Deboi (6 April 1893 - 5 July 1955) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 10 September 1942 as Generalmajor and Kommandeur 44. Infanterie-Division. On 22 June 1942 the 44. Infanterie-Division was ordered to open a path through the Soviet defenses towards Kupjansk (on the Oskol river) for General der Kavallerie Eberhard von Mackensen’s III. Panzerkorps. Under Deboi’s masterful leadership the Division succeeded in breaking through the Soviet position to a depth of 8 km a mere four hours after the start of the attack, and by doing so a way was opened up for the Panzer-Korps to commence a relentless pursuit battle all the way to the Don river. Deboi would be awarded the Ritterkreuz for executing such a successful assault.

Source :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41818881@N06/13087049893
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/3342/Deboi-Heinrich-Anton.htm

Heinz Hellmich in His Office

Generalleutnant Heinz Hellmich in his office. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes posthumously on 2 September 1944 as Kommandeur 243. Infanterie-Division. Hellmich was killed by 20-millimeter cannon shells during an Allied air attack on 17 June 1944 previously.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=5

Erich von Manstein and Hermann Breith

Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (left, Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd) met with General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith (Kommandierender General III. Panzerkorps) to discuss the upcoming military operation in northeastern Bjelgorod, May 1943, as a preparation of "Unternehmen Zitadelle" (Operation Citadel) a.k.a. the Battle of Kursk. The officer wearing the monocle at right is Oberst im Generalstab Ernst Merk (Chef des Generalstabes III. Panzerkorps). After the conclusion of the battle for the Donets, as the spring rasputitsa (mud) season came to an end in 1943, both the German and Soviet commands considered their plans for future operations. Manstein arguing for a mobile defence that would give up terrain and allow the Soviet units to advance, while the German forces launched a series of sharp counterattacks against their flanks to inflict heavy attrition. But for political reasons, Hitler insisted that the German forces go on the offensive, choosing the Kursk salient for the attack. On 15 April 1943 the Führer authorised preparations for Unternehmen Zitadelle.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/10/album-foto-terbaik-erich-von-manstein.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Citadel