Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke and Hans Kroh in North Africa

Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (left, Kommandeur Fallschirmjäger-Brigade "Ramcke") and Major Hans Kroh (Kommandeur Kampfgruppe "Kroh" / Fallschirmjäger-Brigade "Ramcke") sitting at a table in a tent (table set with a pitcher and cookies) in North Africa, 1942. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Schnitzer of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) XI. Fliegerkorps.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-545-0613-12A,_Bernhard-Hermann_Ramcke,_Hans_Kroh.jpg

Kurt Meyer and Sepp Dietrich

SS-Sturmbannführer Kurt Meyer (Kommandeur SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 / SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") and SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Sepp Dietrich (Kommandeur SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") discussing battle strategies and the front line situation. The picture was probably taken in the Eastern Front during Unternehmen Barbarossa, summer 1941. Note that Divisionskommandeur Dietrich is not wearing his Ritterkreuz!

Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/08/foto-kurt-panzermeyer-meyer.html

U-Boat Ace Adalbert Schnee

 

Otto Adalbert Schnee (31 December 1913 – 4 November 1982) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 August 1941 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-201, and the Eichenlaub #105 on 15 July 1942 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-201.

Source :
https://www.militariazone.com/general-jackets-coats/kriegsmarine-3-4-length-leather-deck-coat-for-u-boat-crews-etc-/itm51031

Picture of Hans Neumeier

 

I received this email from otohafanderclub@gmail.com :

My grandparents were friends with / knew this guy while the Germans were in Kharkov. I've been trying to figure out his identity and I have a belief that it is Hans Neumeier in April 1942, just before the Second Battle of Kharkov. I dunno anything about panzer uniforms, but I saw online that Neumeier got the Ritterkreuz in the 16. Panzer-Division who were stationed in kharkov at the time, any chance you can shed some light into this?

Artur Phleps and August Schmidhuber

SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Artur Phleps as commander of the SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen". On the left of him with binoculars is SS-Standartenführer August Schmidhuber (Kommandeur SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 2), the later SS-Brigadeführer and commander of the 21st Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Skanderberg (as well as the last commander of the Prinz Eugen). This picture was taken in the Yugoslavian front on 2 July 1943. From 15 May – 15 June, the Prinz Eugen took a part in the subsequent Fifth anti-Partisan Offensive (Operation Schwarz) aiming to pin Tito's main force of about 20,000 Partisans against the Zelengora mountain, in south-eastern Bosnia. During the battle, the division received a task to move through the Italian occupation zone in order to block the possible advance of Partisans towards the Adriatic Sea and the Italian-occupied Albania, to close the south-east part of the encirclement and then advance north over mountainous terrain to crush the Partisan forces. In eleven-day fightings from May 20, division captured Šavnik. For this success, Sturmbannführer Dietsche as well as commander Phleps both received first two Ritterkreuzes for the division. The medal for the Divisionskommandeur Phleps would be given two days after this picture was taken.

Source :
"Totenkopf und Edelweiß: General Artur Phleps und die südosteuropäischen Gebirgstruppen der Waffen-SS 1942-1945" by Roland Kaltenegger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_SS_Volunteer_Mountain_Division_Prinz_Eugen

Map Discussion of XIII. Armeekorps

General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (center, Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps) with his two staff officers during map discussion in 1940. At left is Oberst i.G. Rudolf Hofmann (Chef des Generalstabes XIII. Armeekorps), while at right is Oberstleutnant i.G. Anton Glasl (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier XIII. Armeekorps). These three people would later become Ritterkreuzträger (recipients of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes): Vietinghoff on 24 June 1940 and 16 April 1944 (Eichenlaub), Hofmann on 7 May 1945, and Glasl on 11 October 1943.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/09/album-foto-merundingkan-strategi-dan.html

Léon Degrelle Mounted a Horse in Russia

Oberleutnant der Reserve Léon Degrelle during a march through a Russian village, possibly in 1942. Beginning in November 1941, the Walloon Legion was assigned to anti-partisan operations in occupied Soviet territory. In February 1942 it was attached to the 100. Jäger-Division and moved to the frontline, where it engaged in combat with regular Soviet forces for the first time on 28 February. By the end of 1942, the Legion was reduced by attrition to 150 men and would have to rely on new recruitment drives to sustain itself. The Legion's battlefield performance was of great value to Degrelle, who came to be appreciated by German officers. In May 1942, he was made an officer and awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse for his conduct in battle.

Source :
Charles Verpoorten photo collection
"Last Blood on Pomerania; Leon Degrelle and the Walloon Waffen-SS Volunteers, February-May 1945" by Tomasz Borowski

Léon Degrelle and Lucien Lippert

This picture was taken in July 1943 and it shows Kommandeur of Wallonische Infanterie-Bataillon 373, Hauptmann Lucien Lippert (left), and his deputy, Oberleutnant der Reserve Léon Degrelle. Lippert, a Belgian royalist, joined the Wallonian Legion to prevent it being used as an instrument of Wallonian separatism, allegedly at the request of influential figures close to the King (although without the King's knowledge). Once it became obvious that Degrelle had gained the upper hand and was steering it in a separatist direction - joining the Waffen-SS was the turning point - Lippert made several attempts to leave the Legion. He died before this was possible, disilusioned that the royalists who encouraged him to join Hitler's forces had turned their backs on him as the war moved in the Allies' favour.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=115494&hilit=lucien+lippert
https://waralbum.ru/394453/

Reinhard Suhren during the Commissioning of U-564

Oberleutnant zur See Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren and his crew stand to attention on the stern deck of U-564 during the boat's commissioning in Hamburg, 3 April 1941. Occupying the front row of the assembled crew are, from left to right: Matrosengefreiter Heinz Schmutzler, Matrosenobergefreiter Werner Grünert, and Matrosengefreiter Roland Schiedhelm, all were present throughout Teddy's command of the boat.

Source :
"U-Boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary Of U-564" by Lawrence Paterson
https://uboat.net/forums/read.php?3,20427

Staff Officers of Kampfgruppe Scherer in Cholm

The staff of Kampfrguppe Scherer in the besieged Cholm, April 1942. Third from right is Generalmajor Theodor Scherer (Kommandeur), while second from right is Johannes Manitius (Ia Operationsoffizier). They were both receives the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for their tenacious defence of Cholm. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Richard Muck of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 501. After the war Muck published the book "Kampfgruppe Scherer: 105 Tage im Kessel von Cholm. Zeitgeschichte im Bild".

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-004-3648-02

Karl-Gottfried Nordmann Playing with an Eagle

Leutnant Karl Gottfried Nordmann (right) plays with an eagle with his fellow Luftwaffe pilot. The eagle is most likely the mascot of the unit in which he served: I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77) "Herz As". This photo itself was taken in the spring of 1940, and most likely in March when Nordmann was Staffelkapitän of 3.Staffel in his Gruppe. By this time he was already an experienced pilot but still not quite an "ace" (five or more aerial victories). Nordmann had his first victory in early September 1939 over Poland, while further victories were recorded over France. In the Battle of Britain he recorded seven enemy planes being shot down (though over a very long period of time, from July 1940 to July 1941!). Overall, Nordmann claimed 78 victories in more than 800 combat missions. Nearly all of his victories were recorded in Russia where he fought until the end of 1942.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/09/foto-jagdgeschwader-77-jg-77-herz-as.html
http://www.mourningtheancient.com/truth-animalsx6.htm

Hinrich Schuldt in Netherlands (1940)

 
The first months of the German occupation in the Netherlands (May to November 1940). Transfer from I.Bataillon / 4.SS-Totenkopfstandarte "Ostmark" to the National Commissioner for DOO RDE occupied Dutch areas, Reichsminister Dr. Seyss-Inquart. The Bataillonskommandeur is SS-Sturmbannführer Hinrich Schuldt (in the picture). The picture was taken on 19 June 1940.

Source :
https://www.imago-images.de/st/0163960821

Hugo Sperrle in 1935

Generalmajor Hugo Sperrle (Kommandierenden General Luftkreis V in München) in 1935. The picture was taken by Heinrich Hoffmann.

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

Job Odebrecht with His Staff Officer

General der Flakartillerie Job Odebrecht (left, Kommandierender General II. Flakkorps) with one of his staff officer (which can be recognized by his carmine-red stripes on his breeches). The picture was probably taken in 1943 or 1944. Odebrecht himself would receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 September 1944.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2450088#p2450088

Friedrich Siebert and Arthur Boje

Generalleutnant Friedrich Siebert (right, Kommandeur 44. Infanterie-Division) and Oberstleutnant Arthur Boje (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 134 / 44.Infanterie-Division) on the Eastern Front during the opening phase of Unternehmen Barbarossa, June 1941. Both would receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes while still in their function: Siebert on 18 November 1941 and Boje on 5 February 1942.

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

Max Pfeffer after Captured in Stalingrad

General der Artillerie Max Pfeffer (Kommandierender General IV. Armeekorps) with ushanka (Russian fur cap) after captured at Stalingrad, 31 January 1943. Hi is not wearing any medals including the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 4 December 1941 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 297. Infanterie-Division.

Source :
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/PFEFFER_MAX.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/GermanWW2photos/comments/f496ct/general_pfeffer_of_the_4th_army_corp_captured_at/

Johann Pflugbeil with His Officers

Generalleutnant Johann Pflugbeil (left, Kommandeur 221. Sicherungs-Division) with his officers. He received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 11 April 1942 in this capacity, and Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 12 August 1944 as Kampfkommandant Mitau. Under Pflugbeil's command, the 221st Security Division took part in Nazi security warfare and was responsible for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Heeresgruppe Mitte rear area, central sector of the Eastern Front.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/b/General-in-Militaria-Fotos-1900-1918-1945/15504/bn_7004515776
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Pflugbeil

Eduard Hauser as Commander of Panzer-Regiment 18

Oberstleutnant Eduard Hauser (saluting in the middle, Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 18) in Milowitz, Czechoslovakia, 1941. Hauser being given command of the 18th Panzer Regiment in November 1940. His new command was part of the newly formed 18. Panzer-Division and went on to participate in Operation Barbarossa the following year and the subsequent battles along the centre of the Eastern Front. Hauser would received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 December 1941 as Oberst and Kommandeur of Panzer-Regiment 25 / 7.Panzer-Division.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/itm/394277704901?hash=item5bccc854c5:g:AyMAAOSwmehjQIVF
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_Hauser_(general)

Rudolf Toschka Ritterkreuz Action

Rudolf Toschka (26 September 1911 - 21 February 1944) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 June 1941 as Oberleutnant in 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 / 7.Flieger-Division. In the planning for the assault on Crete Toschka's Kompanie, consisting of 90 men in 9 gliders, had the mission of eliminating an anti-aircraft battery south of Chania. Toschka's Zug was to land right in the middle of the battery positions, but in the operation it overshot the landing zone and touched down in the middle of a hostile concentration. The Fallschirmjäger quickly dismounted and destroyed the two trucks carrying opposing troops, thereafter proceeding to the battery. They broke into the trench positions and were able to overcome the garrison in bitter close combat, during which Toschka was badly wounded. In spite of his injury however he was able to warn the Kompanie commander of a hostile MG position and thus save his life. As a result of these actions, Toschka received the Ritterkreuz.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-L19502,_Offiziere_der_Fallschirmtruppen_mit_Ritterkreuz.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1980-108-30,_Rudolf_Toschka.jpg
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/2x-picture-ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger-rudolf-toschka-sturmregiment
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/67517/Toschka-Rudolf.htm
https://veryimportantlot.com/en/lot/view/hauptmann-rudolf-toschka-grosse-verleihungsurkund-331058

Bio of Generalleutnant Stephan Rittau (1891-1942)

Stephan Georg Julius Rittau
* 27.12.1891 Wongrowitz/Kreis Posen (heute: Wągrowiec/Polen)
† 22.08.1942 bei Rshew (gefallen)
Vater Rittergutsbesitzer
Seit 16.07.1923 verheiratet mit Maria geb. Hübner

Promotions:
28.03.1911 Fahnenjunker
18.01.1911 Fähnrich
18.08.1912 Leutnant (m. Pat. v. 23.08.1910)
27.01.1916 Oberleutnant
01.07.1922 Rittmeister
01.10.1922 Hauptmann
01.04.1933 Major
01.09.1935 Oberstleutnant
01.03.1938 Oberst
01.08.1940 Generalmajor
01.08.1942 Generalleutnant

Career:
28.03.1911 Eintritt in das Jäger-Bataillon “Graf Yorck von Wartenburg“ (Ostpreußisches Nr. 1); Ortelsburg/Ostpreußen (heute: Szczytno/Polen)
Besuch der Kriegsschule
1914/ 1917 Zugführer in der Radfahr-Kompanie der 8. Kavallerie-Division; Kompanie-Führer der Radfahr-Kompanie der 11. Landwehr-Division
00.09.1917 im Generalstab der Deutschen Jägerdivision
Sommer 1918 im Generalstab des IX. Armee-Korps
01.10.1919 im Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment “GFM von Hindenburg“ Nr. 39 der Reichswehr-Brigade 20, Allenstein, der Vorläufigen Reichswehr
01.10.1920 im 2. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiment , Allenstein/Ostpreußen (heute: Olsztyn/Polen)
01.10.1921 im Reiter-Regiment 2, Lyck/Ostpreußen (heute: Elk/Oblast Kaliningrad); kommandiert zur Führergehilfen-Ausbildung
01.10.1922 im 2. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiment
01.08.1923 Chef der 7. Kompanie des 3. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiments, Deutsch Eylau/Ostpreußen (heute Ilawa/Oblast Kaliningrad)
1925/ 1926 beim Stab des 3. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiments, Deutsch Eylau/Ostpreußen
Frühjahr 1927 Adjutant des 3. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiments, Deutsch Eylau
Frühjahr 1929 00.00.1932 Chef der 14. Kompanie des 3. (Preußischen) Infanterie-Regiments, Marienwer-der/Westpreußen (heute: Kwidzyn/Polen)
15.10.1935 Kommandeur des I. Bataillons des Infanterie-Regiments 7, Breslau
01.03.1938 im Stab des Infanterie-Regiments 7 zur Einweisung als Regimentskommandeur
01.02.1939 Kommandeur des Infanterie-Regiments 102, Chemnitz
20.10.1940 Kommandeur der 129. Infanterie-Division (Ernennung: 01.10.1940)
22.08.1942 durch Partisanenbeschuss auf dem Weg zur Frontlinie zusammen mit seinem Adjutanten gefallen

Medals and Decorations:
Ritterkreuz des Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Fürstl. Schaumburg-Lippisches Kreuz für treue Dienste 1914
Bremisches Hanseatenkreuz
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Wehrmacht (Heer) Dienstauszeichnung 4. bis 1. Klasse
Spange zum Eisernen Kreuze 2. Klasse
Spange zum Eisernen Kreuze 1. Klasse
22.11.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Generalmajor and commander of 129. Infanterie-Division

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2008/12/daftar-peraih-ritterkreuz-r.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephan_Rittau
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=191916&hilit=stephan+rittau
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant3/RITTAU_STEPHAN.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/49561/Rittau-Stephan-Georg-Julius.htm
https://www.weitze.net/militaria/92/Heer_Originalunterschrift_vom_spaeteren_Ritterkreuztraeger_Generalmajor_Stephan_Rittau__346892.html?t=1665229387