Karl Dönitz Visiting Oder Front (1945)

Visit of Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (foreground, Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) to one of the Marinekompanie of 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division in the Oder front, 15 April 1945. The two Ritterkreuzträger at left is, from left to right: Kapitänleutnant Egon-Reiner Freiherr von Schlippenbach (IIa Adjutant 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division) and Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn (Kommandeur 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division). Photo from the estate of General Bleckwenn.

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (center, Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) with the soldiers and officers of 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division in the Oder front. The Ritterkreuzträger who walks behind him is Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn (Kommandeur 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division), while other Ritterkreuzträger who stands at left is Kapitänleutnant Egon-Reiner Freiherr von Schlippenbach (IIa Adjutant 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division). Photo from the estate of General Bleckwenn.

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) in conversation with soldiers who have taken up duty after receiving Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen medals. On the far left is Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn (Kommandeur 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division), while in the middle is Kapitänleutnant Egon-Reiner Freiherr von Schlippenbach (IIa Adjutant 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division). Schlippenbach is actually a U-boat captain. In the last weeks of the war he was used in the naval infantry and eventually ended up in American captivity. This would explain the uniform. Photo from the estate of General Bleckwenn.

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (right, Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) crossing the Oder side canal (Hohensaatener Kanal), presumably south of the village of Lunow. Sitting in front of him is Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn (Kommandeur 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division). Photo from the estate of General Bleckwenn.

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) walks through the trench, while Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn (Kommandeur 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division) is following behind him. Photo from the estate of General Bleckwenn.

Source :
http://www.specialcamp11.co.uk/Generalmajor%20Wilhelm%20Bleckwenn.htm
https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/doenitz-regierung-in-flensburg-1945-hitlers-allerletztes-aufgebot-a-53a55abc-9fc7-4aaa-bf9c-80180e6545e2#fotostrecke-15cd9c32-60c6-44b3-b4c1-270811395c21
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/625449-post-your-who-is-this-photo-requests-here/page84

Ritterkreuz Actions of Wilhelm Bleckwenn

 

Wilhelm Bleckwenn (21 October 1906 – 10 May 1989) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #2876 on 6 April 1944 as Oberst and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 487 / 267.Infanterie-Division. The medal was awarded for significantly aiding the 31. Infanterie-Division on 21 February 1944. On this day the Soviets achieved deep penetrations in its sector (located between the Dnieper bend and Koromka). Bleckwenn played a major role in ensuring that the Division was not destroyed on the boundary between the 4. and 9. Armee.

Bleckwenn received the Eichenlaub #621 for his Ritterkreuz on 18 October 1944 as Oberst and Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 487 / 267.Infanterie-Division. Following Heeresgruppe Mitte’s collapse during Operation Bagration, Oberst Bleckwenn and a small Kampfgruppe under his command managed to break through to East Prussia after a period of 44 days of fighting through Belorussian forests. In the process he and his men overcame the torrential currents of the Memel river on the night of 4-5 August 1944 while crossing it at a point south of Druschkiniki. He was subsequently awarded the Eichenlaub for this noteworthy accomplishment.

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/2273/Bleckwenn-Wilhelm.htm
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/bundeswehr-forum/eichenlaubtra-ger-wilhelm-bleckwenn-558688/