Original Color Photograph of Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt by Walter Frentz

General der Infanterie Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt (Kommandierender General II. Armeekorps) in a picture taken in 1942 by Walter Frentz, during Eichenlaub award ceremony with Hitler at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia. Von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt formally earned the 103rd Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 27 June 1942 for his steadfast leadership and the heroic combat performance of his six divisions during the intense defensive fighting in the Demyansk Pocket on the Eastern Front. In the winter of 1941-1942, after the Soviet counteroffensive had encircled roughly 100,000 German troops of II. Armeekorps and other units in a roughly 30-kilometer-wide pocket southwest of Demyansk, Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt's forces faced relentless Red Army assaults, severe supply shortages exacerbated by the harsh winter conditions, and repeated attempts to liquidate the pocket. Despite being cut off from the main German lines since February 1942, the general maintained firm command, personally overseeing critical sectors from his Fieseler Storch reconnaissance aircraft while suffering from severe rheumatic pain that he concealed from his troops to preserve morale; he inspired his Grenadiere, Pioniere, and Kanoniere through his visible devotion to duty and calm confidence amid crisis after crisis. Under his direction the encircled divisions conducted skillful mobile defenses, launched sharp counterattacks to restore threatened sectors, repelled massive infantry and tank assaults, and held key positions through artillery fire and close-quarters fighting, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking Soviet forces while the Luftwaffe sustained the pocket with air drops. The award citation highlighted both the collective honorable and heroic combat of his soldiers and the general's own exemplary leadership abilities, which served as a visible model for the troops and contributed decisively to the pocket's tenacious resistance until the eventual breakout and relief in the spring of 1942.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=641596&hilit=brockdorff#p641596
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28519/Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt-Graf-von-Walter.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-a-b/#&gid=1&pid=96

Ritterkreuz Actions of Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt

Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt (13 July 1887 - 9 May 1943) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 July 1941 as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General II. Armeekorps. The following wartime excerpt describes why Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt was awarded the Ritterkreuz: “On 24 June 1941 General der Infanterie Graf Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt, the commanding general of the II. Armee-Korps, decided to capture the Russian fortress of Kowno on this day under any circumstances. The capture of this fortress was of decisive importance for the continuation of operations in this area. On 27 and 28 June 1941 he went on to smash several Russian divisions northeast of Kowno over the course of uninterrupted heavy combat within very difficult terrain.”

Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt received the Eichenlaub #103 for his Ritterkreuz on 27 June 1942 as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General II. Armeekorps. The following wartime excerpt describes why Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt was awarded the Eichenlaub: "“On 23 June 1942 General der Infanterie Graf Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for the brave steadfastness of his troops and for his own leadership abilities. This award serves as visible recognition for his soldiers’ honourable and heroic combat during the battle of Demyansk. The commanding general received this award for both the efforts of his 6 divisions as well as his own personal disposition. Graf Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt exuded confidence and firmness during all crisis situations, and in this capacity he served as a model for his soldiers. How often did his Grenadiers, Pioniere and Kanoniere see the ‘Fieseler-Storch’ of the General over their positions? And yet few knew that this officer suffered from severe rheumatic pain. He did not let his soldiers become aware that he had this disease, instead he only let them see only one thing: devotion to duty.”

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/28519/Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt-Graf-von-Walter.htm