Herbert Otto Gille and His Pet Dog

A Facebook post by author Douglas E. Nash on 16 November 2021: Finally learned the correct name of Herbert Otto Gille's little terrier - his name was "Strolch" which loosely translates to "Scamp." A fitting name, I suppose. Source for the I.D. is the officer who used to be Gille's aide-de-camp, SS-Untersturmführer Günther Lange, who relayed the name to me today. One of the many duties Lange had in addition to making sure Gille got his bowl of Wheaties in the morning, his maps, and staff car on standby was caring for this little dog - walking it, feeding it, cleaning up after him, etc. He was helped in this by Gille's batman, SS-Unterscharführer Balk. The photo above was taken sometime during the first two weeks of March 1945, showing little "Strolch" mucking about in the foreground.

This photo was taken by SS-Untersturmführer Günther Lange (O5 aide-de-camp Kommandierender General IV. SS-Panzerkorps) in mid-August 1944 east of Warsaw, and it depicts a conversation between SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille, who had been elevated to the position of commander of the IV SS Panzer Corps, and SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Darges (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"). Gille's pet dog "Strolch" can be seen in the foreground. Gille's dog survived the war, but what became of him afterwards is unknown. An enlisted man adopted him while the division was in its first camp shortly after the surrender but after that? No other information available. Lange escamped from the POW camp and of course Gille was taken into custody by duplicitous means and didn't have his dog with him at the time.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159784986304357&set=gm.1194338567727568

Wiking Officers in Hungary 1945

Officers from I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" and I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge" posed together for the camera in front of the doorway of Hegykastely Castle, Hungary. Front row, from left to right: SS-Untersturmführer Werner Liebald (Chef Maschinengewehr-Kompanie/I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge"); and SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Vogt (Kommandeur I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge"/11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland). Back row, from left to right:  SS-Obersturmführer Ernst Kiefer (Chef 4.Kompanie/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge"); SS-Obersturmführer Helmut Bauer (Chef 3.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-regiment 5); SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve Willi Hein (Kommandeur I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5); SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Darges (the "giant" standing in the middle, Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5/5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"); unidentified Panzerkommandant from II.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5; SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Lichte (wearing leather jacket with cigarette in the lips, Chef 5.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5); and SS-Obersturmführer Hans Weerts (Chef 4.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5). This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann between 7-12 January 1945 where the I./SS-Pz.Rgt 5 and I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt 23 "Norge" was trapped together near the castle Hegykastely on the road between Many and Biscke in Hungary. I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge" was the Spitzenbataillon in IV. SS-Panzer-Korps push against Budapest during operation Konrad I and became the unit who came closest to the city. They tried a night attack to enter Biscke with elements of I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" who failed in 7 January 1945, then they fortified themselves within the castle Heggy on three sides fighting off the Russian onslaught.

Two "giants" of 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" in Hungary, January 1945. From left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Darges (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking") and SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 "Westland"). They are both known for their big stature. The picture was taken from the book "Panzergrenadiere der 5. SS-Panzerdivision Wiking im Bild"

Source :
Douglas E. Nash photo collection

"Panzergrenadiere der 5. SS-Panzerdivision Wiking im Bild" by Regimentskameradschaft SS-Panzergranedier-Regiment 10 Westland

 http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=158911
http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2012/11/fritz-vogt-and-fritz-darges-in-front-of.html

Hitler and Manstein in a Conference September 1943

On 8 September 1943, Hitler flies to the headquarters of the Heeresgruppe Süd at Zaporozhye, Ukraine, to meet with Erich von Manstein. The situation in the Dnieper area has become a large problem. On 15 September 1943, Hitler ordered Heeresgruppe Süd to retreat to the Dnieper defence line.

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A).

From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Darges (persönlicher SS Adjutant bei Adolf Hitler), Oberstleutnant Gerhard Engel (Adjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), and General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres).

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A), and Generalleutnant Hans Röttiger (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe A). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Inconnu.

From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Darges (persönlicher SS Adjutant bei Adolf Hitler), Oberstleutnant Gerhard Engel (Adjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Inconnu.

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Kurt Zeitzler (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), and Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe A). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Inconnu.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/11/album-foto-adolf-hitler-sebagai-ahli.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Dnieper
https://www.hitlerpages.com/pagina49.html
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/catalogsearch/result/?q=manstein&avec_visuel=1