Propaganda Tour of RAD Ritterkreuzträger

VISIT TO ARBEITSMAIDEN


"Arbeitsmänner besuchen Arbeitsmaiden" (Working men visit working maids): Seven Ritterkreuzträger from Heer - who were also member of RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) - visit Arbeitsmaiden in Germany, mid-July 1943. From left to right: 1.Walter Garz (Ritterkreuz on 16 December 1942 as Feldwebel and Zugführer in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74 / 19.Panzer-Division), 2.Rudolf Bittner (Ritterkreuz on 28 November 1942 as Gefreiter and Richtkanonier in 2.Kompanie / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 561), 3.Heinz Pfitzner (Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 2.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 290 / 290. Infanterie-Division), 4.Rudolf Bornhof (Ritterkreuz on 3 May 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer 1.Kompanie / Jäger-Regiment 38 / 8.Jäger-Division), 5.Klaus Faulmüller (Ritterkreuz on 25 June 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Führer 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 / 4.Gebirgs-Division), 6.Rudolf Kreitmair (Ritterkreuz on 31 March 1943 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Chef 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 282 / 98.Infanterie-Division), and 7.Günter Vollmer (Ritterkreuz on 20 April 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 411 / 122.Infanterie-Division).



"Arbeitsmänner besuchen Arbeitsmaiden" (Working men visit working maids): Ritterkreuzträger from Heer - who were also member of RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) - visit Arbeitsmaiden in Germany, mid-July 1943. From left to right: Heinz Pfitzner (Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 2.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 290 / 290. Infanterie-Division), Rudolf Bornhof (Ritterkreuz on 3 May 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer 1.Kompanie / Jäger-Regiment 38 / 8.Jäger-Division), and Rudolf Kreitmair (Ritterkreuz on 31 March 1943 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Chef 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 282 / 98.Infanterie-Division).

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VISIT TO REICHSARBEITSFÜHRER


Visit of five Ritterkreuzträger from Heer - who were also member of RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) - to  the HQ of Reichsarbeitsführer Konstantin Hierl (Leiter des Reichsarbeitsdienst). From left to right: Rudolf Bornhof (Ritterkreuz on 3 May 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve and Führer 1.Kompanie / Jäger-Regiment 38 / 8.Jäger-Division), Günter Vollmer (Ritterkreuz on 20 April 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 411 / 122.Infanterie-Division), Klaus Faulmüller (Ritterkreuz on 25 June 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Führer 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 / 4.Gebirgs-Division), Walter Garz (Ritterkreuz on 16 December 1942 as Feldwebel and Zugführer in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74 / 19.Panzer-Division), and Rudolf Bittner (Ritterkreuz on 28 November 1942 as Gefreiter and Richtkanonier in 2.Kompanie / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 561). This picture was taken by unknown photographer from Hoffmann-Scherl, and was published as a propaganda postcard by Verlag Dr. Franz Vogtmann, Berlin SW 68, Wilhelmstraße 131/132. Original caption: "Führer des Reichsarbeitsdienstes - Ritterkreuzträger im Heer. Der Reichsarbeitsführer empfing Arbeitsdienstführer, die als Offiziere und Unteroffiziere des Heeres mit dem Ritterkreuz ausgezeichnet wurden. Er begrüßt Oberfeldmeister Klaus Faulmüller, der als Kompanieführer in einem Gebirgsjägerregiment am Kuban-brückenkopf aus eigenem Entschluß den übermächtigen Gegen-angriff der Sowjets auf eine wichtige Höhe in kühnem Vorstoß zum scheitern gebracht hat." (Leader of the Reich Labor Service - Knight's Cross holder in the army. The Reich Labor Leader received labor service leaders who were awarded the Knight's Cross as officers and non-commissioned officers of the army. He greets Oberfeldmeister Klaus Faulmüller, who, as a company commander in a mountain infantry regiment at the Kuban bridgehead, made a bold advance to defeat the Soviets' overwhelming counterattack on an important height)


Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipients) from RAD in a gathering. The Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst; RAD) was a major organisation established in Nazi Germany as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy and militarise the workforce and indoctrinate it with Nazi ideology. From left to right: Heinz Pfitzner (Ritterkreuz on 15 January 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 2.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 290 / 290.Infanterie-Division), Günter Vollmer (Ritterkreuz on 20 April 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 411 / 122.Infanterie-Division), Rudolf Kreitmair (Ritterkreuz on 31 March 1943 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 282 / 98.Infanterie-Division), and Rudolf Bittner (Ritterkreuz on 28 November 1942 as Gefreiter and Richtkanonier in 2.Kompanie / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 561).

Source :
https://www.ansichtskarten-center.de/ritterkreuztraeger/oberfeldmeister-faulmueller-klaus-wk-ii-ritterkreuztraeger
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Bittner,_Rudolf
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2521555#p2521555

Ritterkreuz Action of Klaus Faulmüller

Dr. Klaus Faulmüller (21 June 1917 - 25 October 1943) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 25 June 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Führer 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 / 4.Gebirgs-Division.

The following divisional order of the day describes why Faulmüller would be awarded the Ritterkreuz:

“The Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht has awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Oberleutnant d.R. Faulmüller, 7./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 13.

On the 15 May 1943, during the fighting in the Neberdshajewskaja-Krymskaja area, Oberleutnant Faulmüller stormed the heavily fortified ‘Artillery Hill’ along with his Zug. Having done this on his own initiative, he proceeded to hold the hill against strong enemy counterattacks that were supported by tanks.

Through his bold initiative and outstanding personal courage, Oberleutnant Faulmüller prevented the collapse of our attack (which was taking heavy losses) at a crucial moment. The capture of this vital position enabled the neighbouring Bataillon to make contact at the front without any more significant losses.

The enemy suffered numerous casualties. 3 enemy tanks were destroyed in close combat, and many heavy weapons were captured.

I congratulate Oberleutnant der Reserve Faulmüller on behalf of the Division for this high honour. He is the 10th Ritterkreuzträger (Knight’s Cross Holder) of the 4. Gebirgs-Division.”

The following report in “Die Gebirgstruppe” 5/78 provides further details as to this action…

“During the combat in the Neberdshajewskaja-Krymskaja area (in the Kuban bridgehead) the Kampfgruppe of Eichenlaubträger Oberst Göbel commenced a counterattack. The enemy had achieved a penetration during their last major assault that had to be cleaned up, and an important hill in particular had to be recaptured.

Although the enemy rained down coordinated fire on the attacking troops with all weapons, the Grenadiers and Gebirgsjäger were initially able to make good progress and were able to advance to a point close to the summit of the hill. However at that stage the attack threatened to bog down in the formidable defense. Losses were being incurred, the leaders of both Kompanien deployed against the hill became casualties, and the neighbouring troops on the left and right were also beginning to falter.

Oberleutnant Faulmüller, commander of the 7./Geb.-Jäg.Rgt. 13, stood in reserve with a Zug. He was to move up forwards when the hill was captured. But now the situation had totally changed. All communication links were down. No orders could reach Faulmüller, and no inquiries from him to his superiors came through.

The young officer decided to take the course of action that aligned with his own attitude and the traditions of the German Heer. He went forward into the attack with his Zug, gathered up withdrawing elements from other Kompanien along with him and stormed against the hill. Riding on a Sturmgeschütz and firing an MG against the enemy while on the move, he penetrated into the hill position at the head of his Gebirgsjäger and rolled it up in bitter close combat, destroying several bunkers along with their crews. After this had been captured the bushy terrain behind the hill that still contained numerous enemies was cleared out. As a result the hill finally came under German control. The visible results of this battle were enemy losses of 102 prisoners, 78 dead, 1 artillery piece, 18 mortars and numerous MGs and anti-tank rifles.

However the Gebirgsjäger had barely managed to set up for defense when the enemy launched a counterthrust with the support of 16 tanks. At the moment armour-piercing weapons were not yet available, and it was not long before individual enemy tanks had pushed into the rear of the defenders in order to wreak havoc. Oberleutnant Faulmüller took up a captured anti-tank rifle and fired it against the oncoming steel monsters at the closest possible range. He knew that he could not hope to penetrate the enemy tank, but by doing so he did reassure his own troops and influence the enemy tank crews. The Gebirgsjäger took heart from his example. They destroyed 3 enemy tanks in close combat and bloodily repulsed the following enemy infantry.

Through his bold initiative and outstanding personal courage, Oberleutnant Faulmüller prevented the collapse of our attack (which was taking heavy losses) at a crucial moment. The capture of this vital position enabled the neighbouring Bataillon to make contact at the front without any more significant losses.”

Source :
https://www.sammlermarkt-nord.net/shop/captain-klaus-faulmueller-with-knights-cross-p-20392.html?language=en&redirectCancelled=true
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/30075/Faulm%C3%BCller-Klaus-Georg.htm