Generalmajor Erwin Engelbrecht with a Dead Bear

Generalmajor Erwin Engelbrecht, commander of the German 163. Infanterie-Division, smirking over the fallen Russian bear. Engelbrecht had received the Iron Cross while leading the division during the occupation of Norway. This image was taken in 1942 before Engelbrecht moved to lead the Higher Command (Höheres
Kommando) XXXIII. Armeekorps in central Norway.

Source :

Book "Finland at War: The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-45" by Vesa Nenye, Peter Munter, Toni Wirtanen and Chris Birks

Fritz Witt in the Third Battle of Kharkov

Fritz Witt (center) photographed in March 1943 as a commander of SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 1 of the Leibstandarte Division. He holds the rank of SS-Standartenführer, but he has abandoned military etiquette and opted for comfort and warmth, commandeering a loose sheepskin jacket. Witt, the decorated veteran of the war in the Soviet Union who participated in the capture of Kharkov, went on to forge the 12. SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend into a crack fighting unit, and was killed in action leading it during the campaign in Normandy in June 1944. Max Wünsche is right below Witt's hand

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/143185314092/fritz-witt-center-photographed-in-march-1943-as

SS-Obersturmbannführer Kurt Meyer After Receiving Eichenlaub

SS-Obersturmbannführer Kurt Meyer, commanding Leibstandarte’s reconnaissance battalion, after being awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross during his one-day visit to the Führerhauptquartier Werwolf, Vinnytsia, 25 February 1943.

 Kurt Meyer, commander of the Leibstandarte’s reconnaissance battalion, receiving the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross from Adolf Hitler on 25 February 1943 at the Führerhauptquartier Werwolf in Vinnytsia.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/143449739262/ss-obersturmbannf%C3%BChrer-kurt-meyer-commanding

Jochen Peiper in the Battle of Kharkov

Joachim Peiper (foreground) in his command vehicle Sd.Kfz. 251 giving instruction outside Kharkov in February 1943. During this period the 320. Infanterie-Division was cut off by the Red Army with a wide gap of some 65km (40 miles) appeared between it and the Leibstandarte Division. A kampfgruppe under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper was formed and tasked with penetrating some 40km (25 miles) behind enemy lines, contacting the 320. Infanterie-Division, and guiding it back to the German lines. This was no small undertaking, but was one which Peiper accomplished with great success and remarkably little loss of life. For this achievement, Peiper was awarded the Knight’s Cross. It was the first of many daredevil exploits which would be carried out by this remarkable soldier.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/143657246447/joachim-peiper-foreground-in-his-command-vehicle

General der Infanterie Walther Graeßner

Generalleutnant Walther Graeßner (left) in the Eastern Front. He finally reached the rank of General der Infanterie. He served with Division 187, 298. Infanterie-Division and 7. Armeekorps. Graeßner received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) on 27 October 1941 as Generalleutnant and commander of 298. Infanterie-Division.

Source :
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&start=11295

SS-Untersturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann

 

Karl Heinz Worthmann (18 January 1911 – 6 July 1943) was a SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant), in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) for his feat in the Third Battle of Kharkov, spring 1943.

Worthman was born in Hagen, Germany on the 18 January 1911. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT). He took part in the Battle of France as an Infantry platoon commander and was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse and I.Klasse.

During the invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) in 1941 he was severely wounded and after recovering from his wounds trained as a Panzer crewman.

He was promoted to SS-Hauptscharführer (Master Sergeant) and made a platoon commander in the 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich". In the Battle of Kharkov Worthman, was in command of 4 tanks supporting the infantry in an attack near Wossyschtschewo on height 209.3 during which they destroyed 27 anti tank guns and 2 infantry guns without loss. For his actions during this battle, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz in 31 March 1943.

Worthman was promoted to SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and given command of the 6. Kompanie, when he was killed in action during Operation Citadel on the 6 July 1943, in the Belgorod sector.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Heinz_Worthmann
http://www.kriegsberichter-archive.com/index.php?/category/58

Erwin Rommel and Sepp Dietrich in Normandy

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe B) and SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Kommandierender General I. SS-Panzerkorps) photographed on the invasion front in Normandy, 17 July 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/141277708232/generalfeldmarschall-erwin-rommel-and

Major der Reserve Max H. Rehbein

Max Heimo Rehbein (9 December 1918 - 13 November 2015) received Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in 5 March 1945 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Kommandeur Pionier-Bataillon 23 / 23.Infanterie-Division.

Source :
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=5042&searchword=rehbein

Oberst Karl Prinz zu Salm-Horstmar

Karl Walrad Emich Hermann Bolko Friedrich von Salm-Horstmar (8 January 1911 - 2 August 1991) received Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in 19 February 1942 as Rittmeister and Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 123 / 123.Infanterie-Division.

Karl Prinz zu Salm-Horstmar in his 70th birthday (8 January 1981), wearing all of his wartime decorations including the Ritterkreuz.

Source :
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?p=167139
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/photos-papers-propaganda-third-reich/hugo-von-senger-roa-178462/

Walter Neumann-Silkow with Flak Officer

Generalmajor Walter Neumann-Silkow (left), Kommandeur 15. Panzer-Division, with Luftwaffe Hauptmann from Flak unit in North Africa.

Source :
NARA/Tom Nutter

Fröhlich, Gause and Rommel

From left to right: Generalmajor (Luftwaffe) Stefan Fröhlich (Fliegerführer Afrika), Generale di Brigata Aerea Ferdinando Raffaelli (Commanding Officer Eastern Sector, North African Italian Air Command), Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Chef des Generalstabes Panzergruppe Afrika), and General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Panzergruppe Afrika). The picture was taken between September-November 1941.

Source :
NARA/Tom Nutter collection

Søren Kam with His Brothers in Studio Portrait

The Kam brothers in the Waffen-SS (from left to right): Poul, Søren and Erik. The Danes were photographed in 1943 and they fought in the ranks of the Wiking Division.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/138570281717/the-kam-brothers-in-the-waffen-ss-from-left-to

Danish Knight’s Cross winner SS-Obersturmführer Søren Kam

The Danish Knight’s Cross winner SS-Obersturmführer Søren Kam photographed after the presentation of the award. Kam, a veteran of the Wiking Division, won the Knight’s Cross for bravery during the Wiking’s battles in Poland’s ‘Wet Triangle’ in front of Warsaw, and was personally presented by Hitler in February 1945, thus becoming one of the three Danes to receive this award.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/138692506842/5sswiking-the-danish-knights-cross-winner

SS-Standartenführer Helmut Dörner

SS-Standartenführer Helmut Dörner (right), considered one of the finest officers in the 4. SS Panzergrenadier Division Polizei, is seen here in Hungary on the way to the main battle line to Budapest to prepared it for defence, October 1944. At this period Soviet troops were only a few kilometres from Budapest, and by Christmas the city would be encircled. When that happened some 50,000 German and Hungarian troops would be trapped. Helmut Dörner was killed on 11 February 1945 in Budapest during a breakout attempt while leading SS-Polizei Regiment 1. He had been awarded the Oakleaves and Swords to the Knight’s Cross and promoted to Oberführer during his time in Budapest cauldron.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/138826966557/5sswiking-ss-standartenf%C3%BChrer-helmut-d%C3%B6rner

SS-Hauptsturmführer Joachim Boosfeld

SS-Hauptsturmführer Joachim Boosfeld was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight’s Cross) on 21 February 1945 as Chef of 4.Schwadron / SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 16 / 8.SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer" for his heroism in the heavy defensive fighting in Budapest and his actions in fighting his way back to German lines. Boosfeld led his men along with some other troops safely out of the city and reached German position west of Budapest on 14 February 1945. During his time in Budapest cauldron he had 57 days of close-combat fighting and was awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/138892947397/5sswiking-ss-hauptsturmf%C3%BChrer-joachim-boosfeld

Herbert Otto Gille during the Siege of Kovel

Herbert Otto Gille is seen here as an SS-Gruppenführer and commander of 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" in an observation post during the defense of Kovel in the spring of 1944. In the historic battle for the Cherkassy Pocket in January 1944, Wiking Division, held out against superior Soviet forces, before successfully breaking out. Subsequently ordered to take command of the Fortress Kovel, Gille refused to take his battered division into what he knew was a death trap; but he himself flew into Kovel, where the garrison under his command held out against repeated armoured assaults by four Soviet armies - despite not having a single remaining tank of their own - until a relief force from the Wiking Division broke in and later with the help of two Panzer divisions and a infantry division established a permanent linkup. For this remarkable achievement Gille was decorated with the Diamonds to the Knight’s Cross on 19 April 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/139447110277/herbert-otto-gille-is-seen-here-as-an

SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck of Wiking Division

SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" in the cupola of his Panther after he was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight’s Cross) for his leadership and courage during the Battle of Kovel in 1944. Nicolussi-Leck led a group of 9 Panthers from Wiking Division on a drive to reach the besieged city of Kovel on 30 March 1944. Despite being ordered to turn back owing to ferocious resistance, Nicolussi-Leck pressed on and reached his beleaguered comrades after destroying several Soviet positions.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/139508111452/ss-obersturmf%C3%BChrer-karl-nicolussi-leck-of-the

Bremer, Rundstedt, Dietrich, Mohnke

A Sd.Kfz. 251/16 fitted with flame projectors from 12. SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend being inspected by officers at the Beverloo Training Ground, Belgium in 3 March 1944. From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Gerhard Bremer (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"), Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber West), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Kommandierender General I. SS-Panzerkorps), SS-Obersturmbannführer Wilhelm Mohnke (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend").

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/140529428842/a-sdkfz-25116-fitted-with-flame-projectors-from

Gerd Bremer during Military Manouvre of SS Hitlerjugend Division

SS-Sturmbannführer Gerhard "Gerd" Bremer (Kommandeur SS-Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") photographed in 3 March 1944 during a military drill with Hitlerjugend Division at the Beverloo Training Ground, Belgium. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross for outstanding leadership during the initial phase of the Operation Barbarossa with Leibstandarte Division and on 26 November 1944 the Oak Leaves with Hitlerjugend Division.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/140530227782/ss-sturmbannf%C3%BChrer-gerhard-bremer-photographed-in

Rundstedt, Meyer, Dietrich, Witt

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber West), SS-Standartenführer Kurt Meyer (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Kommandierender General I. SS-Panzerkorps) and SS-Oberführer Fritz Witt (Kommandeur 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") watch a military drill of the 12. SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend at the Beverloo Training Ground, Belgium in 3 March 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/140531735037/generalfeldmarschall-gerd-von-rundstedt