General der Infanterie Albrecht Schubert

General der Infanterie Albrecht Schubert (23 June 1886 – 26 November 1966) was born in Glatz (modern Kłodzko, Poland, then in German Silesia), in a family of long Silesian ancestry. In 1904 he joined the Prussian Army and initially served with the Magdeburg-based Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Louis Ferdinand von Preußen (2. Magdeburgisches) Nr.27. By the time of the outbreak of World War I he rose to the rank of Leutnant. Promoted to the rank of Hauptmann in 1914, during the war he served with the Grenadier-Regiment Kronprinz (1. Ostpreußisches) Nr.1, 21. Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade, 4. Landwehr-Division, 11. Infanterie-Division and as a staff officer in the 202. Infanterie-Division. After the war he remained within the Reichswehr and served in Stettin in the 2. Division, and then in the 8. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment. Promoted to Major in 1926, to Oberstleutnant in 1931 and to full Oberst in 1933. Three years later he became the commanding officer of the Infanterie-Regiment 12. Following Adolf Hitler's rise to power, Schubert's career was fast-tracked. In April 1936 he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor and already in March 1938 he became a Generalleutnant. The following month he became the commanding officer of the 44. Infanterie-Division, with which he took part in the initial stages of World War II. During the joint Nazi and Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 his unit took part in the fights as part of the 14. Armee. After the end of hostilities in October 1939 he was temporarily withdrawn to the personal reserve of the OKH (Oberkommando des Heeres, but was soon reinstated to active service as a provisional commanding officer of the XXIII. Armeekorps, with which he took part in the battle of France of 1940. Shortly before the start of Operation Barbarossa, Schubert was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie and his corps was relocated to East Prussia. Already in September 1941 he was awarded with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General XXIII. Armeekorps. In May 1942 he temporarily commanded the entire 9. Armee, but was again withdrawn from active service in the summer of that year. It was not until the following year that he was given the command over the Hannover-based XI. Armeekorps. Until the end of World War II he served on various staff positions in Vienna, away from the front. Schubert survived the war and died 26 November 1966 in Bielefeld, Germany. Other medals and decorations he received: Ritterkreuz des Königlich Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern; kaiserlich und königlich Militär-Verdienstkreuz I.Klasse mit Kriegsdekoration und Schwertern ; Königlich Bayerischer Militär-Verdienstorden IV.Klasse mit Schwertern; Herzoglich Sachsen-Meiningisches Kreuz für Verdienste im Krieg; Königlich Württembergischer Friedrichs-Orden, Ritterkreuz I.Klasse mit Schwertern; Hamburger Hanseatenkreuz; 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918; Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen; 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (1942); and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (20 January 1943)

Source :
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=5858&searchword=schubert,%20albrecht
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_Schubert
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=126814
http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/regiment/index.html
https://www.lot-art.com/auctions/Historical-Militaria-and-Autographs-Day-1/259376?order=est_asc&page=5
http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/SCHUBERT_ALBRECHT.html

Ritterkreuzträger with Artur Axmann at Reichsjugendführung (2)

In 3 November 1942, a big delegation of Ritterkreuzträger (German Knight's Cross recipients) visited the Reichsjugendführung, doing inspections of training places and communications with young Hitlerjugend members. This picture was taken when they met the HJ leader, Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann. The identification as follow: (1) Oberleutnant Günter Klappich (Chef 11.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 60 [motorisiert] / 16.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]. Ritterkreuz on 31 July 1942), (2) Hauptmann Erich Löffler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 57 / 9.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 7 October 1942), (3) Hauptmann Wilhelm Spindler (Chef 13.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 / 1.Gebirgs-Division. Ritterkreuz on 21 December 1940), (4) Hauptmann Max Sachsenheimer (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 75 / 5.Jäger-Division. Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1942), (5) Hauptmann Hans-Gotthard Pestke (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 176 / 61.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 15 November 1941), (6) Generalleutnant Friedrich Herrlein (General der Infanterie beim Oberkommando des Heeres. Ritterkreuz on 22 September 1941), (7) Oberleutnant der Reserve Richard Grünert (Kommandeur 3.Kompanie / Kradschützen-Bataillon 7 / 7.Panzer-Division. Ritterkreuz on 14 October 1941), (8) Oberleutnant Peter Kiesgen (Führer 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 239 / 106.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 5 October 1941), (9) unidentified, (10) Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann, (11) Oberleutnant Hans Guhr (Regimentsadjutant Infanterie-Regiment 513 / 294.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 10 September 1942), and (12) Generalmajor Friedrich-Jobst Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach (Stellvertretenden Inspekteur der Inspektion des Erziehungs- und Bildungs-Wesens im Oberkommando des Heeres. Ritterkreuz later on 26 March 1944).

Studio Portrait of Friedrich-Wilhelm Bock

SS-Oberführer Friedrich-Wilhelm Bock (6 May 1897 - 11 March 1978) was an outstanding Waffen-SS artillery officer who during his career commanded three SS-divisions: 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division (20 October 1943 - 19 April 1944), the Latvian 19. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (15 March 1944 - 13 April 1944), and 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen" (31 July 1944 - 29 August 1944). He participated in anti-partisan actions following the invasion of Poland, and took part in Operation Barbarossa and the siege of Leningrad during the winter of 1942-43. He was also a winner of the following medals and decorations: 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (27 July 1917); Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918 (1934); 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (21 August 1941); 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (16 September 1941); Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (1942); Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz; and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (28 March 1943) mit Eichenlaub #570 (2 September 1944).

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich-Wilhelm_Bock
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/403775922822272585/
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/55673658_german-cross-recommendation-for-friedrich-wilhelm-bock

General der Infanterie Ferdinand Neuling

General der Infanterie Ferdinand Neuling (22 August 1885 - 20 February 1960) joined the Kaiser's army as ensign in 139th Infantry Regiment in 1905. A year later he was promoted to Leutnant. He served in World War I and, after 1918, continued his service in the Reichswehr. In 1929, he was promoted to major, in 1933 to colonel. In the same year, he took command of Infanterie-Regiment 23. On 1 January 1939 he became Generalmajor and three months later took command of Landwehr in Oppeln. On the eve of World War II he was ordered to create the 239. Infanterie-Division, basing on Landwehr soldiers. The Division's battle value was considered very low and the unit was scheduled to be used as reserve. On 2 September 1939, his division crossed German-Polish border in Gierałtowice. The troops marched towards Ornontowice, then Mikołów. On 3 September, following the retreat of Polish Army from Upper Silesia, Neuling entered Mikołów. A day later, he seized Katowice, where was warmly greeted by German citizens and fiercely attacked by Poles. Three days later, his soldiers burned down the synagoge in Katowice. After capturing Upper Silesia Neuling's division headed east. In October 1939 they guarded the German-Soviet border on Bug River, which was created after the fall of Poland. In 1940 Neuling's men took part in the offensive against France, stormed the Maginot Line, and captured Colmar and Strasbourg. After that, he was put into army's reserve. Since 1942 he commanded LXII ArmeeKorps in France. On 18 August 1944, his corps was crushed by advancing units of the US Army. Neuling was taken prisoner and transferred to the POW camp in Clinton, Mississippi. He returned to Germany in 1947 and died in Hildesheim in 1960. He never faced any charges concerning crimes committed during the war. Neuling received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 28 February 1942 as Generalleutnant and Kommandeur 239.Infanterie-Division. Other medals and ceorations that he receives: Ritterkreuz I. Klasse des Königlich Sächsischen Albrechts-Ordens mit Schwertern (14 October 1917); Ritterkreuz des Königlich Sächsischen Militär St. Heinrichs-Ordens (9 September 1918); 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918; 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (17 November 1939) und I.Klasse (15 June 1940); Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I.Klasse; Rumanian Ordinul Mihai Viteazul 3rd Class (19 September 1941); and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (19 December 1941).

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Neuling
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=210856

Himmler and the Ritterkreuztrüger from Panzertruppen

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler and the Ritterkreuzträger from Panzertruppen: This picture was taken on April 1942 by Bildberichter Haine and showing, from left to right: Hauptmann Artur Wollschlaeger (Ritterkreuz on 12 January 1942 as Oberleutnant and Chef 2.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4.Panzer-Division), Hauptmann Hans-Günther Bethke (Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 11 / 6.Panzer-Division), Heinrich Himmler (Reichsführer-SS und Chef der deutschen Polizei), and Hauptmann Wilhelm Renner (Ritterkreuz on 5 August 1940 as Oberleutnant and Chef 8.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 2 / 2.Panzer-Division).

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35837/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Karl Wiegand After He Received the Ritterkreuz

Oberleutnant Karl Wiegand (4 December 1918 - 19 January 2006) after receiving his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 May 1942 as Chef 2.Batterie / I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 18 (motorisiert). He joined the Luftwaffe in 1937, after the completion of his labor service obligation, as a Fahnenjunker in the II.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 14 in Cologne. In 1941 he came to Africa as a Batteriechef (battery chief) of the Flak Regiment 18 (mot.). Here he received the Ritterkreuz from the hands of Erwin Rommel. Wiegand had excelled in many fights and, during a fierce battle at Saunu, in spite of the most severe enemy shelling, intervened decisively in the battle with his artillery. So many times he had fulfilled his mission and were distinguished by a special leadership skills and exemplary personal bravery. His last rank at the end of the war was Hauptmann. Other medals and decorations: Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Flakkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe; Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber; Medaglia commemorativa della campagna italo-tedesca in Africa; and Ärmelband Afrika.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35714/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=7015&searchword=wiegand
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Wiegand,_Karl
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/40857/Wiegand-Karl.htm?c=aw

Walther von Brauchitsch Wearing Leather Mantel

Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres) wearing ledermantel (leather jacket). He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 September 1939 as Generaloberst and Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres for his conduct in the German invasion of Poland.

Source :
https://fotoshop44.de/Fotos/Ordenstraeger
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=643&searchword=brauchitsch

Reinhard Günzel at the Front

Kampfflieger (bomber pilot) and Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) Major Reinhard Günzel (Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 27 [KG 27] "Boelcke") briefs his men at the front, while wearing a fliegerkombi. The picture was taken on january 1943, after he received the Eichenlaub #184 for his Ritterkreuz (21 January 1943). Previously, Günzel received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 17 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27) "Boelcke". His last rank in the war was Oberstleutnant. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Sperling.

Source:
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/31046/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=1992&searchword=guenzel
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnzel,_Reinhard_(1907)

Hans Christern and Peter Sauerbruch

Front seat of the Schützenpanzerwagen Sd.Kfz. 251/3 mittlerer Funkpanzerwagen, from left to right: Oberst Hans Christern (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4.Panzer-Division) and Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Peter Sauerbruch (Ia [Erster Generalstabsoffizier] 4. Panzer-Division). The picture was taken in Kurland pocket in 1944. 4PzD fought in Latvia and Kurland from the summer of 1944 until January 1945 when it was transferred to West Prussia, where it surrendered to the Red Army in April 1945. 

Source :
http://www.axishistory.com/books/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3956-4-panzer-division
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Christern,_Hans

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony of 4. Panzer-Division

Award ceremony of 4. Panzer-Division, 12 August 1944. Divisionskommandeur Clemens Betzel (back to the camera) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Bataillonsführer Kurt Schäfer (on the right facing Betzel). From left to right: Oberst Hans Christern (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 35), Generalmajor Clemens Betzel (Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division), Oberstleutnant Gerlach von Gaudecker-Zuch (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33), Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Peter Sauerbruch (Ia [Erster Generalstabsoffizier] 4. Panzer-Division), Hauptmann Wilhelm Westermann (Kommandeur Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4), Major der Reserve Fritz-Rudolf Schultz (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 35), unidentified officer, Hauptmann Kurt Schäfer (Führer I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33), and another unidentified officer.

Source :
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Datei:Ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger_der_14._Panzer-Division.jpg
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&start=14025

Award Ceremony at Berlin

Berlin, 20 May 1942 : Ritterkreuzträger Gefreiter Hans Krohn (Ritterkreuz on 6 April 1942 as Gefreiter and Richtschütze in 1.Kompanie / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 20 / 20.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]) decorating the Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz ohne Schwertern to Franz Hahne, Obermeister in der Firma Rheinmetall -Altmärkische Kettenwerke (Alkett). At left is Hauptmann Leo Drossel (Ritterkreuz on 19 July 1940 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 102 / 24.Infanterie-Division) and Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Liebe (Ritterkreuz on 14 August 1940 and Eichenlaub on 10 June 1941, both as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U-38), while at right is SS-Hauptsturmführer Heinrich "Hein" Springer (Ritterkreuz on 12 January 1942 as SS-Hauptsturmführer and Führer 3.Kompanie I.Bataillon / SS-Infanterie-Regiment "LSSAH" [motorisiert] / Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler [motorisiert]).

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/48376/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&p=2110191#p2110191

Portrait Photo of U-Boat Ace Asmus Nikolai "Niko" Clausen

Kapitänleutnant Asmus Nikolai Clausen (2 June 1911 - 16 May 1943) pictured in March 1942. Clausen joined the Reichsmarine in October 1929 as a seaman. He spent the next few years on torpedo boats (T-185 and G-10) and on the Segelschulschiff (sailing school ship) Gorch Fock. In September 1935 he transferred to the new U-boat force and after some months of training, joined U-26 under Kapitänleutnant Werner Hartmann in April 1936. In March 1937 he entered Marineschule (Naval Academy) Mürwik and received several months of officer training. In the next two years he served on the battlecruiser Admiral Graf Spee and the minesweeper M-134. When war broke out in autumn 1939, his former commander Werner Hartmann requested his services, and Niko Clausen became the 1st Watch Officer (I WO) on U-37. He completed three patrols on U-37, mostly in the Atlantic, and on returning from the first patrol received his Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse from Karl Dönitz personally. He left U-37 in summer 1940 and in August commissioned the type IID U-boat U-142. After only two months he returned to U-37 to replace Victor Oehrn as commander. In May 1941 he left U-37, which then became a training boat. Three weeks later he commissioned the type IXC U-boat U-129. The first three patrols on U-129, mostly in the Atlantic, ended without success, but during the fourth patrol, in Caribbean waters, Niko Clausen sank seven ships with a total of 25,613 tons. During this patrol he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 March 1942. After returning from this patrol in May 1942 he turned over command of U-129 to Hans-Ludwig Witt. In July 1942 Kapitänleutnant Clausen commissioned U-182, another long range boat. On his first patrol, in the Indian Ocean, he sank five ships totalling 30,071 tons. On the return journey, U-182 was lost with all hands, sunk on 16 May 1943 by the American destroyers USS MacKenzie and Lamb.

This photo was taken in autumn 1941. Clausen, at the time commander of U-129, was on holidays with his crew in the Austrian Alps town of Pörtschach, the god-parent town of U-129. He was then 30 years old.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/2734/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://uboat.net/men/clausen.htm
http://collectinghistory.net/U-182/

Karl Ens at El Alamein

The working position of 5 cm Pak 38 (L/60) (5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)) at El Alamein positions, October 1942. Ritterkreuzträger Oberstleutnant Karl Ens (left) checks the camouflaged netting works. He got the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 May 1941 as Major and Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 125 (motorisiert). During the First World War, Ens was Leutnant in the Baden Grenadier Regiment. During this war he received both 1914 Eisernes Kreuzes, Ritterkreuz des Königlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern, Baden Militär-Karl-Friedrich-Verdienstorden Ritterkreuz, Baden Orden vom Zähringer Löwen Ritterkreuz II. Klasse, and the Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Silber. Karl Ens finally reached the rank of Oberst during the Second World War. He was missing in action on 15 April 1945 and was formally declared dead by the AG Baiersbronn on 11 December 1957. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Dohm.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/1407/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_cm_Pak_38
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/30000/Ens-Karl.htm?c=aw

Three Ritterkreuzträger from 19. Infanterie-Division

October 1940: Three Ritterkreuzträger (the recipients of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) from Infanterie-Regiment 74 / 19.Infanterie-Division. From left to right: Oberfeldwebel Johann Pongratz (Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 74. Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940), Oberst Gustav Schmidt (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 74. Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940), and Oberleutnant der Reserve Gustav Hippler (Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 74. Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940). In the German invasion to the West on the summer of 1940, four member of 19. Infanterie-Division (changed to 19. Panzer-Division on 1 November 1940) received the coveted Ritterkreuz, which was given on the same day, 4 September 1940. Three of them (pictured above) comes from Infanterie-Regiment 74, while the last one, Feldwebel Karl Jürgens, was a Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 73.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35635/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Josef Harpe

Generalmajor Josef Harpe (Kommandeur 12. Panzer-Division) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #55 from the hand of Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), on the award ceremony held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze (Rastenburg/East Prussia), early January 1942. Harpe already got the award announcement from 31 December 1941. He had been awarded the Ritterkreuz previously on 13 August 1941 (as Generalmajor and Kommandeur 12. Panzer-Division), and would received the Schwerter #36 for his Ritterkreuz and Eichenlaub on 15 September 1943 as General der Panzertruppe and Kommandierender General XXXXI.Panzerkorps. This picture was first published in 'Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung', 21 January 1942 edition,

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35583/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=2127&searchword=harpe

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Italo Gariboldi

5 April 1943: From left to right: Oberstleutnant Gerhard Engel (Adjutant des Heeres und Verbindungsoffizier des Heeres zu Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmundt (Chefadjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generale di Brigata Efisio Marras (Head of the Italian Mission in connection with the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Generale d'Armata Italo Gariboldi (Commander Italian Army in Russia), and unknown Italian Generale di Divizione. The picture was taken by Presse-Hoffmann photographer at the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Gariboldi, held in Berghof Obersalzberg. Gariboldi already received the radio/telegram news for his award from 1 April 1943.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/29865/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=231761&p=2107830#p2107830

Ritterkreuz Award ceremony for Heinz Strüning and Alfons Köster

From left to right: Hauptmann Paul Semrau (Staffelkapitän 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 2), Leutnant der Reserve Heinz Strüning (Flugzeugführer in 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1), Oberfeldwebel Alfons Köster (Flugzeugführer in 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 2), and Leutnant Wilhelm Beier (Flugzeugführer in 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1) on 9 November 1942 on the occasion of the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Struning and Köster. They already received the news of their award via radio/telegram on 29 October 1942 previously. The picture comes from a collection of Hans-Jakob Schmitz.

Source :
Book "Nachtjagd Defenders of the Reich 1940-1943" by Martin W. Bowman

Veteran Aces from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52)

Six Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipients) and former Luftwaffe fighter aces from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) in front of the aircraft hangar in Ebern, Altenstein (Germany), 2002. From left to right: Günther Rall (275 victories. Ritterkreuz on 3 September 1942, Eichenlaub on 26 October 1942, and Schwerter on 12 September 1943), Friedrich "Fritz" Obleser (120 victories. Ritterkreuz on 23 March 1944), Peter "Bonifaz" Düttmann (152 victories. Ritterkreuz on 9 June 1944), Viktor Petermann (64 victories. Ritterkreuz on 29 February 1944), Walter Wolfrum (137 victories. Ritterkreuz on 27 July 1944), and Heinz "Esau" Ewald (84 victories. Ritterkreuz on 20 April 1945).

Source :
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Jagdgeschwader_52

11 Aces from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52)

"11 Männer 1676 Luftsiege" (11 Man 1676 Air Victory): Newspaper article from the end of 1944 about Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52). They were as follow: Oberstleutnant Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 52 with 126 victories. Ritterkreuz on 21 October 1940 and Eichenlaub on 25 November 1943), Oberleutnant Erich "Bubi" Hartmann (Staffelkapitän 7. Staffel with 303 victories. Ritterkreuz on 29 October 1943, Eichenlaub on 2 March 1944, Schwerter on 2 July 1944, and Brillanten on 25 August 1944), Major Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (Gruppenkommandeur II. Gruppe with 273 victories. Ritterkreuz on 23 August 1942, Eichenlaub on 11 March 1943, and Schwerter on 2 March 1944), Hauptmann Wilhelm "Willi" Batz (Gruppenkommandeur III. Gruppe with 208 victories. Ritterkreuz on 26 March 1944, Eichenlaub on 20 July 1944, and Schwerter on 21 April 1945), Oberleutnant Otto Vönnekold/Fönnekold (Staffelkapitän 5. Staffel with 134 victories. Ritterkreuz on 26 March 1944), Leutnant Franz Schall (Staffelkapitän 3. Staffel with 117 victories. Ritterkreuz on 10 October 1944), Leutnant Karl "Charlie" Gratz (Stab Jagdgeschwader 52 with 116 victories. Ritterkreuz on 1 July 1942), Hauptmann Adolf Borchers (Gruppenkommandeur I. Gruppe with 118 victories. Ritterkreuz on 22 November 1943), Oberleutnant Friedrich "Fritz" Obleser (Staffelkapitän 8. Staffel with 116 victories. Ritterkreuz on 23 March 1944), Leutnant Hans-Joachim Birkner (Staffelkapitän 9. Staffel with 101 victories. Ritterkreuz on 27 July 1944), and Leutnant Anton "Toni" Resch (Flugzeugführer in 3. Staffel with 64 victories. Ritterkreuz on 7 April 1945).

Source :
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Datei:Zeitung_luftsiege_JG52_Oktober_1944.jpg

Fritz Jäger with Other Officers of the Wehrmacht

Oberst Friedrich Gustav "Fritz" Jäger (center) with other officers of the Wehrmacht. He display a rare combination of Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse (ribbon) and I.Klasse (medal below the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse spange). Fritz Jäger received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 26 May 1940 as Major and Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 8 / 3.Infanterie-Division. He was a resistance fighter in Nazi Germany and a member of the 20 July Plot. On 20 July 1944, the day of the attempt on Hitler's life, Jäger was commander of the Panzer reserve troops in defence districts II (Stettin) and XXI (Kalisch). After the briefcase bomb exploded at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia, Jäger received orders from Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg to arrest an SS Oberführer. Furthermore, he was also to arrest Joseph Goebbels and occupy the radio station in Masurenallee. After it became known that Hitler had survived the attempt on his life, however, the soldiers under his command would no longer take his orders. Jäger himself was arrested by his own army on the same day when the plot failed. On 21 August 1944, Friedrich Gustav Jäger was sentenced to death for treason by Roland Freisler at the Volksgerichtshof, and he was hanged later the same day at Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. His family's property was confiscated.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Gustav_Jaeger
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879&start=7680