Hauptmann der Reserve Adolf Hoyer

Adolf Hoyer (17 July 1915 - 4 November 1943) is a Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) from Sudetenland, who received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 8 October 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 4.Kompanie / Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 120 / 20.Panzergrenadier-Division / XII.Armeekorps / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte. His last rank was Hauptmann der Reserve. His other medals and decorations as follow: Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen; and Verwundetenabzeichen.

Source :
"Die Ritterkreuzträger des Sudetenlandes 1939-1945" by Wolfgang Historica
http://www.20pzgrendiv.eu/ritterkreuz/
https://www.argunners.com/die-ritterkreuztrager-des-sudetenlandes-1939-1945/

Bernhard Jope with Luftwaffe Officer

One side of a stereograph of Hauptmann Bernhard Jope (left) with another Luftwaffe officer with the rank of Leutnant. Original caption in German reads: "Hauptmann Jope, Staffelkapitän eines Fernkampfgeschwaders, der u.a. den engl. 42000 to Dampfer 'Empress of Britain' im Atlantik in Brand geworfen hat" (Captain Jope, squadron commander of a ranged bomber squadron, has set fire to the 42,000 ton British steamer 'Empress of Britain' in the Atlantic). The picture was taken in the period of 1941-1943.

Source :
https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/pa1180063

Martin Möbus in Hoffmann Postcard

At the age of 16, Martin Möbus was the leader of a group of 250 Hitlerjugend members. Already at that same age he flew with gliderplanes. He began his training with the Luftwaffe in 1936 and completed his course in 1938. His first unit to fly with was the I.Gruppe / Stukageschwader 1 ("Insterburger Gruppe"). With this unit he took part of the campaign in Poland (spetember 1939) and Norway (april-may 1940). After these campaigns het was ordered to Germany for more training and flew with the 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Stukageschwader 2. his excellent leader capacity's made him Hauptmann and Commander of the 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Stukageschwader 5 during the Russian Campaign. Martin Möbus was killed in a carcrash in Pori, Finnland on 2 June 1944. During the more than 800 flights he made, he destroyed several ships, more then 60 tanks, 18 Anti-Aircraftguns, 5 Armored Cars, over 600 other vehicles and several bridges. His medals and decorations were as follow: Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (26 September 1939) und I.Klasse (8 May 1940); Ritterkreuz (8 May 1940); Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (24 September 1942); and Eichenlaub (25 April 1944).

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/3109/M%F6bus-Martin.htm

Bernhard Jope in Hoffmann Postcard

Bernhard Jope (10 May 1914 – 31 July 1995) was a German bomber pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes from the Luftwaffe. As part of Kampfgeschwader 40 (bomber wing), Jope flew missions across the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean in support of the German navy, damaging in October 1940 the RMS Empress of Britain. In 1943, he led Kampfgeschwader 100 in the attacks on the Italian battleship Roma, the British battleship HMS Warspite and cruiser HMS Uganda, and the US cruiser USS Savannah. Bernhard Jope joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1935 after graduating from the Königliche Technische Hochschule zu Danzig (technical university in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz) in aircraft construction. Prior to joining the military service he had already almost completed his flight training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (German Air Transport School). In support of the Kriegsmarine, Jope flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor on experimental missions across the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean on behalf of Deutsche Luft Hansa. On 26 October 1940 he spotted the troop transport RMS Empress of Britain and severely damaged her with two 250 kg bombs. The Empress of Britain was subsequently sunk by U-32, commanded by Hans Jenisch, on 28 October 1940. During his time at Kampfgeschwader 100 (KG 100) Jope led an attack on 9 September 1943 on the Italian battle fleet that was sailing from La Spezia en route to Malta, to surrender to the Allies. Jope led a formation of eleven Dornier Do 217 bombers armed with the Fritz X radio controlled glide bomb and in the ensuing action the 45,000 ton Italian battleship Roma was hit twice and sank. The Roma's sister ship, Italia, was hit by a single Fritz and seriously damaged, but was able to make it to Malta. In later action, Jope and KG 100 scored hits with the Fritz on the British battleship HMS Warspite and cruiser HMS Uganda, and the US cruiser USS Savannah. After the war, Jope worked until his retirement as a pilot for Lufthansa. Jope died on 31 July 1995, in Königstein.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Jope

Georg Grüner in Hoffmann Postcard

Georg Grüner joined as a cadet in the Panzer Regiment 1 in 1936. On 1 September 1938 he was promoted to Leutnant and Zugführer in Panzer-Abteilung 33. With this unit he participated in the Polish campaign. Then he came in the 1st Company of the Panzer-Regiment 33, with whom he joined the Western campaign. From June 1941 he fought in Russia, where he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 18 October 1941. For his outstanding work as a platoon leader in the Kursk area, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 25 November 1941 as Chief of the 1st Company. Subsequently, he was promoted to Hauptmann and a short time later seriously wounded in the battlefield. After his recovery, he was given the job as the commander of I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 2 in March 1943, which was repositioned in France after its destruction in Stalingrad. Subsequently, it was used in Italy. At the end of November 1943, the regiment came to the eastern front. In forming a bridgehead over the Gornyi-Tikitsch at Cherkassy in February 1944, he was particularly distinguished. On 11 March 1944, he died in these operations. Posthumously he was awarded the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz on 26 March 1944, and promoted to Major.

Source :
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/G/GruenerG.htm

Horst Ademeit in Hoffmann Postcard

Horst Ademeit was born on 8th February 1912 in Breslau. After taking chemistry in Berlin he became a Diplomiert-ingenieur Assistent with Technischen Hochschulen in Berlin and in Braunschweig. In this period, Ademeit served his reserve duty by learning to fly and being trained as a fighter pilot. In the spring of 1940 he was transferred to the 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) with the rank of Unteroffizier, with which he participated in the campaign in France and the Battle of Britain. He achieved his first victory on 18th September 1940 over the English Channel, but was shot down himself also and rescued. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Ademeit left for the Eastern Front with I. / Jagsgeschwader 54 in June 1941. With the shooting down of a I-15 fighter he achieved his tenth victory on 24th September 1941 as Feldwebel. With his twentieth victory on 18th February 1942 he was promoted to Leutnant. On 7th March, after his fourtieth victory he was made Staffelkapitän with 6. / Jagdgeschwader 54. With the shooting down of three Soviet La-5 fighters and a Pe-2 bomber he had achieved his 100th victory on 15th January 1944. On the 18th January he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur with I. / Jagdgeschwader 54. Early August 1944 he was temporarily appointed Kommandeur of Jagdgeschwader 54. During a chase with a Soviet II-2 Shturmovik over the Soviet lines on 7th August 1944 he went missing near Dünaburg, probably killed in action. While missing he was promoted to Major. Horst Ademeit achieved a total of 166 victories in over 600 sorties. He achieved 146 victories on the Eastern Front.

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/21466/Ademeit-Horst.htm?c=aw

Hans Källner in Hoffmann Postcard

Hans Källner (as Generalmajor) on Hoffmann postcard series, not long after he received the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (12 February 1944) as a Commander of 19. Panzer-Division. Källner (9 October 1898 – 18 April 1945) was a German general during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Källner was killed in action while visiting the front lines near Olomouc.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_K%C3%A4llner
http://www.wwii-photos-maps.com/generalofficers/slides/Hans%20K%C3%A4llner.html

Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke in Hoffmann Postcard

Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (24 January 1889 – 4 July 1968) was a German general of paratroop forces during World War II. He led units in Crete, North Africa, Italy, the Soviet Union and France, and was captured by American forces at the conclusion of the Battle for Brest in September 1944. He was a recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, one of only 27 people in the Nazi German military so decorated. Ramcke was an ardent Nazi who committed war crimes. Following the fighting on Crete in 1941, he ordered his men to attack civilians. In 1951 Ramcke was convicted of war crimes against French civilians during the Battle of Brest, but was released after three months imprisonment. During the 1950s he was a prominent nationalist and supported extreme right-wing movements.

Source :
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/24-01-1913.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann-Bernhard_Ramcke

Ritterkreuz Award ceremony for Ewald Mrusek

 

 

The first Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) in Tunisia: Stabsfeldwebel Ewald Mrusek (some sources spelled his last name as "Mrousek") received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 19 january 1943 for heroism while serving as a Zugführer (Platoon Leader) in 2.Kompanie / Feld-Bataillon "Tunis 1" / Infanterie-Regiment "Tunis" (part of 5. Panzerarmee), a unit that was formed from inhabitans of North Africa in Winter 1942/43 in Tunis. There were three such Batallions (T1-T3), and they were disbanded after the Axis capitulation in Tunis. Mrusek received the coveted medal after he defended an important elevated position in the Tunisian forward area with only nine men and, thanks to them, a strategically important section of land could be reclaimed from the Allied forces. The Ritterkreuz award ceremony would be held a month later, on.17 February 1943, in Tunisia, North Africa. This pictures was taken on that date. Mrusek himself was born on 26 December 1911 in Beuthen/Silesia, Germany, and died on 24 March 1981 in Bremen, Germany. His other medals and decorations: Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre; Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber; Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz; and Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=131099
https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/first-german-soldier-to-be-decorated-with-the-knight-cross-news-photo/107427551
https://live.warthunder.com/user/ArabianRhinos/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47037/Mrusek-Ewald.htm

Luftwaffe Ace Gerhard Barkhorn in 1943

Summer of 1943: Oberleutnant Gerhard Barkhorn (left) - initially commanding officer of 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52), and subsequently of II. Gruppe itself - and Leutnant Karl-Heinz Plücker, photographed on the airfield at Kharkov-Roganj in the Eastern Front. Barkhorn was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 August 1942, plus Eichenlaub on 12 January 1943 and Schwerter on 2 March 1944. Although when this picture was taken Barkhorn had won Eichenlaub for 120 victories, he was wearing no decoration at the time.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Romanian Award Ceremony for Finnish Carl Gustaf Mannerheim

Romanian Ambassador Constintinides (second from left) handed the commander-in-chief of Finland's defence forces, Carl Gustaf Emil Freiherr Mannerheim, the Ordinul Mihai Viteazul (Order of Michael the Brave), December 1941. It is is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of the First World War, and was again awarded in the Second World War. The Order, which may be bestowed either on an individual or on a whole unit, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), a late 16th-century Prince of Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia. The award for Mannerheim dated as 1 November 1941, and it contained three medals at once: Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3, 2 and 1 (Royal Decree no. 3026). Mannerheim is also a Ritterkreuzträger (recipient of German Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses), which he received on 18 August 1941, and Eichenlaubträger (recipient of German Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves), which he received on 8 August 1944.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/52357/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustaf_Emil_Mannerheim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Michael_the_Brave
https://www.sotasampo.fi/fi/photographs/page/sakuva_102062
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34700/Mannerheim-Carl-Gustav-Emil-Freiherr.htm?c=aw

Brillantenträger Adelbert Schulz with His Fans

Generalmajor Adelbert Schulz smiling amongst happy spectators all around him. In his neck is the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds), which he received on 9 January 1944 from the hand of the Führer, almost a month after the initial radio announcement (14 December 1943). Schulz became the 9th recipient of the prestigious medal, and it was given for his brilliant leadership as a commander of  Panzer-Regiment 25 / 7.Panzer-Division. On 1 January 1944 he was promoted from Oberst to Generalmajor, and on 26 January 1944 he became the commander of 7. Panzer-Division. Tragically, only two days after he got elected, Schulz was wounded in action in the area of Shepetivka on 28 January 1944, and died the same day.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelbert_Schulz
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/216/Schulz-Adelbert.htm?c=aw

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Otto Carius

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Oberrhein) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #535 to Oberleutnant der Reserve Otto Carius from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Ege on 2 January 1945 at the outskirts of Salzburg (Austria). The ceremony was quite extraordinary because Carius had already received the announcement of his award from 27 July 1944, but the ceremony was postponed until five months later! This is because the panzer ace was seriously injured by a multiple shot in the seven parts of his body (including the neck!) only a few days before he suppsosedly received the Eichenlaub, so he had to be taken to the intensive care for months at Feldlazarett (Field Hospital). Carius received the news of his award through newspapers when lying weak on the bed, and was only able to walk with his feet in September 1944. When this photograph was taken, he was no longer in charge of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 but had already been transferred to Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 500. Another interesting fact is that the handed-over ceremony was performed by Himmler, whereas the Eichenlaub-grade medal ceremony and above was usually attended by Hitler directly. This is because from the end of 1944 the Führer began to restrict his public activities - along with the deterioration of the war situation - so that such activities were then represented to his closest confidants such as Himmler and Göring. Carius dedicated a chapter about this moment in his book 'Tigers in the Mud': "My first impressions of this man, whom his opponents called a 'bloodhound', had really pleasantly surprised me. I wasn't apprehensive about the upcoming 'cozy' conversation anymore. I described my visit with Heinrich Himmler in such detail, because he really surprised me. After the conversation in his staff headquarters , I gathered some hope for a successful conclusion to the war. That was after I had already considered a defeat almost certain."

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/36771/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony of Wilhelm Knetsch at Stalingrad

Major Wilhelm Knetsch (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 545 / 389.Infanterie-Division) receives the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Crosses) from General der Panzertruppe Friedrich Paulus (Oberbefehlshaber 6. Armee). Stalingrad, 15 October 1942. Knetsch already received the radio news about his award from 8 October 1942. During the attack on Stalingrad, Wilhelm Friedrich Karl Knetsch (26 February 1906 - 27 March 1982) was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold and the Ritterkreuz with a fortnight of each other, and the proud Paulus said that Knetsch was the best battalion commander in his entire army! Because of a severe illness, on 15 November 1942 he left the Stalingrad cauldron.

Source :

"Winter Storm: The Battle for Stalingrad and the Operation to Rescue 6th Army" by Hans Wijers

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68997

https://ww2images.blogspot.co.id/2018/03/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-of-wilhelm.html

Three German Commanders in the Battle Against Allied Troops in St.-Lô

Three senior German commanders in the Battle against Allied troops in St.-Lô area, Normandy, 16 July 1944. From left to right: General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl (Kommandierender General II. Fallschirmkorps), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee), and Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf (Kommandeur 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division). Behind Schimpf is SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Boska (Adjutant Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee). In this meeting Meindl told his commander, Hausser, that the German defense position at St.-Lô was untenable any longer due to the superiority of the Allied forces on land and in the air. The next day Hausser forwarded this message to his commander, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe B). Unknowingly, on the same day Rommel was badly wounded by Allied air strikes and went to the intensive treatment at the hospital! This photo is most likely taken at Villebaudon which is the base of II. Fallschirmkorps.

General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl (Kommandierender General II. Fallschirmkorps), SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee), and Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf (Kommandeur 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division).

SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Oberbefehlshaber 7. Armee) and Generalleutnant Dipl.Ing. Richard Schimpf (Kommandeur 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division).

Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/en/search/?query=121548872#
https://ww2images.blogspot.co.id/2018/03/three-german-commanders-in-st-lo-area.html

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/