Matthias Bermadinger (31 October 1919 – 18 February 1944) was a German Luftwaffe bomber pilot and recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes during World War II. Bermadinger was killed on 18 February 1944 over Pskov, Russia. He was posthumously promoted to Hauptmann and on 5 April 1944 was simultaneously awarded the Ritterkreuz.
Source :
Denis Daum photo collection
https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Matthias_Bermadinger
Koch-Erpach was born in Munich, and eventually rose to the rank of general. In 1939, he commanded the German 8th Infantry Division during the invasion of Poland. On 24 June 1940, after the Battle of France he was awarded a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. From 1 November 1940 to 1 March 1941, Koch-Erpach commanded the German LX Corps. After a short break, he briefly commanded the XXXV Corps from 1 April 1941 to 1 May 1941. Koch-Erpach commanded Military District VIII from 1 May 1942 to 26 January 1945. The headquarters for this military district was Breslau and the district included Silesia, Sudetenland, parts of Moravia, and parts of southwestern Poland. Military District VIII ceased operations in February 1945. From 26 January 1945 to 10 April 1945, Koch-Erpach commanded the LVI Panzer Corps. Later in 1945, Koch-Erpach was acting commander of the German 1st Army for two days before the war ended, from 6 May to 8 May. He died in Bad Boll. General der Kavallerie Rudolf Koch-Erpach
Born: 09 Apr 1886 in Munich (München)
Died: 27 Nov 1971 in Karlsruhe, Baden
Promotions:
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (01 Dec 1904); Fähnrich (04 Mar 1905); Leutnant (06 Mar 1906); Oberleutnant (25 Jun 1913); Hauptmann (01 Mar 1916); Rittmeister (19 May 1916); Major (01 Nov 1924); Oberstleutnant (01 Oct 1929); Oberst (01 Apr 1932); Generalmajor (01 Jan 1935); Generalleutnant (01 Apr 1937); General der Kavallerie (01 Dec 1940)
Career:
Entered Army Service (22 Jul 1904)
Fahnenjunker in the 2nd Bavarian Ulanen-Regiment (22 Jul 1904-22 Apr 1910)
Detached to the War-School Munich (01 Mar 1905-07 Feb 1906)
Transferred into the 6th Chevaulegers-Regiment (22 Apr 1910-01 Aug 1914)
Detached to the Bavarian Military Riding School (01 Oct 1910-30 Sep 1912)
Detached to the Bavarian War Academy (01 Oct 1912-31 Jul 1914)
Ordinance-Officer & Signals-Officer with the General-Command of III. Bavarian Army-Corps (01 Aug 1914-26 Dec 1915)
Transferred to the Chief of the General Staff of the Field Army for Special Use and Assigned to the Staff of the German-Persian Military Mission (26 Dec 1915-14 Feb 1915)
Transferred to the High Command in Persia as 2nd General-Staff-Officer (14 Feb 1915-01 Jul 1916)
Recieved Rank as Hauptmann in the General Staff (01 Mar 1916)
General-Staff-Officer with the k.u.k. Austrian XII. Corps (02 Jul 1916-17 Jul 1916)
Transferred to the Staging-Inspection of the South-Army and Liaison-Officer to the k.u.k. 3rd Army subordinated German Troops (17 Jul 1916-23 Oct 1916)
Transferred to Staging-Inspection 15, detached as Liaison-Officer with the k.u.k. 1st Army & Director of the German Branch-Office with Army High Command 1 (23 Oct 1916-01 Nov 1916)
German Supply Officer (Ic) with the k.u.k. Army High Command 1 (01 Nov 1916-15 Dec 1916)
1st General-Staff-Officer with Staging-Command 22 (15 Dec 1916-24 Apr 1917)
2nd General-Staff-Officer of the 16th Bavarian Infantry-Division (24 Apr 1917-12 Nov 1917)
Transferred into the General-Staff of the 6th Bavarian Reserve-Division (12 Nov 1917-11 Feb 1918)
At the same time, Delegated with the Leadership of I. Battalion of the 16th Bavarian Reserve-Infantry-Regiment (10 Nov 1917-07 Jan 1918)
Assigned to Army-Group Kronprinz Rupprecht for Special Use (11 Feb 1918-20 Nov 1918)
3rd General-Staff-Officer of Army-Group Kronprinz Rupprecht (20 Nov 1918-13 Dec 1918)
Deputy Senior-Quartermaster of Army-Group A (13 Dec 1918-02 Jan 1919)
Leader of the Forward-Command of Army-Group A (02 Jan 1919-07 Jan 1919)
Transferred to the 5th Chevaulegers-Regiment (07 Jan 1919-26 Jan 1919)
Detached to the Army-Department of the Bavarian Ministry for Millitary Affairs (26 Jan 1919-01 Aug 1919)
Transferred as Auxiliary-Officer in the RWM (01 Aug 1919-01 Oct 1923)
Squadron-Chief in the 17th Mounted-Regiment (01 Oct 1923-01 Aug 1927)
Transferred to the Staff of the 7th Division (01 Aug 1927-01 Sep 1929)
Commander of the 17th Mounted-Regiment (01 Sep 1929-01 Oct 1932)
Transferred to the Staff of the 7th Mounted-Regiment (01 Oct 1932-01 Nov 1932)
Chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry-Division (01 Nov 1932-01 Apr 1934)
Commander of the 3rd Cavalry-Brigade (01 Apr 1934-13 May 1935)
Commander of the 8th Infantry-Division (13 May 1935-01 Nov 1940)
Commanding General of Higher Command LX (01 Nov 1940-01 Mar 1941)
Commanding General of Higher Command XXXV (01 Apr 1941-01 May 1941)
Führer-Reserve OKH (15 May 1941-15 Jul 1941)
Commander of Liaison-Staff Breslau (15 Jul 1941-01 May 1942)
Führer-Reserve OKH (01 May 1942-01 May 1942)
Commanding General of the Replacement VIII. Army-Corps and Commander in Military-District VIII (01 May 1942-16 Feb 1945)
Commanding General of LVI. Panzer-Corps (16 Feb 1945-00 Mar 1945)
Commanding General of Corps-Group Schlesien (00 Mar 1945-11 Apr 1945)
Führer-Reserve OKH & Detached to the Staff of Commander-in-Chief West (11 Apr 1945-06 May 1945)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 1st Army (06 May 1945-08 May 1945)
In US Captivity then Interned (08 May 1945-1948)
Released (1948)
Awards & Decorations:
- Ritterkreuz: am 24.06.1940 als Generalleutnant und Kommandeur 8. Infanterie-Division
- Deutsches Kreuz in Silber: am 24.11.1944 als General der Kavallerie und Kommandierender General des stellv. VIII. Armeekorps und Befehlshaber im Wehrkreis VIII (Breslau)
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Bayer. Prinz-Regent-Luitpold Jubiläums-Medaille
- Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern
- Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern und mit der Krone
- k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration und mit goldener Spange
- Türkische Silberne Liakat-(Verdienst)-Medaille mit Säbel
- Türkischer Eiserner Halbmond
- Offizierkreuz des Kgl. Bulgar. Militär-Verdienstorden
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Spange zum EK I
- Spange zum EK II
- Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern
- Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern
Source :
Photo courtesy of Graveland
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/KOCHERPACH-RUDOLF.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Koch-Erpach
Walter Kniep was born on 13 December 1909 as son of the farmer Franz Kniep in Laugallen (now Lorenzen) in East Prussia. After completing secondary school, and after one year of training at the police school in Brandenburg, he was transferred to the Berlin police force in 1930, to which he belonged until his entry into the Political Readiness Ellwangen in February 1934.
After joining the SS and following successful completion of a training course at the SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig his promotion to SS-Untersturmführer took place on 20 April 1936, initially commanding 1.Batterie / SS Flak-Abteilung. On 3 June 1940 he was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse and as SS-Hauptsturmführer on 22 July 1941 the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse. For special bravery shown again and again he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 15 November 1941.
The commander of SS-Division "Reich", SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm "Willi" Bittrich submitted the preliminary paperwork for Kniep's award of the German Cross in Gold, on 12 November 1941. Kniep's battalion commander, SS-Sturmbannführer Ehrath recommended Kniep for the award, stating;
“Already in the west SS-Hstuf Kniep showed special bravery and personal commitment as commander of a 2cm Flak Company. SS-Hstuf Kniep's mission in the east saw him leading 3./SS-Rgt "Der Führer". To his company SS-Hstuf Kniep was always an example of personal bravery. In addition to his personal commitment, SS-Hstuf Kniep always acts prudently and led his company very well.
During the hard and heavy fighting near Jelnja SS-Hstuf Kniep led from the front of his company, on 27.7.41, storming the height west of Panteleff with special momentum. The attack advanced so fast that the Russians, who were just about to occupy the height with a regiment, reacted too slowly to the attack. The machine guns of the 3rd company fired into the enemy units, as the height west of Panteleff was very important for the continuation of the heavy fighting at Jelnja. Kniep was the farthest eastward with his company in the following combat section assigned for the defense. Again, Kniep was the soul of his company's resistance. Despite the constant heaviest artillery fire, which fell on the thin line - due to the width of the section - of the 3rd company, Kniep was almost fanatical in his desire to hold the defensive position. The importance of the height for the Russians could be seen from the fact that they sent everything they could assemble in their assault against the 3rd company and supported these attacks with tanks. Where the Russians managed to reach the 3rd Company line at hand grenade range or where the Russian artillery fire broke through the 3rd Company's thin defensive line, Kniep appeared without regard for his life and helped restore the situation. Thus the 3rd company held its position under the careful leadership and energy of SS-Hstuf Kniep and caused the Russians severe losses.
On 12.8.41, when the battalion was the divisional reserve, the 3rd company was deployed to close the gap between the SS-Rgt. "D" and the 15th ID, into which the Russians had penetrated. The Russians had taken up position in a wood with dense undergrowth and fought tooth and nail to retain the position. In close combat, SS-Hstuf Kniep cleared the forest at the head of his company and completed the mission with energy and daredevilish regard for his life.
On the night of 7/8.41 the Makoshin bridgehead was extended. Here also the 3rd company played a large part, since it succeeded in making the connection with the Kradschutzen strongly pressed by the Russians on the south bank. Here too, SS-Hstuf Kniep was at the head of his company crossing the Desna and penetrating the dense Kussel area occupied by the Russians on the bank without regard for his life
On 20.8.41 SS-Hstuf Kniep showed his personal bravery and good, prudent leadership of his company in the fights for Romny. Kniep was commissioned to lead a night attack and clear the the Russians from the southern part of Pustowejtowka with his company and then to seal it off to the east. SS-Hstuf Kniep advanced into the village at the head of an assault group and cleared it in close combat with hand grenades. In these actions the Russian suffered great losses of men and material.
A few days later at Ssakunowo SS-Hstuf Kniep, again at the front of his company, cleared the local area against overpowering numerical superiority. The subsequent massive counter-attacks of the Russians broke again and again on the exemplary defensive line of the 3./SS-Rgt "DF" under the leadership of SS-Hstuf Kniep.
In summary, it can be said that SS-Hstuf Kniep is an exemplary company commander, who will always be an example of soldierly duty and personal commitment. The men of I./SS-Rgt "DF" believe SS-Hstuf Kniep is worthy of the award of the German Cross in Gold.”
SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm, Kniep's regimental commander endorsed the recommendation, commenting of Kniep;
“Kniep is one of the bravest company commanders of the regiment. Through his personal commitment he has given the company an unshakable attitude, which has shown itself especially in the heavy defensive battles in the Jelnja bow. There the 3rd company had to hold the most endangered section and endure the heaviest artillery fire.
In the attack along the highway south of Noshaisk, Kniep was the first man to cross the Ushat amidst strong hostile fire, destroying the explosive charges at the bridge and thus saving the bridge from destruction. For his bravery, which has been shown again and again, he has received the highest recognition.”
On 7 November 1941 Kniep was heavily wounded by shots to the head and shoulder, and it was deemed questionable as to whether he would be again suitable for service at the front.
According to Kniep's later Ritterkreuz recommendation, the German Cross in Gold award was ratified on 15 November 1941. Kniep was the first member of the division to receive the German Cross in Gold!
In October 1942 he was given command of the Assault Gun Battalion of the “Das Reich” Division, and on 20 April 1943 was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer.
Kniep would be recommended for the Knight's Cross by SS-Gruppenführer Walter Krüger, following heavy fighting in the Belgorod area, on 31 July 1943:
“After the breakthrough through the enemy positions north of Belgorod, in which the SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung "DR" had a decisive part, the division had the task on the 8.7.43 to shield the long open flank of the II.SS-Pz-Korps to the east, while the armoured group led a push to the west to break the hard enemy resistance in the section of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "LSSAH".
Early in the morning of 8.7.43 the enemy sent strong infantry and tank forces against the positions of the Pz.Gren.Rgts "D" and "DF", with the aim of regaining in decisive counter-attack the dominant high at Kalinin taken from him the day before, in order from there to cut off the supply lines of the division and the korps. Air reconnaissance had reported large assemblies of enemy tanks, which were later confirmed by the detection of 170 enemy tanks.
The Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung. was advised to cooperate with the Pz.Gren.Rgts "D" and "DF" with one battery each, while the third battery remained at the disposal of the division. After the enemy infantry was separated from their tanks, the first wave of enemy tank forces rolled over their own positions and advanced up to 9km deep into their own hinterland. By this time, almost all telephone lines to the division had been cut. In this threatening situation, SS-Stubaf Kniep, decided to combine his batteries on his own initiative, although two of them were tied up in a hard defensive battle, and led them from the rear assembly point to halt the enemy tank attacks. In extremely agile battle Kniep and his battalion were able to destroy 51 enemy tanks, after hours of hottest fighting with only 1 loss of his own. From the head of his battalion, he destroyed 5 enemy tanks with his vehicle. Through this decisive and aggressive action SS-Stubaf Kniep is credited with the fact that the enemy tank was smashed in time and that the mass of the enemy tanks - without guidance - could be destroyed by the other anti-tank units of the division. The SS-Pz.Grenadiers with their assault and close-combat weapons, motivated by the bold and successful example of SS-Stubaf Kniep with his assault guns, have a high share in this battle where 92 enemy tanks were destroyed.
In exploitation of this tactical success brought about by SS-Stubaf Kniep, the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt "D" was able to attack immediately and its own positions became the starting point for the attack of the 2 regiments of the SS-Pz.Gren.Div "LSSAH" on 9 July 43. In addition, the ammunition - fuel - and empty squadrons already in the area of the enemy tank attack, as well as the staff - due to the situation and topographic conditions - which had all been compressed into a confined space, were protected from greater losses.
SS-Stubaf Kniep is a brave, decisive and enthusiastic battalion commander, who has always understood how to use his battalion in such a way that it inflicts the heaviest blow on the enemy with the least losses of their own. Thus the division was helped in its success and was spared greater losses of people and material.
In the time of operation north of Belgorod from 5.7. - 17.7.43 SS-Stubaf Kniep contributed to the destruction of 129 enemy tanks with only 2 own losses. He and his battalion made a particularly large contribution to the breakthrough successes achieved by the Beresoff and Lutschki positioning systems on 5 and 7 July 43.”
Kniep's Knight's Cross award was ratified on 14.8.43.
Kniep would go on to command to the 17th SS-Panzer Grenadier Division “Götz von Berlichingen” on the invasion front in Normandy, where he would be killed on 22 April 1944, in the Thouars area. Regarding Kniep's death, Marc Rikmenspoel comments that “Yerger has related more than once that Kniep died from the accidental discharge of his pistol during target practice. The Heimdal 17. SS-PGD GvB vol. 1 indicates that misdirected artillery fire during an exercise was to blame. In either case, a photo survives of Kniep lying in state, and his head is bandaged in such a way as cover his chin-throat-neck area, suggesting that somehow a piece of metal penetrated this area and resulted in his death.”
Source :
Denis Daum photo collection
https://historeich.blogspot.com/2017/08/ss-sturmbannfuhrer-walter-kniep-17-ss.html
http://historyofthewaffenss.com/community/knights-cross-holders-main-discussion/ss-sturmbannfuhrer-walter-kniep/
https://twitter.com/AxisBiographic1/status/1517511798231949312/photo/2
Officers from SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich" in the sportstreffen (sport festival) event of the unit, possibly in the autumn or winter of 1942. From left to right: SS-Hauptsturmführer Walter Kniep (Kommandeur SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich". Ritterkreuz on 14 August 1943), SS-Sturmbannführer Jakob "Jopp" Fick (Kommandeur I.Bataillon [Kradschützen] / SS-Schnelle-Schützen-Regiment “Langemarck”. Ritterkreuz on 23 April 1943), and SS-Standartenführer Hinrich Schuldt (Kommandeur SS-Schnelle-Schützen-Regiment “Langemarck”. Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1942, Eichenlaub on 2 April 1943, and Schwerter posthumously on 25 March 1944).
Source :
Denis Daum photo collection
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Robert Ritter von Greim was born as Robert Greim on 22 June 1892 in Bayreuth in the Kingdom of Bavaria, a state of the German Empire, the son of a police captain. Greim was an army cadet from 1906 to 1911. He joined the Bavarian Army on 14 July 1911. After completion of officer training, he was posted to Bavaria's 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 29 October 1912 and commissioned as a Lieutenant (Leutnant) a year later, on 25 October 1913.
When World War One started in August 1914, he commanded a battery in fighting at the Battle of Lorraine and around Nancy, Epinal, Saint-Mihiel, and Camp des Romains in France. He became a battalion adjutant on 19 March 1915. On 10 August 1915, Greim transferred to the German Air Service (Fliegertruppe). On 10 October 1915, while flying two-seaters in FFA 3b as an artillery spotting observer, Greim claimed his first aerial victory: a Farman. He also served with FAA 204 over the Somme. After undergoing pilot training, Greim joined FA 46b on 22 February 1917. He transferred to Jagdstaffel 34 in April 1917. He scored a kill on 25 May 1917, and on the same day he received the Iron Cross First Class. On 19 June, he rose to command Jasta 34. Greim became an ace on 16 August 1917, when he shot down a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter. By 16 October, his victory tally totaled 7. There was a lull in his successes until February 1918. On the 11th, he had an unconfirmed victory and on the 18th he claimed aerial victory number 8.
On 21 March 1918, the day of his ninth credited victory, Greim became Commanding Officer of Jagdgruppe 10. He flew with them until at least 18 June, when he notched up his 15th success. On 27 June 1918, while Greim was engaging a Bristol Fighter, his aircraft lost its cowling. The departing cowling damaged his top wing, along with the lower left interplane strut, but Greim managed to land the machine successfully. By 7 August 1918 he was commanding Jagdgruppe 9, and scored his 16th victory. On 23 August, he cooperated with Vizefeldwebel Johan Putz in what was arguably the first successful assault by aircraft on armored tanks. On 27 September, he scored kill number 25 while flying with Jagdgruppe 9.
He returned to Jasta 34 in October 1918. The Jasta had been re-equipped with 'cast-offs' from Richthofen's Flying Circus, Jagdgeschwader 1. The new equipment was warmly welcomed as being superior to the older Albatros and Pfalz fighters that they had been previously equipped with. Greim's final three victories came during this time, while he was flying Albatros D.Vs, Fokker Triplanes, and Fokker D.VIIs. By the war's end he had scored 28 victories and had been awarded the Pour le Mérite on 8 October, as well as the Bavarian Military Order of Max Joseph (Militär-Max Joseph-Orden). This latter award made him a Knight (Ritter), and allowed him to add both this honorific title and the style 'von' to his name. Thus Robert Greim became Robert Ritter von Greim.
By 1919, Greim had returned to Bavaria and rejoined his regiment (8th Bavarian Artillery) and for 10 months ran the air postal station in Munich. This was the key turning point in his career, as in 1920 he flew the up-and-coming German army propaganda instructor Adolf Hitler to Berlin as an observer of the failed Kapp Putsch. Many other people from Hitler's years in Bavaria immediately after World War I also rose to prominence in the National Socialist era. Greim then focused on a new career in law and succeeded in passing Germany's rigorous law exams. However, Chiang Kai-shek's government offered him a job in Canton, to help to build a Chinese air force. Greim accepted the offer and took his family with him to China, where he founded a flying school and initiated measures for the development of an air force.
Upon his return to Germany, Greim joined the Nazi Party and took part in the 1923 putsch; as a convinced Nazi he "remained utterly committed to Hitler to the very end of the war".
In 1933, Hermann Göring invited Greim to help him to rebuild the German Air Force, and in 1934 he was appointed to command the first fighter pilot school, following the closure of the secret flying school established near the city of Lipetsk in the Soviet Union during the closing days of the Weimar Republic (Germany had been forbidden to have an air force under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, so it had to train its pilots in secret.). In 1938, Greim assumed command of the Luftwaffe research department. Later, he was given command of Jagdgeschwader 132 (later JG 2), based in Döberitz, a fighter group named after Manfred von Richthofen.
After the end of the Polish Campaign, von Greim became commander of the 5th Fliegerkorps which participated in the Battle of Britain. In the early stages of this battle, von Greim was promoted to General der Flieger. In 1941, on the Eastern Front, his korps split up and renamed Sonderstab Krim. In April 1942 he became commander of Luftwaffenkommando Ost in Smolensk, as his korps replaced the 8th Fliegerkorps in the front area there. In February 1943, von Greim was given command of Luftflotte 6, which continued to support Army Group Centre in its operations. As part of Operation Citadel, von Greims Luftflotte provided 730 aircraft in July 1943. Due to high losses, by June 1944 only around 50 aircraft were operational!
In late 1942, his only son, Hubert Greim, a fighter pilot with 11./JG 2 was listed as missing in Tunisia. He was shot down, but bailed out and spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp in the United States.
As late as January 1945, von Greim made a commitment to Hitler: "I who believed in the Führer - and damn it, still believe in him. I can not become a traitor. Not me!"
On 26 April 1945, with Berlin encircled by Soviet forces during the Battle of Berlin, von Greim flew into Berlin from Rechlin with his mistress Hanna Reitsch, in response to an order from Hitler. Initially they flew from the central Luftwaffe test facility airfield, the Erprobungsstelle Rechlin to Gatow (a district of south-western Berlin) in a Focke Wulf 190. As the cockpit had room for only the pilot, Reitsch flew in the tail of the plane, getting into it by climbing through a small emergency opening. Having landed in Gatow, they changed planes to fly to the Chancellery; however, their Fieseler Storch was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the Grunewald. Greim was incapacitated by a bullet in the right foot, but Reitsch was able to reach the throttle and joystick to land on an improvised air strip in the Tiergarten, near the Brandenburg Gate.
Hitler promoted Greim from General to Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal), making him the last German officer ever to achieve that rank and appointed him as commander in chief of the Luftwaffe, to replace Hermann Göring, whom he had recently dismissed in absentia for treason. Greim thus became the second man to command the German Air Force during the Third Reich. However, with the end of the war in Europe fast approaching, his tenure as Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe lasted only a few days.
On 28 April, Hitler ordered Ritter von Greim to leave Berlin and had Reitsch fly him to Plön, so that he could arrest Heinrich Himmler on the charge of treason. That night, the two left Berlin, taking off from the Tiergarten air strip in a small Arado Ar 96 aircraft. Soldiers of the Soviet 3rd Shock Army feared they had just seen Hitler escape. In a post-war interview, Reitsch said, "It was the blackest day when we could not die at our Führer's side. We should all kneel down in reverence and prayer before the altar of the Fatherland." When asked what the "Altar of the Fatherland" was, she responded: "Why, the Fuhrer's bunker in Berlin...."
On 8 May, the same day as the surrender of Germany, Greim was captured by American troops in Austria. His initial statement to his captors was reportedly "I am the head of the Luftwaffe, but I have no Luftwaffe". Greim committed suicide in prison in Salzburg on 24 May.
Oberleutnant Robert Ritter von Greim in World War I.
Major Robert Ritter von Greim.
Oberst Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalleutnant Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalleutnant Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalleutnant Robert Ritter von Greim.
Generalleutnant Robert Ritter von Greim.
Source :
https://www.deviantart.com/ssa88art/art/Robert-von-Greim-Sticker-by-SSA-ART-821397023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ritter_von_Greim
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=5
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/
https://grokipedia.com/
https://www.unithistories.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.geni.com/
https://books.google.com/
https://ww2gravestone.com/
https://theaerodrome.com/
Hans Stern (2 May 1907 - 30 March 1972) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Chef 3. Kompanie / I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 11 / 6.Panzer-Division, and later transferred to the Waffen-SS with the last rank as SS-Obersturmbannführer.
Source :
Denis Daum photo collection