Ritterkreuzträger Romanian General Ioan Dumitrache

Romanian general Ioan Dumitrache (25 August 1889 - 6 March 1977) received the German Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses) in 2 November 1942 after commanded the Romanian 2nd Mountain Division, which captured the Soviet town of Nalchik in the Caucasus, the farthest, or most southern, Axis advance on the Eastern Front. He also received a promotion to the rank of General de divizie or Major General shortly afterwards.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/54471/
https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-Romanian-Knights-Cross-Holders

Ritterkreuzträger Romanian General Petre Dumitrescu

Romanian general Petre Dumitrescu received the German Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses) in 1 September 1942 after leading his Third Army to victories against the Soviet forces in Crimea, Eastern Front. Back in the summer of 1941, after Hitler convinced Ion Antonescu to continue the war beyond Romania's pre-1940 borders, Dumitrescu then led the Third Army to the Crimea, taking part in the Battle of the Sea of Azov. By October 10, the Third Army had marched 1,700 kilometres from Romania, fought four major battles and 42 minor engagements. By this time, Dumitrescu's Third Army had inflicted casualties of over 20,000 killed and 40,000 wounded and also captured 15,565 prisoners of war, 149 tanks, 128 artillery pieces, and more than 700 machine guns, while suffering 10,541 casualties (2,555 dead, 6,201 wounded and 1,785 missing in action.). For his effort in this campaign, Dumitrescu was awarded the Ritterkreuz, the second Romanian to receive the award after Ion Antonescu. Later on he was even given the Eichenlaub (4 April 1944). In 17 October 1941, he was awarded the Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd class, and 2nd Class (19 February 1944).

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/54472/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petre_Dumitrescu

Hans Piekenbrock and Klaus Sinram in Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony

From left to right: Generalleutnant Hans Piekenbrock (Kommandeur 208. Infanterie-Division) and Major Klaus Sinram (Führer Grenadier-Regiment 309 / 208.Infanterie-Division) pass before a number of soldiers in the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Sinram, 1 November 1944. Sinram already received the news for his medal awarding from 23 October 1944. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Lucke.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/4035/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Ugo Cavallero and Albert Kesselring

28 July 1942: Italian Marshal Ugo Cavallero (left) in conversation with Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (Oberbefehlshaber Süd). Cavallero is the recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses), which he received in 19 February 1942 as Generale di Corpo d'Armata and Chief of the Defence Staff of the Royal Italian Army. He is one of nine Italian Ritterkreuzträger. After Mussolini’s government was toppled by the King, the newly appointed Prime Minister Pietro Badoglio ordered the arrest of Cavallero. In a document written in own defense, Cavallero claimed the merit of having opposed Mussolini and his regime. After the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943, he was freed by the Germans, and was offered by Kesselring the command of the forming armed forces of the Italian Social Republic, but the finding of the letter led to some suspicions. In the morning of 14 September 1943, he was found dead by a gunshot in the garden of a hotel in Frascati, after having dined and talked with Kesselring the night before. It is still up to debate whether he committed suicide or was assassinated by the Germans. It seems, however, that he firmly expressed his will to refuse to continue collaborating with the Germans.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/56856/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugo_Cavallero

Konstantin Hierl with Two Ritterkreuzträger from RAD

12 June 1943: Reichsarbeitsführer Konstantin Hierl (Leiter des Reichsarbeitsdienst, RAD), right, in conversation with two Ritterkreuzträger from RAD who served in the Wehrmacht. From left to right: Hauptmann der Reserve Rudolf Kreitmair (Ritterkreuz in 31 March 1943 as Führer 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Grenadier Regiment 282 / 98.Infanterie-Division) and Oberleutnant der Reserve Günter Vollmer (Ritterkreuz in 20 April 1943 as Führer 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 411 / 122.Infanterie-Division). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Barthold.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/47226/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Luftwaffe Ace Gordon Gollob Received Brillanten from Adolf Hitler

23 September 1942 in Führerhauptquartier Vinnitsa, Ukraine: Major Gordon Gollob (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 77) receives the highest German award from Adolf Hitler (Führer und oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) as the third soldier of the Wehrmacht: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds). Gollob himself received the news from 30 August 1942, and he got the Brillanten after becoming the first pilot in history who reached 150 fliegerabschüsse (air victories)!

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35652/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Adolf Hitler Decorates Erwin Rommel with Eichenlaub

Award ceremony in Reichskanzlei, Berlin, 25 March 1941: Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler) decorates Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel (Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division) with Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #10 (Knight's Cross with the Iron Crosses Nr.10). The man in the picture is Hitler's clossest ally, Benito Mussolini.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35529/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Oberstleutnant Eberhard Rodt

Oberstleutnant Eberhard Rodt with his newly received Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses). He got the coveted medal in 25 June 1940 as an Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 25 / 25.Infanterie-Division.

Source :
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/R/RodtE-R.htm

Eberhard Rodt in Color Picture

Eichenlaubträger Generalleutnant Eberhard Rodt. It is possible that this color picture was taken after the war (note the missing Hoheitsadler in the uniform!).

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=14230&start=6795

Adolf Galland with Hitler After Receives Ritterkreuz

25 September 1940 : Major Adolf Galland (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26) chats with Adolf Hitler after Galland received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves) directly from the Führer at Reichskanzlei, Berlin/ Galland was the third person who received the coveted medal after Eduard Dietl and Werner Mölders. The picture itself was first published in "Berliner Morgenpost", 27 September 1940 edition.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35489/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

SS-Brigadefuhrer Herbert Gille Decorates SS-Obersturmführer Hans Drexel with Ritterkreuz

14 October 1943: SS-Brigadefuhrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), at right, visited the Feldlazarett (Field Hospital) and decorates SS-Obersturmführer Hans Drexel (stellvertreter Führer II.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Westland" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), second from left, with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses). The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Koch.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/4022/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

General Georg von Küchler Decorates Stabsfeldwebel Georg Jura with Ritterkreuz

28 April 1943: Generalfeldmarschall Georg von Küchler (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Nord) decorates Stabsfeldwebel Georg Jura (Führer 14.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 49 / 28. Jäger-Division) with Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross with the Iron Crosses) for his exceptional bravery in the battle at Lake Ladoga area. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Freckmann.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/3998/

General Johann Sinnhuber Decorates Oberjäger Walter Möse with Ritterkreuz

11 March 1943: Generalleutnant Johann Sinnhuber (Kommandeur 28. Jäger-Division) decorates Oberjäger Walter Möse ( Zugführer in 13.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 49 / 28.Jäger-Division) with Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross with the Iron Crosses) for his exceptional bravery in the battle at Lake Ladoga area. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Ebert.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/3997/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Hans-Joachim Marseille with His Victim

Hans-Joachim Marseille poses next to a downed enemy aircraft in the western desert of North Africa, March 1942. Marseille shot down 158 British planes in the desert war; and no other pilot claimed as many Allied aircraft! He was one of very few decorated with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds). Marseille was killed on 30 September 30 1942 in an unsuccessful attempt to bail out.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/1365/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Irnfried Freiherr von Wechmar with His Officers

Oberstleutnant Irnfried Freiherr von Wechmar (Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3 (motorisiert) / 5.leichte-Division / Deutsches Afrikakorps) during a conversation with his officers at the front in North Africa, May 1941. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Gessl.

Source:
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/1356/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

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