Wednesday, December 30, 2020

German Generals Member of Anti-Nazi BDO - NKFD

 

 

8 December 8th 1944: Co-signer of the appeal 'To the people and the Wehrmacht' of the Bundes Deutscher Offiziere (BDO, Federation of German Officers) in the National Committee "Freies Deutschland" (NKFD, Free Germany). It was a German anti-Nazi organization that operated in the Soviet Union during World War II, with members mostly came from German officers and generals in captivity. The identification (with their last rank and position) as follow:

1.Generalleutnant Vincenz Müller (Kommandierender General XII. Armeekorps)
2.Generalmajor Joachim Engel (Kommandeur 45. Infanterie-Division)
3.Generalleutnant Hans Traut (Kommandeur 78. Sturm-Division)
4.Generalmajor Günther Klammt (Kommandeur 260. Infanterie-Division)
5.Generalmajor Alexander Conrady (Kommandeur 36. Infanterie-Division)
6.Generalmajor Herbert Michaelis (Kommandeur 95. Infanterie-Division)
7.Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl von Steinkeller (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle")
8.Generalmajor Gottfried von Erdmannsdorff (Kommandeur "Festung Mogilev")
9.General der Infanterie Friedrich Gollwitzer (Kommandierender General LIII. Armeekorps)
10.Generalleutnant Rudolf Bamler (Kommandeur 12. Infanterie-Division)
11.Generalmajor Claus Mueller-Bülow (Kommandeur 246. Infanterie-Division)
12.Generalmajor Adolf Trowitz (Kommandeur 57. Infanterie-Division)
13.Generalmajor Aurel Schmidt (Höherer Pionierführer 10 / 9.Armee)
14.General der Infanterie Paul Völckers (Kommandierender General XXVII.Armeekorps)
15.Generalleutnant Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow (Kommandierender General XXXV. Armeekorps)


Source :
Photo and ID courtesy of Graveland
https://en.topwar.ru/171615-svobodnaja-germanija-gitlerovcy-protiv-fjurera.html

Sunday, December 27, 2020

First Axis POWs at Tobruk

 

Men of the Australian 9th Infantry Division guard Italians and some of the first German prisoners to be taken during the war in North Africa, after Rommel's first unsuccessful assault on Tobruk, 17 April 1941. If we are talking about Heer Division, it was the 5. leitche-Division during the 1st Siege of Tobruk that was on 10-14 April 1941. However, on the 2nd Siege of Tobruk from 30 April to 7 May 1941 it was a mix between the elements of the 5.leichte-Division and the newly arrived 15. Panzer-Division (except for Panzer-Regiment 8 that was not involved yet). BTW, if someone asking: Why are their heads bowed? It is actually a basic techniek of not to look your captors in their eyes, state only your name and number. Look what happened at Malmedy: at the Nuremberg Trials the SS Soldiers stated in their defense that the American POW’s looked at them tauntingly almost staring them down ... we all know how that ended for the Americans!


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4981605118546865&set=gm.2563691697254982
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205791

Flak Vehicle of 19. Flak-Division in North Africa

 

A Horch 108 modified with a 20mm Flak 30 anti aircraft gun. The four-leaf clover symbol is belong to 19. Flak-Division. This is the quintessential symbol of good luck in Germany, is of Christian origin. According to Christian legend, when Eve was driven out of the Garden of Eden she took a four-leaf clover with her – to remember the good times in paradise by later on. So market gardens grow millions of potted clover plants for gift-givers at New Year’s. But hardliners say they’re cheating. To really bring good luck your four-leaf clover has to be found in the wild - where exemplars are very few and far between. So whoever does find them must be quite fortunate indeed – in which case good luck comes full circle.


Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=689595875035925&set=gm.2564221030535382

Bio of Oberst (Luftwaffe) Wilhelm Meyer

 

 

Bruno Wilhelm Ernst Meyer (born 7 May 1897 - died 30 June 1970 at Bad Ems, Rhein-Lahn-Kreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
09.10.39 Major in Flak-Regiment 13, appointed Kommandeur III.Abteilung (Scheinwerfer) / Flak-Regiment 43
06.07.40 Major and Kommandeur III.Abteilung (Scheinwerfer) / Flak-Regiment 36 (or III.Abteilung (Scheinwerfer) / Flak-Regiment 241?) (to 23.04.41).
23.04.41 appointed provisional Kommandeur Flakscheinwerfer-Regiment 3
00.08.41 Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Ausbildungsgruppe (scheinwerfer) / Luftgau-Feldartillerieschule III (and 01.42)
00.11.42 Kommandeur Feldartillerieschule (Mitte) 12 (to 01.07.43)
01.01.43 promoted to Oberst
01.07.43 Kommandeur Feldartillerieschule (Mitte) 16 (to 25.11.43)
25.11.43 Kommandeur Flak-Rgt. 136 (to 04.45)


Source :
Dorothy Hardee photo collection (the granddaughter of Wilhelm Meyer)
"Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries: Section L-R" by Henry L. deZeng IV and Douglas G. Stankey

S-Minen Preparation by Afrikakorps

 

S-Minen preparation with a vast array of fuzes (pressure and trip). Mines are for defending but also for slowing down the enemy. Booby traps not forgotten. The picture was taken when the Axis troops were in full retreat in Lybia, December 1942.


Source :
ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158979917633308&set=gm.2743536849246876

Friday, December 25, 2020

Bio of Generalmajor (Luftwaffe) Eitel-Friedrich Roediger Manteuffel



Generalmajor Eitel-Friedrich Roediger Manteuffel
Born: 24 Sep 1895 in Rastatt
Died: 31 Jul 1984 in Wiesbaden

Promotions:
Leutnant (22 Mar 1914); Charakter als Oberleutnant (31 Mar 1920); Major (01 Jan 1936); Oberstleutnant (01 Jan 1938); Oberst (01 Sep 1940); Generalmajor (01 Oct 1944)

Career:
Entered the Army as Company-Officer in the 109th Grenadier-Regiment (22 Mar 1914-19 Nov 1914)
Transferred to the 64th Field-Replacement-Battalion (20 Nov 1914-24 Jan 1915)
Company-Officer in the 109th Grenadier-Regiment (25 Jan 1915-04 Feb 1915)
Observer-Training with the 3rd Flying-Replacement-Battalion (05 Feb 1915-17 Feb 1915)
Flying-Training at the Military Flying School (18 Feb 1915-14 Jul 1915)
Training with the 9th Flying-Replacement-Battalion (15 Jul 1915-18 Aug 1915)
Detached to Army-Flight-Park 7 (19 Aug 1915-22 Aug 1915)
Pilot with the 26th Field-Flying-Battalion (23 Aug 1915-31 Mar 1916)
Pilot with the Single-Seated-Combat-Battalion of the Grand Headquarters (01 Apr 1916-30 Apr 1916)
Transferred to the Staff of the Singe-Seated-Processing-Command East of the 7th Army (01 May 1916-27 Jun 1916)
Pilot with the 29th Field-Flying-Battalion (28 Jun 1916-14 Jul 1916)
Pilot with the 27th Field-Flying-Battalion (15 Jul 1916-10 Aug 1916)
Detached to the Chief of Field-Flight-Affairs in the Grand Headquarters (11 Aug 1916-24 Sep 1916)
Detached to Army-Flight-Park 7 (25 Sep 1916-10 Dec 1916)
Transferred to the Staff of the Commanding General of the Air Force (11 Dec 1916-30 May 1917)
Detached to the Fighter-Squadron of the Supreme Army Command (31 May 1917-13 Jul 1917)
Pilot with the Fighter-Squadron 14 (14 Jul 1917-09 Aug 1917)
Leader of Fighter-Squadron 14 (10 Aug 1917-03 Sep 1917)
Placed to the Disposal of the Staff-Officer of Flying in Home Areas (04 Sep 1917-23 Sep 1917)
Pilot with Single-Seated-Combat-Squadron 9 (24 Sep 1917-16 Oct 1917)
Pilot of the Single-Seated-Combat-Squadron 1b (17 Oct 1917-07 Nov 1917)
Detached to the 5th Flying-Replacement-Battalion (08 Nov 1917-28 Dec 1917)
Instructor at the Fighter-Squadron-School and Adjutant of Fighter-Squadron 2 (29 Dec 1917-00 Aug 1918)
Flight-Leader with Flying-Replacement-Battalion Darmstadt (00 Aug 1918-00 May 1919)
Transferred to the Reichswehr-Flying-Battalion Potsdam (00 May 1919-00 Dec 1919)
Placed to the Disposal of the Processing-Office of the 109th Grenadier-Regiment (00 Dec 1919-31 Mar 1920)
Retired (31 Mar 1920)
Entered Luftwaffe Service as Air-Base-Commandant Schleißheim (01 Jan 1936-28 Feb 1937)
Commander of the Pilot-School Ludwigslust (01 Mar 1937-14 May 1939)
Air-Base-Commandant Schleißheim (15 May 1939-00 May 1940)
Commodore of Fighter-Wing 77 (00 May 1940-31 Mar 1941)
Fighter-Leader Centre (01 Apr 1941-30 Sep 1941)
Transferred to the Liaison-Command of the Luftwaffe to the Royal Hungarian Air Force (01 Oct 1941-00 Sep 1943)
Airport-Area-Commandant 4/XIII (00 Sep 1943-20 Mar 1944)
General with Special Duties with the German Luftwaffe-Mission in Rumania, Commander of Air-Region-Troops and Inspector of the Flying-Ground-Organisation in Rumania (21 Mar 1944-28 Aug 1944)
In Soviet Captivity (28 Aug 1944-03 Jan 1950)
Released (03 Jan 1950)

Decorations & Awards:
1914 Eisernes Kreuzes II. und I.Klasse
Flugzeugführerabzeichen


Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/09/daftar-generalmajor-luftwaffe-mayor.html
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Generalmajor/MANTEUFFEL_EITEL.html

Staff Officers of IV. SS-Panzerkorps



The IV. SS-Panzerkorps was formed in August 1943 in Poitiers, France. The formation was originally to be a skeleton formation to supervise those SS divisions that were being reformed as SS Panzer divisions.

On 30 June 1944, the formation absorbed the VII. SS-Panzerkorps and was reformed as a headquarters for the SS Division Totenkopf and SS Division Wiking. The Corps was placed under the control of former Wiking commander SS-Obergruppenführer Herbert Otto Gille.

The corps was placed into the line around Warsaw, Poland, where it saw action against the Red Army as a part of the 9th Army. In August, 1944, elements of the corps took part in the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising. After holding the line near Warsaw, the corps was pushed back to the area near Modlin, where it saw heavy fighting until December.

When SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Pfeffer Wildenbruch's IX SS Mountain Corps and large numbers of Hungarian troops were encircled in Budapest in December 1944, the corps was shifted south from Army Group A to join 6th Army and to take part in the relief efforts. The operations were named Konrad. In Operation Konrad III, the largest of the relief operations, IV SS Panzer Corps destroyed all the tanks of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front in an intense two-week battle in Transdanubia but could not relieve the city.

After the failure of Operation Konrad III, the corps was moved west to the area around Lake Balaton, where it was responsible for defending the left flank of the Operation Spring Awakening (Frühlingserwachen), near Stuhlweissenberg. After the failure of this operation, the Soviet Vienna Offensive tore a gap between the IV SS-Panzerkorps and the neighboring Third Hungarian Army. After escaping an encirclement thanks to the efforts of the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, the corps withdrew towards Vienna. The remnants of the corps surrendered to the Americans on 9 May 1945.

Commanders  
SS-Obergruppenführer Alfred Wünnenburg (8 June 1943 - 23 Oct 1943)
SS-Obergruppenführer Walther Krüger (23 Oct 1943 - 14 Mar 1944)
SS-Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp (1 July 1944 - 20 July 1944)
SS-Brigadeführer Nikolaus Heilmann (20 July 1944 - 6 Aug 1944)
SS-Obergruppenführer Herbert Otto Gille (6 Aug 1944 - 8 May 1945)

Chef des Stabes  
SS-Standartenführer Nikolaus Heilmann (1 Apr 1943 - 1 Aug 1944)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Manfred Schönfelder (1 Aug 1944 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations  
France (June 1943 - July 1944)
Poland (July 1944 - Jan 1945)
Hungary & Austria (Jan 1945 - May 1945)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The corps staff of the IV. SS Panzer Corps, like all German higher level staffs at the time, was essentially divided into two elements: The Operations and Intelligence section (known as the Führungsabteilung) and the Logistics and Administrative section (known as the Adjutantur and Quartiermeisterabteilung). They often were located in two separate and distinct areas, with the Operations and Intelligence staffs usually located closer to the front  line, where the corps commander spent most of his time. Here, the various key officers who made up the Führungsabteilung are represented. Mostly these men were hidden behind the scenes, and wanted it that way, resulting in few photos being taken of them during the war (after all, what's sexy about pushing paper?).


SS-Obersturmbannführer Manfred Schönfelder, who was the IV. SS-Panzerkorps chief of Staff from August 1944 until May 1945.


The first chief of staff of the corps was SS-Standartenführer Nicolaus Heilmann, who held the position until the first week of August 1944.


The corps' first Ia or operations officer was SS-Hauptsturmführer Richard Pauly, who held the position until the beginning of August 1944.


The second Ia of the corps was SS-Hauptsturmführer Werner Westphal, who served as its acting Ia from 17 August until 9 November 1944.


The third acting Ia of the corps was SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Klose, who replaced Westphal in November 1944 until 16 January 1945, when he became the Ia of the Wiking Division.


The fourth Ia of the Corps staff was SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Rentrop, who served in the position from 16 January until he was captured/killed in action on 2 February 1945. Is it more known about the death of Rentrop: He was captured and beaten up near Dinnyes and his death was 2 February 1945.


After his loss, Rentrop was temporarily replaced by SS-Hauptsturmführer Hans Velde, who was a general staff candidate but was serving as the assistant corps operations officer or O1 at the time.


The fifth and final Ia of the corps was SS-Sturmbannführer Friedrich Rauch, who performed the duty from 1 March to 8 May 1945.

--------------------------------------

Besides the operations officers in the Führungsabteilung, there was also an intelligence or Ic staff section. For most of the time that the IV. SS-Panzerkorps served in combat, its Ic was SS-Sturmbannführer Herbert Jahnkuhn. Jahnkuhn was an interesting character; not only was he an anthropologist and archaeologist, he had been a college professor at the University of Goettingen before the war. Like the Nazi nemesis in Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Jahnkuhn along with others scoured the globe, including the Middle East, for artifacts which would allegedly "prove" the origins of the so-called "Aryan Ideal" type of civilization, often resorting to unsavory methods to acquire cultural objects. When the war in the East began on 22 June 1941, Jahnkuhn led a team that was established to search the Ukraine and Crimea for such items, and helped to catalog many of the riches confiscated by a special battalion established by Himmler to loot the occupied Eastern territories. After the war and his rehabilitation, Jahnkuhn was able to regain his chair at Goettigen's anthropology department, though by the mid-1970s, his Nazi past finally began to catch up with him.


Photo of Jankuhn taken February 1945 in Hungary.


Photo of Jahnkuhn taken November 1944 in Modlin.


Subordinate to Jahnkuhn, though not a member of the corps staff, was SS-Untersturmführer Erich Kernmayr, who was the commander of the Psychological Warfare Platoon for Hungary (Kampf-Propaganda-Zug "Ungarn"). Though a member of the SS Kriegsberichter Regiment "Kurt Eggers," Kernmayr received his daily assignments from Jankuhn, based upon his estimate as to where PSYOP leaflets and broadcast messages targeted towards Soviet and Hungarian troops would be most effective. After the war, writing under the name Erich Kern, he became a prolific author and member of various far-right German political parties.


Jahnkuhn's assistant or Deputy Ic was SS-Hauptsturmführer Dr. Herbert Metowsich, shown here in February 1945 in Hungary.


Although not a member of the Headquarters staff, SS-Hauptsturmführer Gerhard Dieckmann was the commander of the 2nd Company, SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 104, the corps' signal battalion.

--------------------------------------

Far less glamorous than the operations and intelligence staff sections but just as important to the success of the corps' engagements and battles were the Administration and Supply staffs, along with some of the specialized staffs that focused on artillery matters, engineering, legal, communications, and propaganda. Here are a few of those senior officers who were responsible for the orderly performance of those mundane tasks so necessary for a successful corps in battle.

 

The officer responsible for coordinating the corps' artillery supporting effort was the ARKO, the abbreviation for Artilleriekommandur. The IV. SS-Panzerkorps' ARKO for most of its existence was SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Kurt Brasack, shown here in a prewar photo as a SS-Obersturmbannführer. An artillery veteran from World War I, Brasack was instrumental in the successful prosecution of artillery strikes, counterstrikes, and deep strikes.



Just as important as Panzers, assault guns, and artillery were signal troops. Without the means to communicate orders and messages via radio, land line telephone, or telex, a corps would be virtually unable to adequately coordinate the activities of all of its combat arms. To carry out this specialized function, the corps was authorized its own corps signal battalion, SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 104. The commander of the battalion for the last several months of the war was Wiking veteran SS-Obersturmbannführer Hubert Hüppe, shown here before the war as an SS Sergeant.



A Panzer Corps, with two or three panzer or mechanized divisions operating under its banner, usually had thousands of motor vehicles assigned, as well as hundreds of armored vehicles, including tanks, assault guns, self-propelled artillery, and armored half-tracks. To keep track of the readiness of these vehicles and their maintenance requirements to keep them combat ready, each corps staff had an officer called a TFK, short for Technischer Führer für Kraftfahrwesen, or simply motor transport maintenance officer. The IV. SS-Panzerkorps' TFK for most of its existence was SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Brandt, shown here before the war in civilian clothes.



The corps staff was authorized a senior engineer advisor, the Korpspionierführer, who was responsible for planning and supervising the execution of various engineering tasks, such as road repair, barrier construction, bridge construction and maintenance, minefield emplacement, and so on. The Corps Engineer Officer for most of the IV. SS-Panzerkorps' existence was SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Braune, who was supervised by the corps' chief of staff and who resided in the operations and intelligence staff section.



Just like any military organization, it could not ignore matters that arose in the legal and judge advocate arena. The corps' Staff Judge Advocate, or Korpsrichter, was SS-Obersturmbannführer Hans Heinz, who worked in the Adjutantur under the supervision of the Staff IIa, Karl-Willi Schulze.



The 2nd General Staff Officer, or Ib, was SS-Obersturmbannführer Hans Scharff, another Wiking Division veteran elevated to the corps staff when Herbert Gille was named as the corps commander. The Ib was responsible for coordinating and planning the supply requirements of not only the subordinate divisions, but also that of corps troops, attached army troops, and the corps heaquarters itself.



Within the Ib Staff, was another officer designated as the Officer for Transportation and Traffic Regulation, called the Id or Offizier für Verkehrsregelung. Although he was subornated to the Ib, Hans Scharff. the corps' Id actually worked within the operations and intelligence staff element. The corps' 1d for the first six months of its existence was SS-Obersturmbannführer Wilhelm Honsell, shown here as an SS Captain before the war. By the turn of the year 1944/45, he was designated as the Ib of the Wiking Division.



With an organization encompassing at times more than 40,000 men, the proper administration of the corps' manpower needs and concerns was a very demanding job. The staff officer responsible for personnel administration was SS-Obersturmbannführer (shown here as a Sturmbannführer) Karl-Willy Schulze, another Wiking Division veteran chosen by Gille to follow him to the IV. SS-Panzerkorps at the end of July 1944. Schulze had been the Adjutant of the Wiking, and as such was fully qualified to perform a similar function one level higher.



Hubert Hüppe's predecessor as Corps Signal Officer was SS-Hauptsturmführer Martin Müller, shown here in his prewar Allgemeine SS uniform.


The corps' "Morale" officer, also known as the NSFO, was SS-Hauptsturmführer Franz Wehofsich, an Austrian officer known for his pre-war activity in the Austrian Nazi Party. Officially designated as the Staff "VI" Officer, he not only looked after the morale of the troops, but was responsible for their political education in the proper aspects of National Socialism.

 --------------------------------------

Two other individuals who performed an important role within the corps headquarters were the two officers who served as Gille's Begleitoffizier, or escort officer, a position designated as the O5. The U.S. Army or British equivalent was the general's aid, or aide-de-camp. These two men, SS Lieutenants Günther Lange and Joachim Barthel, served both the corps commander and chief of staff (the latter was not authorized an O5, but Barthel, who had suffered an incapacitating head wound, performed the role) between the end of July 1944 and the end of the war.  Their duties included ensuring that the corps commander's coffee cup was always filled and his cigarettes were always available; ensuring that his staff car and driver (SS Sergeant Pippo) were always ready to go to the front; to make sure that his personal situation maps was always up to date, that Gille's spare uniforms were always cleaned and ready for wear, and that he, as the escort officer, would always know the routes to and from their destination, as well as what the "threat" level ways there and back. A truly demanding job, one that was only given to the most intelligent and experienced young officers.


On the right, SS-Untersturmführer Günther Lange holds a situation map for his corps commander, SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert-Otto Gille. Lange had been serving as a platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion of SS Panzer Regiment 5 until he was selected to replace Hermann Kaufmann as Gille's O5. After the war, Lange returned to his art studio and earned a master's degree equivalent in art, while pursuing a career as an officer in the Bundeswehr, where he finally retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of service.


SS-Untersturmführer Joachim Barthel, Wiking Division veteran and recipient of the German Cross in Gold for the manner of his performance while serving in the 3rd Company of the Germania Regiment. His fate after the war still remains unknown.


SS-Obersturmführer Hermann Kaufmann was Lange's predecessor as Gille's O5 in the Wiking Division. When he was replaced by Lange, Kaufmann went on the command the 1st Company of SS Armored Reconaissance Battalion 5 of the Wiking Division, where he was killed in action in Hungary on 25 January 1945.

--------------------------------------

A Panzer Corps is more than just staff officers, radios, and motorcycle messengers; it also consists of divisions, usually two or more. And these divisions are led by men who have proven themselves in subordinate positions, such as battalion and regimental commanders who learned their trade while serving as subalterns before the war or during the war in the crucible of combat. During the Tank Battle of Praga, the IV. SS-Pz.Korps was fortunate, in that at one time or another before, during, and after the battle, it had several of the finest (and one of the not-so-finest) divisions of the Wehrmacht subordinated to it. These includes the 4th and 19th Panzer Divisions, the Herman Goering Panzer Division, the ill-fated 73rd Infantry Division, and Grenadier-Brigade 1131. For most of the next three months, the corps with its two SS divisions, the Wiking and Totenkopf, would cooperate closely with these units of the Heer and Luftwaffe, enabling General Gille and the 9th Army to keep Marshal Rokossovskiy and his armies away from their goal of Warsaw.

The commander of Fallschirm-Panzer-Division Hermann Göring during the Tank Battle of Praga was Luftwaffe Generalmajor (Major General) Wilhelm Schmalz, who went on to command Fallschirm-Panzer-Korps Hermann Göring.



The commander of the 19th Panzer Division was Generalmajor Hans Källner, who brought his division from Holland, where it had recently undergone complete reconstitution, and deployed it quite effectively during the Tank Battle of Praga.



Oberst Franz Schlieper (shown here as a Generalmajor) took command of the ill-fated 73rd Infantry Division only two days before its collapse during the Battle of Praga in September 1944. He later proved to be an adept commander who rebuilt his division and led it competently during the remainder of its existence.



Generalmajor Clemens Betzel, who expertly led the veteran 4th Panzer Division as it conducted its lethal counterattack at a critical moment during the Tank Battle of Praga, sealing the fate of the Soviet III Tank Corps.



Oberst Wilhelm Söth, the Afrika Korps veteran who commanded and expertly led the newly-raised Grenadier Brigade 1131.


Source :
"From the Realm of a Dying Sun. Volume I: IV. SS-Panzerkorps and the Battles for Warsaw, July–November 1944" by Douglas E. Nash, Sr.
https://www.axishistory.com/books/118-germany-waffen-ss/germany-waffen-ss-corps-etc/1227-iv-ss-panzerkorps
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IV_SS_Panzer_Corps
https://www.facebook.com/Latewareasternfront

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Opening of Modlin Soldatenfriedhof

 

 

On 9 November 1944, SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Herbert-Otto Gille (Kommandierender General IV. SS-Panzerkorps) dedicated the new Soldatenfriedhof (wartime cemetery) in Modlin, Poland. In addition to the ceremony itself, a reception was held shortly afterwards inside the Modlin Fortress. Here is a copy of the ceremony's program, which featured a speach by Gille, as well as various tunes played by the regimental band of SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking." Besides Gille, in attendance were the commanders of the Totenkopf and Wiking Divisions, their staffs, and various local dignitaries from the German administration of occupied Poland.


SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Herbert-Otto Gille (Kommandierender General IV. SS-Panzerkorps) views the newly-dedicated ceremony. to the immediate right of Gille stands SS-Standartenführer Karl Ullrich, the commander of the Wiking Division.


After the ceremony's conclusion in the chapel of the Modlin Fortress, commanders and staff officers file out of the front door to their waiting staff cars. In the center stands SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Helmuth Becker, the commander of the Totenkopf Division. In the foreground on the left stands SS-Obersturmbannführer Manfred Schönfelder, Gille's Chief of staff; on the right stands Gille's aide-de-camp, SS-Untersturmführer Günther Lange. The Army officer standing in the center between Becker and Schoenfelder is Major Otto Kleine, the Ia or operations officer of the Wiking Division.


At some point during the events of that day, Gille greets the commanders of the Wiking and Totenkopf Divisions, Karl Ullrich (left) and Helmuth Becker, right. In the background stands SS-Obersturmführer Johann "Hans" Velde, the O1 or assistant corps operations officer of the IV. SS-Panzerkorps.


The diagram of the German War Cemetery in Modlin, 1944.


Source :
"From the Realm of a Dying Sun. Volume I: IV. SS-Panzerkorps and the Battles for Warsaw, July–November 1944" by Douglas E. Nash, Sr.
https://www.facebook.com/Latewareasternfront

Bio of Generalmajor Hans von Hanstein


Generalmajor Hans von Hanstein
Born: 28 Nov 1883 in Brandenburg, Havel
Died: 26 Mar 1975 in Bonn

Promotions:
Charakter als Fähnrich (22 Mar 1902); Fähnrich (18 Oct 1902); Leutnant (18 Aug 1903); Oberleutnant (18 Aug 1912); Hauptmann (28 Nov 1914); Major (01 Apr 1926); Oberstleutnant (01 Feb 1931); Charakter als Oberst (28 Feb 1933); Oberstleutnant (01 Oct 1933); Oberst (15 Oct 1935); Generalmajor (01 Aug 1942)

Career:
Entered Army Service (22 Mar 1902)
Fähnrich in the 35th Fusilier-Regiment (22 Mar 1902-01 Jan 1910)
Detached to the War-School Neiße (02 Oct 1902-15 Jun 1903)
Detached to the Military Gymnasium (01 Oct 1907-31 Jul 1908)
Auxiliary-Instructor at the Military Gymnasium (01 Oct 1907-28 Feb 1909)
Adjutant of II. Battalion of the 35th Fusilier-Regiment (01 Jan 1910-31 Dec 1912)
Transferred into the MG-Company of the 35th Fusilier-Regiment (01 Jan 1913-03 Aug 1914)
Leader of the MG-Company of the 35th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment (03 Aug 1914-01 Oct 1916)
MG-Officer with the Regiment-Staff of the 35th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment, at the same time, MG-Officer with the Staff of the 6th Reserve-Division (01 Oct 1916-18 Jul 1917)
Wounded, in Hospital (18 Jul 1917-26 Sep 1917)
Commander of I. Battalion of the 35th Reserve-Infantry-Regiment (26 Sep 1917-13 Aug 1918)
Transferred into the 52nd Infantry-Regiment (13 Aug 1918-18 Sep 1918)
Commander of the II. Battalion of the 52nd Infantry-Regiment (18 Sep 1918-28 Dec 1918)
Commander of the II. Battalion of Detachment Künzel (28 Dec 1918-11 Nov 1919)
Company-Chief in the 103rd Reichswehr-Infantry-Regiment (11 Nov 1919-01 May 1920)
With the Staff of Brigade Reinhardt (01 May 1920-16 Aug 1920)
Company-Chief in the 6th Infantry-Regiment (16 Aug 1920-16 Sep 1920)
Company-Chief in the 5th Infantry-Regiment (16 Sep 1920-01 Jul 1922)
Staff-Officer of Infantry with the Staff of the 2nd Division (01 Jul 1922-01 Oct 1925)
Transferred for camouflage in the 2nd Artillery-Regiment (01 Oct 1925-01 May 1926)
Staff-Officer with the Staff of 2nd Division (01 May 1926-01 Apr 1927)
Hauptmann with the Staff and Welfare-Officer with the Staff of I. Battalion of the 5th Infantry-Regiment (01 Apr 1927-01 Feb 1928)
Commander of I. Battalion of the 5th Infantry-Regiment (01 Feb 1928-01 Oct 1930)
Transferred to the Staff of Group-Command 2 and Detached to the Command-Office Berlin , Infantry-Equipment-Inspector in the Army Weapons Office, RWM (01 Oct 1930-28 Feb 1933)
Retired (28 Feb 1933)
Landwehr-Employee (01 May 1933)
Detached to the Command-Office Berlin , Infantry-Equipment-Inspector in the Army Weapons Office, RWM (01 May 1933-01 Oct 1933)
Entered Army Service as Territorial-Officer (05 Mar 1935); Reactivated-Officer (15 Oct 1935)
With the Infantry-Equipment-Inspector in the Army Weapons Office, RWM (01 Oct 1933-15 Oct 1935)
Infantry-Equipment-Inspector (A) 2, OKH (15 Oct 1935-31 May 1939)
Retired (01 Jun 1939)
Reactivated to Army Service (01 Aug 1941)
Director of Special-Staff A in the General Army Office, OKH (01 Aug 1941-01 Jul 1944)
General of Troop Technology, OKH (01 Jul 1944-27 Jul 1945)
In Soviet Captivity (27 Jul 1945-21 Oct 1949)
Released (21 Oct 1949)

Awards & Decorations:
1914 Eisernes Kreuzes II. und I.Klasse
1918 Verwundetenabzeichen
Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. und I.Klasse mit Schwertern

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2062756#p2062756
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalmajor/HANSTEIN_HANS.html

Skijäger Brigade at Pripet region

Skijäger aiming his brand new MP.43/1 (Stg.44) assault rifle, with his LW gravity knife dangling from his belt. Note the protective rubber cap on the muzzle. The Fallschirmjäger gravity knife is not a standard issue for Skijäger, but  it was issued in significant numbers to them. The picture itself was taken in January 1944 at Pripet (Bug) region.


1. Skijäger Brigade at Pripet region, January/ February 1944. The unit had top priority in the distribution of MP 43 (later Stg.44). In January 1,553 assault rifles out of 5,400 were issued to the brigade. Each company fielded a shock-platoon armed with 30 of these revolutionary weapons.
LW gravity knives (Jäger in the middle) were standard issue just like Fallschirmjäger gas masks canvas containers were.



Carrying a wounded comrade. Skijäger Brigade in the Pripet region, January/ February 1944. Note the white-washed MP.43 magazine pouch and the man carrying the wounded which probably wears a StuG-Jacke.. Given the casual face of the 'wounded' man it is possible that this is just all for posing to the PK-Man. Note the right most man seems to be carrying a camera box himself. He's also armed with a G43. None of them seem to be wearing Bergschuhe these troops often were issued with.


Taking casualties even when the reporters are there. Skijäger Brigade in the Pripet area,March 1944. This is not the same chap that was carried in a previous photo, even though it's from the same film roll and Kriegsberichter. Looks like here is something real going on. Two on them are wearing Windblusen. It is a very good piece of over clothing. Nowadays we would retrieve the hand grenades and remove the web gear before giving assistance!


1 Skijäger Birgade in the Pripet marshes, February 1944.

1. Skijäger-Brigade in the Bug area (Pripet), February-March 1944. The MP 43 assault rifle is really white and it does show how well it blends in with the snowy background. All is in white-washed camo, with only the rifle sling and the shoes have not been painted.

1. Skijäger-Brigade patrol armed with MP 43/1, led by an officer. Bug area (Pripet) February-March 1944. The leading Skijäger has his LW gravity knife dangling at its belt. These men were clever enough to adapt their camouflage to their surroundings (wearing a white top would have outlined them against the forest of dark tree trunks behind!). The men were well supplied with MP 43s. Which is an excellent weapon for that terrain. The sub machine gun look identical to the MP44 but there are a few slight differences, mainly the muzzle nut is longer then the one used on the MP44.


Source :
ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2360048380929060/