DKiGträger SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Matzke

SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm "Willi" Matzke (born in 28 January 1918) received Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 23 April 1944 as SS-Obersturmführer and Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". He would became the commander of I. Abteilung in 26 July 1944 replacing SS-Sturmbannführer Rudolf Enseling. Matzke survived the war.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Matzke (Chef 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich") ride a donkey in a company celebration held in May 1944 (possibly to celebrate the company's commander awarding of Deutsches Kreuz in Gold a couple of days before). A few words about the photo: On that day, there were a lot of wine for all soldiers, especially a few officers looked a bit too much in their glasses, and so the young comrades took the drunken officer (Matzke) on a donkey and go around! A lot of pictures were taken from this scene, but on the next day the order was given to the company to deliver all taken negatives. This picture is the very last one that survived the action! One thing for sure: It stands under punishment if pictures like this were ever seen after the action, and it's understandable, because such pictures takes the officer in question.

Source :
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=7690&hilit=wilhelm+matzke
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=726113