Wednesday, October 5, 2022

General Knochenhauer during Führergeburtstag


Private picture of General der Kavallerie Wilhelm Knochenhauer (right, Kommandierender General X. Armeekorps) posing with two NSDAP officials during Führergeburtstag (Hitler Birthday) celebration, 20 April 1937. The picture was possibly taken in Hamburg.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/private-picture-general-der-kavallerie-wilhelm-knochenhauer

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Jagdkommando Interrogating Female Partisan

Private picture of  a Jagdkommando while interrogating a female partisan, dated August 1943. Possibly in Yugoslavia. German Jagdkommando unit were very small and lightly armed, meant to mop up the last of partisan resistance after major sweeps. Perhaps that even included sympathizers and partisans trying to hide amongst the civilians. Some books call it the first or one of the first modern responses and attempts to cope with the insurgency problem. In the form of a guerrila type unit that fought the partisans at their own game, setting up traps, ambushes and taking prisoners.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=163546
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/private-picture-jagdkommando

Bio of Generalleutnant Willy Seeger (1890-1978)

Viktor Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm Seeger
Born: 28 September 1890 in Arco (Südtirol) (heute Arco, Trentino, Italien)
Died: 27 July 1978 in Stuttgart

Promotions:
01.03.1935: Oberstleutnant
01.08.1937: Oberst
01.09.1941: Generalmajor
01.09.1943: Generalleutnant

Career:
1935 - 1936 ?
01.07.1936 Adj of V. AK
26.08.1939 Adj. Gen.Kdo. V. AK
01.08.1940 Kdr. Infanterie-Regiment 13.
01.10.1940 Kdr. Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 13
25.10.1940 FR ?
15.11.1940 Kdr. Infanterie-Regiment 75
26.07.1941 FR?
29.09.1941 Kdr. 292. Infanterie-Division
24.08.1942 FR?
01.05.1943 Kdr. Division Nr. 405
22.02.1945 FR?
23.04.1945 - 29.04.1945 “Korps Seeger“ (“Kampfgruppe Nord“) mit 106., 719. und 805. ID

Medals and Decorations:
 EK II,
 EK I,
 Ritterkreuz des Württembergischen MVO,
 Ritterkreuz 2. kl des Württembergischen Friedrichs Orden mit Schwertern,
 Ritterkreuz 2. kl des Sächsischen Albrechts Orden mit Schwertern,
 Verwundeten Abzeichen in Schwarz,
 Österreichisches MVK 3 kl mit KD.
 Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern (1934),
 Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung für 25 Jahre (2 octobre 1936),
 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1 Oktober 1938,
 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II (23 juin 1941),
 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I (21 juillet 1941),
 Verwundeten Abzeichen in Silber (29 juillet 1941),
 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (2 juillet 1942),
 Ostmedaille (22 août 1942).




Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2269752#p2269752
https://gmic.co.uk/topic/68794-seeger-willy/
https://www.leo-bw.de/en/detail/-/Detail/details/DOKUMENT/labw_findmittel_06/labw-1-329199/Seeger+Willy?p_auth=dSoSNGM5
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/18510/Seeger-Willy.htm

Monday, October 3, 2022

Josef Wulf in a Luftwaffe Ceremony

Major Josef Wulf (left) in a Luftwaffe ceremony before the war. On 1 January 1938 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (Werkmeister). on 1 July 1942, as Oberstleutnant (Erganzungsoffizier), he was transferred from Fl.H.Kdtr. (Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur) Grossenhain to Wehrbez.Kdo (Wehrbezirkskommando) Gelsenkirchen. On 21 February 1943 he was ordered temporary duty to Stab/Wehr-Ers.Insp. (Wehrersatzinspektion) Weimar. On 1 April 1943 he permanently transferred to Wehr-Ers.Insp. Weimar.

Source :
"Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries" by Henry L. deZeng IV and Douglas G. Stankey
https://www.ebay.de/b/General-in-Militaria-Fotos-1900-1918-1945/15504/bn_7004515776

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Motorcyclist in Action

Original period postcard of the" Unsere Wehrmacht" series, showing Kradschütze in action: "An die Deckung heran...Feuer" (Get to cover... Fire). The postcard was sent in August 1943 by a member of the 4. Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/postkarte-postcard-kradsch%C3%BCtze-an-die-deckung-heran-feuer

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Army Paratroopers Group Picture

Nice group picture of  Fallschirmjäger Infanterie members. Notice the Heeresspringerabzeichen (heer paratrooper badge) and the rare white gothic “L” on the shoulder boards. Stunning image!

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/fallschirmj%C3%A4ger-infanterie-fik-group-picture

SS Musician on Horse


SS Musician on horse wearing the black parade uniform (numbered collar tab partly visible) and helmet.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/ss

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Heer Soldiers Before Langres 1940

Only 62 km to Langres, France, summer of 1940.

Source :
https://clio-historia.livejournal.com/380042.html

Friday, June 10, 2022

Reichswehr Cavalry Maneuvers

Maneuvers of the Reichswehr cavalry at Frankfurt/Oder, 1933. The mounted soldiers are wearing the stahlhelm M18 kavallerie-helm version.

Source ;
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00993A
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?yearfrom=1933&yearto=1945&query=wehrmacht#

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Wehrmacht Driver

Wehrmacht kraftfahrer.

Source :
Haïki Marijnissen collection

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Reinhard Heydrich in Norway

Reinhard Heydrich at Ekeberg cemetery for German soldiers in Oslo during his visit to Norway 3-6 September 1941.. Heydrich (1904 – 1942) was a SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei (Senior Group Leader and General of Police) as well as chief of the Reich Main Security Office RSHA (including the Gestapo, Kripo, and SD). Heydrich walking in front with SS-Brigadeführer Heinrich Müller (head of the Gestapo) to his right and SS-Oberführer Heinrich Fehlis (leader of SD and Sipo in Norway) to his left. Also SS-Hauptsturmführer Hermann Kluckhohn, SS-Sturmbannführer Walter Schellenberg, Rudolf Schiedermair, and other SS police officers.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fo30141711030060-2_Bekransning_p%C3%A5_%C3%A6reskirkeg%C3%A5rden_p%C3%A5_Ekeberg_september_1941_Heydrich.jpg

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Pilots of I./JG 26 with Their New Leather Outfit

 

A picture which showing the heavy losses of fighter units in the "Reichverteidigung" (Defence of the Reich). Taken early October 1944, it shows pilots of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) with their new leather outfits in front of the Kommandantur of Krefeld airfield. Of these twelve men only four would survive the war, the other eight would be killed in the eight months until the end of the war. In the first row from left to right: Feldwebel Freiberger (1. Staffel, wounded as Oberfeldwebel on 10 December 1944 in combat with P-47 near Holzhausen / Neuß, died of his wounds on 2 April 1945); Unteroffizier Emil Brühan (1. Staffel, wounded on 25 February 1945 during a belly landing 2 km north-east Ladbergen because of engine failure; died of his wounds on 2 March 1945); Unteroffizier Heinrich Herbster (3. Staffel, wounded on 31 March 1945 by Flak near Lüdinghausen, bailed out and survived); Oberfähnrich Wolfgang Franz (3. Staffel, killed on 26 March 1945 in combat with Tempest near Lengerich); Unteroffizier Wilhelm Düsing (2. Staffel, wounded on 19 March 1945 in combat with P-5I near Osthevern, bailed out and survived), Unteroffizier Hermann Bischoff (without leatherjacket: 2. Staffel, missing in action on 23 December 1944 after combat with Marauder and P-47 south-west of Bonn); and Gefreiter Edwin Zuhaiko (3. Staffel, missing in action on 23 December 1944 after combai with Marauder and P-47 south-west of Bonn). Back row from left to right: Unknown (with pipe), Leutnant Hans-Hermann Krieger (1. Staffel, survived), Unteroffizier Ludwig Sattler (1. Staffel, missing in action on 26 December 1944 with 4./IG 26 after combat with P-51 in area Liege-Aachen), Oberfähnrich Heinrich Vandeweerd (3. Staffel, wearing Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse, killed in action on 25 February 1945 near Sendenhorst in an accident); and Unteroffizier Heinz Meiss (killed in action on 13 March 1945 as member of 7./JG 26 in combat with Spitfire near Unna.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" Edition No.1 - 2002

Sunday, April 3, 2022

Two Heer NCOs in 1935

 
Two NCOS of an infantry regiment in Königsbrück (a town in Bautzen, Saxony) in 1935. So many NCOs entrusted training the new soldiers were veterans that had joined the army with the commitrnent to stay at least one year.

Source :
https://books.google.co.id/books?id=Pe4TEAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=id#v=onepage&q&f=false

Army Chaplain in Luftwaffe Funeral

Heeres Kriegspfarrer (Army Chaplain) in the funeral for Luftwaffe personnel.

Source :
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/13026803-army-chaplain

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Bio of General der Panzertruppe Hans Röttiger (1896-1960)

 

General der Panzertruppe Hans Röttiger
Born: 16.04.1896 in Hamburg.
Died: 15.04.1960 in Bonn.

Promotions:
15.09.1914 Fahnenjunker
ca. 1914 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
30.09.1915 Leutnant
01.04.1925 Oberleutnant
01.10.1931 Hauptmann i.G.
01.01.1936 Major i.G.
01.02.1939 Oberstleutnant i.G.
01.01.1941 Oberst i.G.
01.02.1942 Generalmajor
01.09.1943 Generalleutnant
30.01.1945 General der Panzertruppe
00.00.19__ Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)

Career:
15.09.1914 - 20.09.1915 Entered service as Fahnenjunker, assigned to Feld-Artillerie-Regiment 45 (Base: Hamburg-Altona).
30.09.1915 - 00.06.1918 Commissioned/assigned to Fuß-Artillerie-Regiment 20. Saw action in Gorlice, Tarnow, and around Lemberg on the Eastern Front; fought at Verdun and on the Somme in 1916, in combat in Flanders in 1917, and in the great Spring offensive of 1918.
00.06.1918 - 00.11.1918 Ordonnanzoffizier to Artilleriekommandeur der Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz.
00.11.1918 - 01.01.1921 Again assigned to Fußartillerie-Regiment 20.
01.01.1921 - 00.00.1923 Assigned to Artillerie-Regiment 4.
00.00.1923 - 00.00.1925 Assigned to Wehrkreis-Kommando IV (HQ: Dresden).
00.00.1930 - 00.00.1931 Attended Lehrgang R, Reichswehrministerium (training as general staff officer.

10.11.1938 - 15.10.1939 Assigned to the Generalstab des Heeres.
15.10.1939 - 05.02.1940 Ia of VI.Armee-Korps.
05.02.1940 - 01.01.1940 Chef des Generalstabes of XXXXI.Armee-Korps.
01.01.1942 - 28.04.1942 Chef des Generalstabes of 4.Panzer-Armee.
28.04.1942 - 16.07.1943 Chef des Generalstabes of 4.Armee.
16.07.1943 - 24.03.1944 Chef des Generalstabes of Heeresgruppe A.
05.06.1944 - 08.05.1945 Chef des Generalstabes of Heeresgruppe C.

Postwar Confinement & Bundeswehr Service:
In British captivity, 02.05.1945 - 00.00.1948.
21.09.1956 – 15.04.1960 Inspekteur des Heeres der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. First holder of this post. Succeeded Generalleutnant Alfred Zerbel.

Decorations & Awards:
26.01.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as Oberst i.G. and Chef des Generalstabes XXXXI.Armee-Korps
1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
ca. 1934 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen

Notes:
* Son of Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Röttiger, director of an Oberrealschule and a Major d. R. in World War I. Grandson of an Oberst and great-grandson of a General der Artillerie.
* Married in 1923 to Ilse Boldt; one daughter (born 1925)

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

Hans Röttiger (16 April 1896 – 15 April 1960) joined the Prussian Army in 1914 and served from 1915 as a Leutnant in the 20th Artillery Regiment. After the First World War he served in the Reichswehr as a battery officer, adjutant, and battery chief. He then served as an officer on the General Staff of the Wehrmacht.

At the beginning of the Second World War Röttiger was an Oberstleutnant and he served from 1939–1940 as the Chief of Operations for VI Corps. From 1940–1942 he was Chief of Staff of XXXXI Corps and was then appointed the Chief of Staff of the 4th Panzer Army on the Eastern Front, serving at Stalingrad. From 1943 to 1944 he was Chief of Staff of the 4th Army and then of Army Group A from 1944–1945 under Generaloberst Josef Harpe. He then became the Chief of Staff of Army Group C in Italy under Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring. On 30 January 1945 he was promoted to General der Panzertruppe.

Röttiger was a prisoner of war of the British and Americans from the end of the war until 1948. In 1950 he was a participant at the meeting to discuss the establishment of a new German defence force; the result of the meeting was the Himmerod memorandum.

Röttiger was accepted into the Bundeswehr in 1956 at the rank of Generalleutnant. On 21 September 1957 he became the first Inspector of the Army and was instrumental in its early development.

Röttiger was diagnosed with cancer in the late 1950s and spent his last years undergoing treatment. In the morning of 15 April 1960 he died in office, one day before his 64th birthday.


Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_R%C3%B6ttiger
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/ROETTIGER_HANS.html
http://sylviolassance.blogspot.com/2015/05/rottiger-hans-1604189615041960.html

Sunday, January 23, 2022

German Soldiers Put Chains on Truck Tires

Two German soldiers put skid chains on Army truck, after heavy snow in Russian battle area, winter of 1941. This photo was published by American press on 22 December 1941.

Source :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/402818039849?hash=item5dc9d38029:g:TucAAOSw6Utgi-1g&_trksid=p5731.m3795

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Painting Luftwaffe Helmets

 
From shiney helmets into a Matt finish: nice photo showing a Luftwaffe flak unit (circa 1940/41) painting their helmets to come in line with the 1940 order on helmet paint and decals. The sprayers is wearing HBT reed green Luftwaffe worksuits. It is also a very good photo depicting depot repaints of helmets.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/LuftwaffeFD/photos/a.114470297207428/314601447194311/

Sunday, December 19, 2021

German Soldiers in Rumania

German soldiers in Rumania, 1944. Maschinengewehr 15 (MG 15) and Panzerfaust 30 in sight.

Source :
ECPAD archives (DAT 3222 L10)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Bio of Generalmajor (Luftwaffe) Otto Zech (1886-1965)


Generalmajor Otto Zech
Born: 21 Oct 1886 in Suckowshof, Pomerania (Pommern)
Died: 07 May 1965 in Murnau, Bavaria (Bayern)

Promotions:
Charakter als Fähnrich (14 Mar 1905); Fähnrich (18 Oct 1905); Leutnant (18 Aug 1906); Oberleutnant (02 Dec 1914); Hauptmann (22 Mar 1916); Major (01 Jan 1935); Oberstleutnant (01 Jan 1938); Oberst (01 Sep 1940); Generalmajor (01 Mar 1944)

Career:
Entered the Army (14 Mar 1905)
Company-Officer in the 31st Infantry-Regiment (14 Mar 1905-30 Sep 1913)
Pilot-Training (01 Oct 1913-01 Aug 1914)
Pilot with the 9th Field-Flying-Battalion (02 Aug 1914-09 Feb 1915)
Detached to Army Flight Park 6 (10 Feb 1915-14 Dec 1915)
Pilot in Combat-Wing 4 of the OHL (15 Dec 1915-14 Oct 1917)
Leader of Army Flight Park 1 (15 Oct 1917-09 Nov 1918)
Demobilisation with the 31st Infantry-Regiment (10 Oct 1918-31 Dec 1918)
Leader of the Volunteer-Squadron of the 8th Hussar-Regiment (01 Jan 1919-15 Jan 1919)
Demobilisation with the 31st Infantry-Regiment (16 Jan 1919-13 Feb 1919)
Company-Leader with Volunteer Landes-Jäger-Corps Maerker (14 Feb 1919-30 Sep 1920)
Retired (30 Sep 1920)
Entered the Luftwaffe as a Supplemental-Officer (28 Aug 1934); Active-Officer (01 Jul 1941)
Commander of Flying-Group (P) in Seerappen (28 Aug 1934-31 Mar 1938)
Commander of Air-Park Stendal (01 Apr 1938-31 Dec 1938)
Commander of Air-Equipment-Office Göttingen (01 Jan 1939-30 Nov 1939)
Quartermaster with Air-Region-Command I (01 Dec 1939-31 May 1940)
Commander of Air-Equipment-Group West France (01 Jun 1940-31 Mar 1941)
Commander of Air-Equipment-Group 17 (01 Apr 1941-09 Jun 1941)
Commander of Field-Air-Equipment-Group Romania (10 Jun 1941-25 Dec 1941)
Commander of Field-Air-Equipment-Group Italy (26 Dec 1941-31 Oct 1943)
Commander of Air-Equipment-Group 1 (01 Nov 1943-07 Mar 1944)
Commander of Air-Region-Troop I, Königsberg and Danzig (08 Mar 1944-30 Nov 1944)
To Disposal of the Flying-Replacement-Division, Braunschweig (01 Dec 1944-28 Feb 1945)
Retired (28 Feb 1945)

Decorations & Awards:
1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
Königlichen Preußischen Flugzeugführerabzeichen
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918
Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern
Kriegsverdienstkreuz I.Klasse mit Schwertern


Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2378188#p2378188
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Generalmajor/ZECH_OTTO.html