LSSAH SS-Sturmbannführer ID

[Feldpost]

Can anyone identify the LAH Sturmbannführer shaking Hitler's hand in the below photo? The officer at center is Oberfuehrer Johann Rattenhuber, so perhaps the officer is a member of Rattenhuber's staff? I am also interested in knowing the date and location of the photo. According to Rattenhuber's rank, it must have been taken sometime betwenn April 1942 and January 1944.

Barry

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

I'm not certain, not at all, but it is possibly Fritz Buchsein, who became Ib of the 12. SS-PD HJ in the autumn of 1943. BTW, what is the source of this photo? Please post the source, thanks!

[Michael Miller]

Man in the photo wears the Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP- anyone know if Buchsein was a recipient? If so, it would have been an honorary award (given his NSDAP-Nr.-- 3 601 352).

Here's some data on Buchsein, posted to the forum by Mikedc:

Fritz Buchsein.
Born on 13-10-1913.
Member NSDAP(nr. 3.601.352).
Member SS(nr. 265.199).
In 1942 he got promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer.
From 17-7-1942 till 24-6-1943 he was 1. Ord. Offz.(O1)with SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division ’LSSAH’.
In between he followed the 4. Lehrgang at the Kriegsakademie des Heeres.
From 24-6-1944 till 1-3-1945 he was 2. Gen.St.Offz.(Ib)/quartermeister with the Quartiermeisterabteilung
within the Divisional Staff from 12. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hitlerjugend’.
On 30-1-1944 he got promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer.
On 30-1-1944 he got promoted tot SS-Sturmbannführer d.R.
In 1945 he participated in the fightings in Austria.
In 1945 he probably also got promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer.
He received the 1939 EK II, the 1939 EK I, the Länderausaeichnungen and the Totenkopfring der SS.

Source: 'Die Personen-Lexikon der NSDAP'.

Best,
~ Mike

[Panzer Grenadier]

Does this photo make a match?

http://home.att.net/~SSPzHJ/Photos.html

Looks like it.

Regards,

Ben

[Feldpost]

Thanks to everyone so far for trying to identify this LAH Sturmbannführer. Okay, as requested, here are some more details about the photo. It's a postcard size photo that was taken by a Heinrich Hoffmann photographer. Written on the reverse is: Presse-Illustrationes Heinrich Hoffmann, Berlin SW 68. Nachdruck verboten. Incidentally, both this officer and Rattenhuber are wearing Golden Party Badges. I am looking forward to hearing more comments.

Barry

[Phil Nix]

His entry in the October 1944 DAL does not show him holding a Golden Party Badge He did have IK1 and IK2
Phil Nix

[Reader3000]

Well, I don't think that it is Buchsein. But I don't have any other idea,sorry.

[Feldpost]

Thanks for everyone's efforts. I am also convinced that this is not Buchsein. I really think we should be thinking in terms of a subordinate to Rattenhuber, especially since the officer and Rattenhuber both wear the Golden Party Badge. Did Rattenhuber have an adjutant?

[harmel]

Saw the pic in Wehrmacht Awards site,
I thought it looks like Peter Högl of the RSD
Harmel

[Feldpost]

Definitely not Peter Högl in my opinion . . .

[Georg_S]

How about SS-Stubaf Bruno Gesche. The faces between Gesche and this Stubaf has many similitaries.

SS-Stubaf Bruno Gesche
Führer Begleitkommando
Born: 5.11.1905
Parteinr. 8592
SS-Nr: 1093
SS-Ustuf. 20.7.31
SS-Ostuf: 9.11.33
SS-Hstuf: 1.7.34
SS-Stubaf: ?
In DAL of 35 is he listed "Leibstandarte" and he was also awarded the Totenkopfring

Reg.

Georg

[Max Williams]

When I first saw this two days ago, I thought, "That looks like Bruno Gesche." The only problem with this I found was that Gesche is not recorded as having received the Black Wound Badge or the EKII. This then also throws some doubt on Georg's comparison photo being Gesche. Gesche did have a long shaped face. He was a very early member of Hitler's close protection unit, was promoted to SS-Stubaf. on 20 April 1935 and appears to have stayed with the Begleitkommando throughout as a member of LAH. Where would he get the wound badge and the EKII prior to January 1944? His entry in the 1944 DAL also shows him with the GPB, but no wound badge or EKII. The floor is open........
Max.

[Georg_S]

When I first saw this two days ago, I thought, "That looks like Bruno Gesche." The only problem with this I found was that Gesche is not recorded as having received the Black Wound Badge or the EKII. This then also throws some doubt on Georg's comparison photo being Gesche. Gesche did have a long shaped face. He was a very early member of Hitler's close protection unit, was promoted to SS-Stubaf. on 20 April 1935 and appears to have stayed with the Begleitkommando throughout as a member of LAH. Where would he get the wound badge and the EKII prior to January 1944? His entry in the 1944 DAL also shows him with the GPB, but no wound badge or EKII. The floor is open........
Max.

Hello Max,

My thought when I looked up Gesche is that he was promoted the 1.7.1934 which indicates
that he must been involved in the "Röhm Putsch". Can´t it be that he later was rewarded
any of those medals after that happening? I mean maybe he did something which
made AH think that he earned the Verw.Abz im Schwarz and the EK II or is the EK II a KVK II kl?
Or was Gesche awarded those medals because he have protected AH from something, their was many attempts
against AH and maybe Gesche saved him from difficulties or ??

About the Night of the long knifes is that many of those who was involved in some way got promoted
on the 1 July 1934 one of those if I remember correctly without checking is Eicke and Lippert

Just a thought


Regards,

Georg

[Max Williams]

Georg,
Personally, I think it is Gesche and I have since I first saw the photo on Saturday. The only problem is with his decorations. I have been going through all my Gesche files and book references since then, trying to find something which indicates these awards.
Another pointer to it being Gesche is that he was cross-eyed. Your photo shows him with cross-eyes.
The wound badge is a combat decoration, as is the EKII. He is plainly wearing these decorations in both photos, so where did he get them and why aren't they recorded? The plot thickens.......
Max.

[Max Williams]

Here's an interesting document. Apparently, Gesche and his men liked a drink!
Max.