NSKK Mistaken Identity

[Mark Costa]

Over the years many authors and researchers, myself included, have always identified the man on the left with the kepi as future NSKK-Obergruppenführer Adolf Jäger. Jäger was the chief adjutant to Korpsführer Hühnlein. And in hundreds of photos this man is always with Hühnlein so it made sense that this man was Jäger the adjutant. But in the last few days I have been going through my files looking for NSKK-Gruppenführers and Obergrfs. I found several photos from the NARA in the Hoffmann archives taken in the early 30's of this man. One of which is shown here for comparison that shows they are indeed the same man. BUT the handwritten captions on the back of the photos state that this man is future NSKK-Obergruppenführer Herbert Schnüll !!!!

Have I and others been mistaken as to this man's identity???

Please let know your thoughts or photos that can either confirm or refute the identity. Thanks.

Mark Costa

[Andrey]

Hello Mark!
Interesting theme!
I have only two photo of NSKK-Ogruf. Herbert Schnüll. Might be this little help you...
What are you think?
Best,

Andrey.

[Mark Costa]

Andrey:

This clinches it ! The man is definitely Schnüll. So Saris, Halcomb, Angolia and others, myself included, have made a mistake. It is obvious that the man always identified as Jäger is in fact Herbert Schnüll !! So the question now is, who is Adolf Jäger and what does he look like. In hundreds of photos of Hühnlein it is Schnüll and not Jäger that is always with him.

Many Thanks for clearing this up for me and for the rest of us researchers.

Mark

[freddiefro]

Here is a photo of Adolf August Jäger (NSKK-Ogruf. and Chefadjutant of the Korpsführers des NSKK) from "Der Großdeutsche Reichstag 1938 (Wp.IV)."

Fred

[Mark Costa]

Fred:

I have to be honest, I have seen this photo before, but this man is never seen with Hühnlein anywhere that I can see in any photos. And the fact that the man we now know as Schnüll always seemed to be with Hühnlein, that I and I guess the others, naturally assumed the photo you show was in error back in 1938. I find it extremely confusing that Hühnlein's chief adjutant is never seen in photos with him. Hence we were all fooled by Schnüll as being Jäger.

Thanks.

Mark

[Mark Costa]

After spending the rest of the day searching for photos of the REAL Adolf Jäger, I have finally found one at the BPK. He is standing behind Hühnlein in the photo below. Identity finally verified.

Mark Costa

[freddiefro]

Excellent work, Mark...very much appreciated! It would make sense that Schnüll is often seen with Hühnlein… Schnüll was Inspekteur der Motorsportschulen des NSKK from 1936 until 1942 and ended up as Führer of Motorgruppe Sachsen until the end of the war.

Am I mistaken, or does Jäger appear to be wearing (2) daggers in the above photo?

Fred

[Mark Costa]

Fred:

Actually it is Hühnlein's dagger that is also shown. Hühnlein for whatever reason had a tendency to wear medals badges (notably the Golden Party Badge) and sometimes his daggers, on his right side. Photos show him wearing his dagger on the right side as well. Very strange but who's going to point out regulations to him.

Mark

[freddiefro]

Once again, thank you Mark!

Fred

[harmel]

Great work Gents!!!!
Harmel

[Igor Karpov]

Obviously, Hühnlein got another Chefadjutant, because this NSKK-Obergruppenführer doesn't look like Jäger at all. Date of a photo - January 1941.
Who is this?

Regards,
Igor

[Mark Costa]

Igor:

That is NSKK Obergruppenfuhrer Hans Krenzlin. He was on the staff for many years and can be seen going all the way back to 1934.

Mark

[Igor Karpov]

Thanks, Mark.

Regards,
Igor

[Georges JEROME]

Hans-Helmuth Krenzlin was the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine "Der NSKK-Mann".

On 1942 he was Leiter Hauptamt Presse und Propaganda (Jäger was then Chefadjudant).

Source : NS Jahrbuch 1942