KC-Holder Rolf Fromme

[askropp]

This is probably unique!

28.04.1939 mit dem 30.04.1939 aus dem aktiven Wehrdienste entlassen
09.09.1939 im niedrigsten Dienstgrad wieder eingestellt

09.09.1939 Panzerschütze
01.10.1939 Gefreiter
01.12.1939 Unteroffizier
01.03.1940 Feldwebel
01.06.1940 Leutnant d.B.

I really wonder about the background.

[luckystrike78]

some years ago I used to met a lot vets of sPzAbt 503, who served under Fromme. Fromme was sometimes mentioned as a real front line officer who was perfect for war but did not work in peace. He was much respected but he was obviously a difficult person. One of his problems was alcohol - even during and maybe before the war. I think it was mentioned that he was fired/ or degrade - but I dont remember details - too many years ago.

[ArBad]

Hi there,

is there any reliable source for this new data of Frommes background?

[luckystrike78]

his own period officer file - I think reliable enough.

[ArBad]

Sorry,

i ment where does this information come from before it was recorded in his own period officer file?

[luckystrike78]

My small extract comes form some kind of a questionnaire that is in his folder (pre war and Bundeswehr). It was filled in before he joined the new German Bundeswehr - maybe by himself.

Correction: the extract is out of the period "Personalnachweis - Dienstlaufbahn" not the after war questionnaire. I dont know who was responsible for those papers. Today there is a "Personalamt der Bundeswehr" in Köln. Most likely something like that.

[luckystrike78]

I thought about the incident again and I think Alfred Rubbel once mentioned a car accident that leads to his dismissal.

[ArBad]

Ok,
that sounds reliable to me.

Thank you very much.

[Jan-Hendrik]

Great amount of information, dear Gentlemen! Thank you!

Jan-Hendrik

[Jan-Hendrik]

01.11.34 Eintritt in die Wehrmacht
05.12.44 FR OKH/ Dienst regelt Befehlshaber WK IX, gleichzeitig Kommandierung an die Schule f. Fahnenjunker der Panzertruppen Groß Glienicke
22.07.41 Ehrenblatt (137) als Leutnant und Führer der 1./Pz.Rgt. 1 für Tat am 05.07.1941 bei Ostrow

Jan-Hendrik

[luckystrike78]

There was no 1./Pz.Rgt. 1 in 1941. Fromme was platoon leader in 7. company. In Ostrow they had for the first time to deal with heavy KWI and KWII. Here is one of these tanks they knocked out:

[Jan-Hendrik]

I remember now some Vets of 503 told me he had those problems with 'drunk too much' at all yearly meetings of the former members of this unit.

Jan-Hendrik

[Jan-Hendrik]

Possible that he was Kdr. of PzAbt. "Stahnsdorf 1" before he took over sPzJgAbt. 653 ?




Jan-Hendrik

EDIT :

http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.d ... e-Rolf.htm

And he even didn't tell me that he added Fromme already on his site ...

Stoves mentions him as Kdr. Pz.Abt. Stahnsdorf 2...

See: Rolf Stoves, 'Die 22. Panzer-Division, 25. Panzer-Division, 27. Panzer-Division und die 233. Reserve-Panzer-Division : Aufstellung, Gliederung, Einsatz.' p.266 (yes, I found it after reorganizing my bookshelfs )

Jan-Hendrik