Identification of Waffen-SS (mostly) RKT

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 11 Jul 2006 19:29

Postcard-photos from http://www.moonwheel.biz

01:
Who is the RKT with SS-Gruf. Gille

02:
This one was already posted for id. but, I think, without a definitive result.
There are 2 RKTs, SS-Ustuf. & SS-Ostuf. and one non-RKT SS-Ostuf. (wearing the "Wiking" cufft.)

03:
2 officers with ranks below SS-Stubaf. 2nd wears DKiG.

04:
Probably SS-Hauptscharführer; DKiG Tr.

05:
2 officers, or NCO and officer (probably Rgt. "Deutschland")

06:
SS-Untersturmführer (looks very, very familiar to me)

07:
SS-Sturmbannführer

08:
SS-Obersturmführer

09:
I'm 99,9% sure this is Weiser, but - just checking.

10:
This man was identified as SS-Sturmbannführer Kaiser at Andre Hüsken's website.
Is it RKT "Zenz" Kaiser?

11:
This one was already posted, with no result (if I'm not mistaken).

12:
I believe this is the same occasion.
3 SS officers: 1st with unknown rank, 2nd is SS-Ostuf. or SS-Hstuf. and 3rd is SS-Staf.

Thanks in advance,
Ivan

Michael Miller · Post by **Michael Miller** » 11 Jul 2006 19:38

01: RKT w/Gille is Manfred Schönfelder, Ia "Wiking" and close friend to Gille during and after the war.

~ Mike

Michael Miller · Post by **Michael Miller** » 11 Jul 2006 19:39

09: Yes, that is indeed "Bibl" Weiser.

Hermann (“Bibl”) Weiser
SS-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS

* 22.11.1918 in Ottenau / Baden.
+ 21.03.1970 in Ludwigsburg / Württemberg.

NSDAP-Nr.: [Not a member]
SS-Nr.: 351 242 (Joined 02.11.1937)

Promotions:
01.11.1937 SS-Mann
01.04.1939 SS-Junker
01.06.1939 SS-Standartenjunker
01.09.1939 SS-Standartenoberjunker
09.11.1939 SS-Untersturmführer
09.05.1941 SS-Obersturmführer der Waffen-SS
20.04.1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS
01.08.1944 SS-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS

Decorations & Awards:
28.03.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (immediate award) as SS-Obersturmführer and Fhr. 2. (Kradschützen) Kompanie / SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Leibstandarte-SS
Adolf Hitler” / SS-Panzer-Korps / Heeresgruppe Süd, Eastern Front (based on a recommendation dated 16.03.1943 and signed by Abt. Kdr. Kurt Meyer; approved by Div. Kdr. “Sepp” Dietrich”; presented by Kurt Meyer)
12.06.1940 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
14.05.1940 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
03.10.1940 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
14.05.1940 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz (or 26.05.1940; both dates appear on separate documents in his SS file)
01.09.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
12.06.1940 Spange “Prager Burg” zur Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
12.06.1940 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
02.03.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
00.00.19__ Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen
00.00.194_ SS-Dienstauszeichnungen
00.00.19__ Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
12.11.1941 Totenkopfring der SS
10.07.1942 Military Order for Bravery in War IVth Class, 2nd Grade (Bulgaria)
16.07.1942 Order of the Crown of Romania, Knight Class on Ribbon of Military Virtue (by Royal Decree Nr.
2020) (document in his SS file gives 03.09.1942)

Best,
~ Mike

Michael Miller · Post by **Michael Miller** » 11 Jul 2006 19:41

11: That's Heinz Harmel shaking hands with a Luftwaffe Schlachtgeschwader-Kommodore/EL-Träger whose name unfortunately eludes me at the moment.

Just found it- the LW officer is:

Oberst
Bruck, Helmut

* 16.02.1913 Kittlitztreben, Krs. Bunzlau
+ 25.08.2001

Ritterkreuz am: 04.09.1941
als: Hauptmann
Funktion: Staffelkapitän 1./StukaG 77
193. Eichenlaub am: 19.02.1943 als Hauptmann
Funktion: Kommandeur I./StukaG 77

Source: http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de

~ Mike

Reader3000 · Post by **Reader3000** » 11 Jul 2006 19:45

02: Could be Otto Meyer of Hohenstaufen-Division. Not 100% sure though.

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 11 Jul 2006 19:47

Michael Miller wrote:11: That's Heinz Harmel shaking hands...

I know other photos from this occasion, but (for some unknown reason)
I've imagined that this officer (in fact Harmel) has a moustache!

Michael Miller wrote:01: RKT w/Gille is Manfred Schönfelder

Ah, so simple! The man with no chin.
Thanks for confirmation about Weiser (and always-welcome-info as well).

Cheers,
Ivan

Michael Miller · Post by **Michael Miller** » 11 Jul 2006 19:49

Yes, 10 is "Zenz" - those chiseled features stand out even from this distance.

~ Mike

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 11 Jul 2006 19:49

Panzerass wrote:02: Could be Otto Meyer of Hohenstaufen-Division. Not 100% sure though.

He was SS-Ostubaf. when he was awarded with RK.

Cheers,
Ivan

Reader3000 · Post by **Reader3000** » 11 Jul 2006 19:52

Hmm,okay..sorry then. I just tried. I'll look into the Krätschmer now and try to find out.

Mark V. · Post by **Mark V.** » 11 Jul 2006 19:59

Ivanwss wrote:
Panzerass wrote:02: Could be Otto Meyer of Hohenstaufen-Division. Not 100% sure though.
He was SS-Ostubaf. when he was awarded with RK.

Cheers,
Ivan

How about Helmut Bauer and Kurt Schumacher?

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 11 Jul 2006 20:09

Mark V. wrote:How about Helmut Bauer and Kurt Schumacher?

Mark, I was thinking the same thing.
But I can't find a good profile-photo of Bauer for comparison.
Btw, when was he promoted to SS-Ustuf.?

It's hard to tell wheather it is Schumacher, or not. Decorations & rank match.

Cheers,
Ivan

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 11 Jul 2006 20:19

04: Probably SS-Hauptscharführer; DKiG Tr.

Kurt Schumacher?

Mark V. · Post by **Mark V.** » 11 Jul 2006 23:27

Hi Ivan,

Ivanwss wrote:
Mark V. wrote:How about Helmut Bauer and Kurt Schumacher?
Mark, I was thinking the same thing.
But I can't find a good profile-photo of Bauer for comparison.
Btw, when was he promoted to SS-Ustuf.?

It seems he was an SS-Ustuf in summer 1944 and later promoted to Ostuf., I haven't seen any pics of him other then these two (both from Krätschmar):

No 4
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... 1&start=60

http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_sea ... word=bauer

Aside from Bauer, the only other two eligable Wiking RKT Ustufs are Grossrock and Senghas. Doesn't look like any of them. As for Schumacher (DKiG as Ustuf. in 1943), he was serving in the same company as Bauer in 1944, when the photo was probably taken. Come to think of it No.03 (on the left) looks very very much like him.

Michael Miller · Post by **Michael Miller** » 12 Jul 2006 00:59

Some information on Helmut Bauer, from his SS-Personalakte:

Helmut Bauer
SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS

* 02.02.1920 in Mittelschefflenz / Kreis Moslach / Baden.
+ 30.11.1967 in Wertheim am Main (heart disease).

NSDAP-Nr.: [No indication of Party membership in his SS file]
SS-Nr.: 468 175 (V) (Joined 01.11.1938)

Promotions:
00.00.194_ SS-Oberscharführer der Waffen-SS
12.09.1943 SS-Untersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
30.01.1945 SS-Obersturmführer d. R. Waffen-SS

Decorations & Awards:
12.09.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Oberscharführer and Zugfhr. in 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-
Panzer-Regiment “Wiking” / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Wiking” / 8.Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd, Eastern Front (based on a recommendation dated 14.08.1943 and signed by Abt. Kdr. Hans Köller; approved 31.08.1943 by Div. Kdr. Herbert Otto Gille)
07.03.1943 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
27.07.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
01.10.1942 Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
30.07.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz
29.08.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”

Best,
~ Mike

Ivan Ž. · Post by **Ivan Ž.** » 12 Jul 2006 07:38

Thanks for info, Mike.

Mark V. wrote:Aside from Bauer, the only other two eligable Wiking RKT Ustufs are Grossrock and Senghas.
Doesn't look like any of them. As for Schumacher (DKiG as Ustuf. in 1943),
he was serving in the same company as Bauer in 1944, when the photo was probably taken.

I agree, Großrock & Senghas are not in the photo.
But SS-Ostuf. (RKT) could also be Hein, or Nicolussi-Leck...
Still, Bauer & Schumacher sound like the best solution... (can't be sure

)

Here's a quick list of RKT from SS-Pz.Rgt.5 (correct me if I've missed someone)

RK am 03.09.1942:
SS-Sturmbannführer Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp (Kdr. SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 12.09.1943:
SS-Oberscharführer Helmut Bauer (Zugführer 3./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 09.04.1944:
SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (Chef 8./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 04.05.1944:
SS-Untersturmführer Kurt Schumacher (Führer 3./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)
SS-Obersturmführer Willi Hein (Chef 2./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)
SS-Obersturmführer Otto Schneider (Führer 7./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 12.08.1944:
SS-Untersturmführer Alfred Großrock (Zugführer 6./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 16.10.1944:
SS-Hauptsturmführer Hans Flügel (Führer II/SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 11.12.1944:
SS-Obersturmführer Paul Senghas (Führer 1./SS-Pz.Rgt.5)

RK am 05.04.1945:
SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Darges (Führer SS-Pz.Rgt.5)