Awardholders / unit

[Alecci]

Pleasure to help you out, gentlemen.

[USAF1986]

I don’t believe this award holder has been placed with the 15. Panzer-Division (p. 10):

Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (Orden “Michael der Tapfere” III. Klasse)
Stehle, Georg, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 2517 / 13.09.1943, Oberleutnant, Pz.Gren.Rgt. 115

Best regards,
Shawn

[Bernd R]

Added

Reminder for us and all what's open concerning the Order of Michael the Brave. Research by me some time ago did stuck half the way to find answers.

Here are the last of the German holders of the Romanian Order of Michael the Brave with questionable and/or incomplete information. Perhaps we can hash these gentlemen out in the future.

Best regards,
Shawn

SOURCE: Ichim, Eugen. Ordinul Militar de Razboi “Mihai Viteazul”. Modelism & Jertfa, Bucahrest, Romania, 2000.

Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (Orden “Michael der Tapfere” III. Klasse)

Dohle, Hans, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 2886 / 17.10.1941 (posthumous), Oberstleutnant, Inf.Rgt. 362 (The regiment cited was a component of the 196. Infantrie-Division in Norway; cannot find an officer of this rank and name in database of the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge)

John, Wilhelm, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 399 / 18.02.1943, Oberst, (No unit cited)

Graubrer, Bruno, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 1611 / 15.06.1943, Major, (No unit cited)

Halachermann, Heinrich, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 3269 / 20.10.1943, Oberleutnant, Artillerie-Regiment 798 (Unit and spelling of last name seem incorrect)

Wagner, Erwin, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 299 / 14.02.1944, Major, (No unit cited)

Stuemer von, Egbert, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 712 / 30.03.1944, Leutnant, (No unit cited)

115. maj. Prinz Gottfried Hohenlohe: 3rd class by Royal Decree no. 2181/7 August 1943 (18th CavR)

120. lt. Georg Stehle: 3rd class by Royal Decree no. 2517/13 September 1943 (115th PzGrR)

Kayser, Erich, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 2517 / 13.09.1943, Major d.R., Pz.Gren.Rgt. 155

Kayser is one of five recipients of the Order of Michael the Brave that appear to fall outside the typical Romanian practice of awarding the order to German soldiers who served alongside Romanian units on the Eastern Front. However, that Kayser was a member of the 90. leichte Afrika-Division is evidenced by his award of the DKiG on 24.12.1942 while assigned to Pz.Gren.Rgt. 155. Strange!

Bernd

[USAF1986]

Bernd,

Good reminder! I too had forgotten about these award holders. Here's one for the unit cited:

90. leichte Afrika-Division / 90. leichte Infanterie-Division / 90. Afrika-Division

Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (Orden “Michael der Tapfere” III. Klasse)
Kayser, Erich, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 2517 / 13.09.1943, Major d.R., Pz.Gren.Rgt. 155

Best regards,
Shawn

[Bernd R]

Kayser added

John, Wilhelm, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 399 / 18.02.1943, Oberst, (No unit cited)

if John is correct, it could be
Dipl.Ing. Friedrich-Wilhelm John, Generalmajor since 1 Nov 1942, Fhr. then Kdr. 383. Inf.Div.
the better match I see for
Dipl.Ing. Richard John, Oberst during the time period in question, Kdr Inf.Rgt. 36 / 9. Inf.Div. from sept 1942 - april 1943 ; DKiG on 26.05.1943 for that command.
9. Inf.Div. did belong to the Caucasus troops. It was fighting alongside with the Romanians - per dec 1942 it belonged to V. AK / AOK 17 / HGr. A which consisted of :
9. und 73. ID / rumänisches Kav.Korps / 10. rumän. Div. / 3. rumän. Geb.Div.
Anymore info and/or confirmation that Richard John received the Order of Michael the Brave ?

115. maj. Prinz Gottfried Hohenlohe: 3rd class by Royal Decree no. 2181/7 August 1943 (18th CavR)

strange ; the only "18th CavR" I'm aware of in 1943 is SS-Kav.Rgt. 18 / 8. SS-Kav.Div. "Florian Geyer" which was formed in nov 1943 first if I'm correct.
It's a Romanian unit perhaps ; his rank Major !?
Could be Austrian nobility -> Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst ??

Bernd

[Bernd R]

RE : Fahnenjunker-Grenadier-Regimenter (ad hoc 1945 formations from Kriegsschulen)

part 1

At the same time treatment / review of (quote from the "late war divisions" section on [page 56] ) :

Panzergrenadier- Division “Kurmark” (3 KC)

Liedtcke, Albert-Gustav 15.03.1945 Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel i. d. 6./Fahnenjunker-Regiment 1241
Schmückle, Willi 15.03.1945 Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel i. d. 6./Fahnenjunker-Regiment 1241
Riedmüller, Adam 18.02.1945 Feldwebel Zugführer i. d. 4./Jagdpanzer-Abt 2 [Pz.Jagd.Brigade 104]

German Cross in Gold (2)
Grau, Kurt, 15.04.1945, Leutnant d.R., Pz.Aufkl.Schwdr. “Kurmark”
Müller, Paul, 09.03.1945, Oberfeldwebel d.R., I./Pz.Rgt. “Kurmark”

not counted : -> attachment ?
Schöne, Hans-Wolfgang KC 23.03.1945 Oberleutnant d.R. Führer II./Gren.Rgt 1242
[Heerestruppe ; action : 9. Armee , Oder ; subordinated to Division „Döberitz“ at Küstrin (?)]

Lay, Josef 05.04.1945 Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel Zugführer im Gren.Rgt 1239
[HeTr ; Einsatz bei AOK 9 ; / Kampfgruppe König / PGD Kurmark ?? ]
[KIA south of Küstrin ; GR 1239 formed feb 1945 from school units]

and addition of several recipients of these regiments who are listed on [page 105] right now.


As things are a bit complex and my research result should be near 100% but eventually has errors or misinterpretations any add & corr is much appreciated !! Please note that there are some questions included.


Preface :
Fahnenjunker-Grenadier-Regimenter [Fhj-Gren.Rgt.] were built during february 1945 out of several Kriegschulen/Fahnenjunkerschulen. Mostly they had a structure : I. 1.-4. , II. 5.-8. , 13, 14 . With a status of Heerestruppe units the most of them have been placed under command of AOK 9 as reinforcements during the fightings against the Soviet Oder bridgeheads and the battle of the "Seelower Höhen".
This is not a coverage of all Rgts. as I'm concentrating on those with award holders (especially Schöne, GR 1242 and Lay, GR 1239). Also the region concerned is just KÜSTRIN (north) to FRANKFURT/ODER (south).
@Jan-Hendrik,
ich wage es nicht (und kann es nicht), da weiter auszuholen..Really difficult stuff.

Sources which are based on first hand accounts of surviving participants and inhabitants of the region / sources in general :
Bildungswerk Brandenburg der Jakob-Kaiser-Stiftung e.v. (overtaking articles of german magazine "Stern" from sept 2005) -> Militärischer Zusammenbruch - Die letzten Tage von Klessin :
http://www.bildungswerk-jks.de/Meine_Bi ... 945-48.pdf
Heimat-Lexikon LEBUS :
http://www.thate.info/lexikon/gloss01/kamp.html

The "Gedenkstätte Seelower Höhen" unfortunately is not yet ready with an online presentation of the battel (hopefully this will be an interesting and accurate presentation when ready )
http://www.gedenkstaette-seelower-hoehen.de/
This private "Seelow 1945" site has some good sections :
http://www.seelow-1945.de/Inhaltsverzeichnis.htm
especially this Panzergreandier-Division "Kurmark" page with OOB and Stellenbesetzung :
http://www.seelow-1945.de/Pz.Gren.Div.%20Kurmark.htm
and this highly interesting and useful page with persons involved (military personnel with posts!) :
http://www.seelow-1945.de/Personenregister.htm

The Reference Material forum http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9&t=132463
provides the info that With our backs to Berlin (Tony Le Tissier) is excellent [in english] on this topic.
Mentioned also "Berlin - The Downfall 1945" http://www.antonybeevor.com/Berlin/berlincutstwo.htm


The time period early february and the fighting at Schloß [manor] KLESSIN :

1) Since february 7th 1945 Panzergrenadier-Division "Kurmark" was ordered to hold a defensive position with a length of around 18km from Frankfurt/Oder - Reitweiner Sporn. Strenghened with several Fhj-GR here and there and from time to time the division was under command of XI. SS-Pz.Korps / AOK 9 / HGr. Weichsel.

2)

Zur Abwehr von sowj. Panzern, die von Norden bis Lebus vorgedrungen waren, griff die Panther-Jagd-Abt.2 (mit 4 Sturmgeschützen 8,8cm-Langrohr) ein

This is a confirmation of the involvement of this unit , KC holder :
Riedmüller, Adam 18.02.1945 Feldwebel Zugführer i. d. 4./Jagdpanzer-Abt 2 [Pz.Jagd.Brigade 104]
Still unclear if the subordination at that time was indeed to "Kurmark" or eventually [more precise] to "Orts-/Kampfkommandant Lebus" ->

Neuer Ortskommandant von Lebus wurde Ritterkreuzträger Major König, der den kampfunerfahrenen Oberst Settler ablöste

As Tessin has
Kampfgruppe König / PGD Kurmark
I tend to regard the command structure as one and the same and "Kurmark" as the overall leading command, therefore following our logic of classification Riedmüller has to be listed as "attached" to "Kurmark".

btw, I don't know which König !?

3) [...]
The defenders of Schloß Klessin - Pz.Gren.Rgt. "Kurmark" with 400 men - are strenghtened through 40 Unteroffiziere of Offz.-Bewerberschule Cottbus ("GD"). During the night 5./6. march the last reinforcement for Klessin arrived - Fhj-GR 1242 "Wetzlar" [additionally some days later further 45 men arrived]. They are holding the position another 13 days. The remnants (one group with 30, another group with 26 men) of "Festung"! Klessin [around 150 men] on 22.03.1945 retreated to own lines finally.
Oberleutnant Schöne, their last leader [Btl.Fhr. II./GR 1242], was awarded the KC for the Klessin defense.
Photo of bestowal (by Willy Langkeit] here :
http://www.seelow-1945.de/Pz.Gren.Div.%20Kurmark.htm

So, although there was [might have been] a part time subordination of GR 1242 to Inf.Div. "Döberitz" [to find in Tessin - if I'm correct they were south of KÜSTRIN with Div. "Döberitz" [norhtern sector!] originally] Schöne should be listed as "attached" to "Kurmark", fighting along with the Kurmärker Gren.Rgt. at Klessin.

Bernd

[Bernd R]

RE : Fahnenjunker-Grenadier-Regimenter (ad hoc 1945 formations from Kriegsschulen)

part 2

The KLESSIN "Hetzer" story (made famous by the Kriegsberichter) :
quote from this thread http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=29195

by colleague David C. Clarke : In 1945, the Soviets had established bridgeheads over the Oder in preparation for their Berlin offensive. One of the bridgeheads surrounded Klessin "castle" (actually more of a manor house with huge stone walls) on the Western Bank of the Oder overlooking the river. A tiny German force was holding the manor and a small strip of land around it. Counterattacks by the German army failed and the Soviet grip tightened around the small force. Then the Soviets began to build a bridge over the Oder underneath the heights the manor house sat on. Several Hetzers from Kurmark Panzer Division attacked to try and force their way through to the manor.
One made it through the gauntlet of fire.
The Germans demolished part of the entrance to Klessin castle and the little Hetzer drove slowly into the building and into the living room. The living room had a huge window overlooking the Oder and the Hetzer gunner sighted in on the bridge. After a couple shots, the Hetzer placed a 75mm shell on the center span, demolishing it and dropping the bridge into the river. The Soviets fired back, but the strong stone walls of the castle prevented them from hitting the tiny Jagdpanzer, which withdrew from the window after firing more rounds into the bridge and demolishing it.

Fahnenjunker-Grenadier-Regiment 1239

Lay, Josef 05.04.1945 Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel Zugführer im Gren.Rgt 1239
[HeTr ; Einsatz bei AOK 9 ; / Kampfgruppe König / PGD Kurmark ?? ]
[KIA south of Küstrin ; GR 1239 formed feb 1945 from school units]

Below quote from http://www.thate.info/lexikon/gloss01/kamp.html

Eine weitere Einheit, das in Wien eilends zusammengestellte Fhj.Gren.Rgt.1239 unter Major Landmark, bezog am 15.Februar Stellung westlich des Bahndammes südlich des Lebuser Bahnhofes bis in Höhe Wüste Kunersdorf. Es wurde in den Verband der 712.Grenadierdivision, befehligt von Generalmajor v.Siegstroth, integriert. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt liegen die Sowjets teilweise unmittelbar gegenüber auf der anderen Seite des Bahndammes. Die Wiener Einheit verstärkte auch das weiter südlich operierende Volkssturmbataillon 7/108 Franken.
Einen Tag später greifen die inzwischen weiter verstärkten Wiener den Elisenberg an. Dieser war aber schon durch Stellungen und Minenfelder gesicherter uneinnehmbarer Bestandteil des sowjetischen Brückenkopfes, so daß der Angriff erfolglos bleiben mußte. Die Wiener gruben sich in ihrem Frontabschnitt ein, es entstanden Laufgräben und winterfeste Unterstände

It is 712. Infanterie-Division under command of Generalmajor Joachim von Siegroth.
Fhj-GR 1239 from Wiener-Neustadt, together with GR 1241 was attached to PGD "Kurmark", too. On 26.03.1945 when 712. Inf.Div. was reforming they were renamed : 1239 -> GR 732 ; 1241 -> GR 745
Apparently in strenghtening the southern sector of the "Kurmark" frontline GR 1239 was put under command of 712. Inf.Div.

Therefore I tend to list Lay (KIA on 15.03.45) as "attached" to 712. ID .


Of note the other Fhj-GR attached to "Kurmark" :
GR 1234 (KS Potsdam)
GR 1235 (KS Dresden) -> redesignated Pz.Füs.Rgt. Kurmark in april 1945
GR 1243 (KS Potsdam)
(1235 and 1243 in action around LEBUS and KLESSIN).


Additions from the "raw data" list on [page 105] :

to 712. Inf.Div. , attached :
Wenk, Edgar, 27.04.1945, Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel, Fhj.Gren.Rgt. 1239 , DKiG
Deubner, Hermann, 00.00.1945, Hauptmann, I./Gren.Rgt. 1239 , EBS
Düringer, Franz, 00.00.1945, Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel, 6./Gren.Rgt. 1239 , EBS

to Pz.Gren.Div. "Kurmark" , attached :
Wolf, Theobald, 00.00.1945, Leutnant d.R., Stb. II./Gren.Rgt. 1242 , EBS


Bernd

[Bernd R]

supplement : Fähnrichs- / Fahnenjunker - Regimenter
and
re : later war divisions

EBS , [page 105] :
Gustedt von, Wilk, 00.00.1945, Rittmeister d.R., II./Gren.Rgt. 1233

will be added to :

Divisions-Stab z.b.V. 391
( / V. SS-AK / AOK 9 , action at Frankfurt an der Oder)
Knight's Cross
Notz von, Friedrich-Wilhelm 23.03.1945 Oberstleutnant Kdr Gren.Rgt 1233
[ex (formed 02.02.1945) GR "Notz", HeTr ; built with school units]

V. SS-Geb.Korps ; Div.Stab z.b.V. 391 = ex 391. Sicherungs-Division (since feb 1945)
unit will be removed to the alarm units section [page 56]


DKiG , [page 105] :
Schlicht, Josef, 27.04.1945, Oberwachtmeister, 3./Pz.Jäg.Abt. Döberitz

will be added to :
Infanterie-Division "Döberitz" , no entry so far


DKiG , [page 105] :
Becker, Ludiger, 27.04.1945, Major, Fähnr.Rgt. 1 (Freund)
Freund, Herbert, 00.05.1945, Major, Fähnr.Rgt. 1

will be added to - new - :
Division Bärwalde
* 20.01.1945 from Art.S I Groß-Born ;
/ Korps Tettau / AOK 11 [SS-Pz.AOK 11] (feb 45) / Pz.AOK 3 (march 45)
OOB
Regiment 1 (Freund)
Regiment 2 (Wolff)
Regiment 3 (Boehmer)
Regiment 4 (Hellermann)

original Fähnrichs-Regiment 5 (Freund), Artillerie-Schule Groß-Born, joined "Bärwalde", getting Rgt. 1 there.

according to Tessin
Fähnrich-Regiment 4 = Regiment Buchenau
which was originally a part of Division Märkisch-Friedland was attached to Div. Bärwalde and successfully participated in the breakthrough to bridgehead DIEVENOW on 10.03.1945 [whereas Div. Märkisch-Friedland was destroyed on 11.02.1945 with the fall of MÄRKISCH-FRIEDLAND].

therefore also to add to "Bärwalde" :
AU , [page 105]
Buchenau, Friedrich, 00.00.1945 (6296), Major, Kdr. Fähnr.Rgt. 4

and a KC addition ; no surprise that the late war divisions would bring that
Buchenau, Friedrich (Fritz) 28.03.1945 Major Kdr Fhj.Rgt 4

A colleague is looking up the Biblio KC (infantry) series if Tessin is correct and Buchenau indeed was with "Bärwalde". Further confirmations welcome of course. Buchenau after the war reached the rank of Brigadegeneral in the Bundeswehr, he was Kdr Artillerieschule Idar-Oberstein.


Of note :
Regiment 3 was commanded by Oberst Böhmer, former Kdr. Lehr-Abt. B, Artillerieschule (quote from the schools sticky) :

Aug 1943 - Jan 1945 O Böhmer Schützen Rgt. 3 der „Division Bärwalde"

[page 56] :

Division “Märkisch Friedland” (3 KC)

Bering, Rolf 11.03.1945 Major Führer Fähnrichs-Rgt 1 der Div „Märkisch Friedland“
Massow, Horst 11.03.1945 Hauptmann Chef 2./Fähnrichs-Inf.Rgt 3 [der Div „Märkisch Friedland]
Wiechec, Franz-Josef 05.04.1945 Major Führer Fähnrichs-Rgt 3 [der Div „Märkisch Friedland“]

These should be correct.
Division Märkisch-Friedland
* 20.01.1945 from Artillerieschule II, Groß-Born
also called : Gruppe Lehmann ; / AOK 11 [SS-Pz.AOK 11] / HGr. Weichsel
OOB
Fähnrichs-/Fahnenjunker-Regiment 1
Fähnrichs-/Fahnenjunker-Regiment 2
Fähnrichs-/Fahnenjunker-Regiment 3
(Rgt. 4)

to add , DKiG , [page 105] :
Klemm, Gerhard, 09.03.1945, Hauptmann, I./Fähnr.Inf.Rgt. 3


and confirmed

Division Pommernland / Pommern / Korpsgruppe von Tettau

Knight's Cross
Sann, Fritz, 14.04.1945, Major, Fhr Inf.Rgt Riedel / Inf.Div Pommernland

not Marine-Inf.Rgt. 8 , as to read occassionally (and per "DDD")
see here : http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?t=5088


Bernd

[Jan-Hendrik]

/ Korps Tettau / AOK 11 [SS-Pz.AOK 11] (feb 45) / Pz.AOK 3 (march 45)

Delete the SS-PzAOK 11, please. As this was never an official designation we should avoid to use it to not feed old myths anymore

Jan-hednrik

[Bernd R]

Will do, Jan-Hendrik, thanks !

You see, I have used "Inf.Div. Döberitz" without 303 - according to your several hints.
Also, to state it one more and the last time : it's Pz.Gren.Div. "Kurmark" (not Panzer ).

To get all designations without slight errors / myths I will correct "309. Inf.Div. Berlin ", too.
Both correct, "Inf.Div. Berlin" and/or "Inf.Div. Groß-Berlin" ?

I'm not completely through the late war divisions [page 56]. Now or when edited the next days give a hint please if anything else is not accurate there, thanks.

Bernd

[Bernd R]

first "face lift" of the late war divisions [page 56] done.

I have also added the entry of Pz.Div. "Clausewitz" which is on [page 19] with "GD" already.

there was another one on [page 105] to add to "Bärwalde" :

Army Honor Roll Clasp (1)
attached :
Woltemate, Fritz, 00.00.1945, Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier, 4./Fähnr.Rgt. 4

All the recipients classified to a division during this turn are crossed out on [page 105] now. There might be further ones on the "raw data" lists.

Fhj-GR 1239 recipients added to 712. Inf.Div. [page 27]

Bernd

[Jan-Hendrik]

In the documents I have at hand it only appears as Inf.Div. Berlin

Jan-Hendrik

[Bernd R]

Thanks, so we take this official designation.

The following recipients could be classified to Frontaufklärungskommando 202 / "Einheit Schill" [page 80] :
Haugeneder, Johann, 27.04.1945, Obergefreiter, Einheit "Schill"/FAK 202 , DKiG
Skierlo, Martin, 00.00.1945, Leutnant d.R., FAK 202 Einheit “Schill” , EBS
Zwiener, Max, 00.00.1945, Feldwebel, FAK 202 “Schill” , EBS


Bernd

[Bernd R]

RE : "raw data" [page 105]

Rowohl, Wilhelm, 25.03.1945, Leutnant, Wehrwirtschaftsstab 85 , EBS

Lt Rowohl is added to Division Brandenburg / WFSt/OKW [page 6]

Wehrwirtschaftschaftsstab 85 was a cover designation for a Kommando of Verband Wildschütz.

For more and background info see a short chronology of Brandenburgers on the Balkans by Mark V.
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 56#p624656
Excerpt of this highly recommended excellent compilation :

[...]Another similar unit was also formed by 4th Regiment in Kraljevo. This was Verband Wildschütz (Major Benesch) and had similar objectives as Böckl's group, but focused more on reconnaissance duties.

Both units (Böckl and Wildschütz) were merged in February when Benesch replaced Böckl. The whole unit was now known as Verband Wildschütz. The group increased its cooperation with Chetniks and emphasis on reconnaissance&diversion operations and gathering of intelligence from free-partisan territory. Their activities further increased just before Operation Rösselspung (SS-Falschirm.Jg.Abt.500's attack on Tito's HQ in Drvar). Individual reconnaissance parties operated far in partisan held territories up to 7 days and were constantly resupplied by Luftwaffe.

In the Operation Rösselspung itself, Brandenburgers had different missions. One group from Verband Wildschütz jumped with SS-Falschirmjägers in Drvar, they were accompanied by an Abwehr special team from Abwehr section II - Frontauklärungstrupp 216 or FAT 216. FAT216 was also composed from former Brandenburgers, who received extensive training at Lehr-Regiment Kurfürst (formerly part of Brandenburg) and the group's commander was leutnant Walter Zawadil. While Benesch's men (supported by several Chetniks) were trying to locate important command posts and partisan VIPs, FAT216 was primarily interested in recovering partisan radio station, deciphering codes. Further Brandenburgers were involved in operation - 1st Regiment and additional groups from Verband Wildschütz (these groups were attached to other units taking part in operation). 1st Regiment was to advance from Knin towards Drvar, it was to break partisan lines and then send small mobile groups of men dressed in partisan clothes (Volltarnung) to disrupt partisan movements and their retreat. Furthermore this groups were to cooperate with similar groups from Prinz Eugen in case Tito manages to escape the initial Falschirmjäger attack. Nothing came of it. The regiment just arrived from Greece and didn't yet have enough interpreters and contact personnel and was thus forced to abandon Volltarnung operations. Furthermore the regiment advanced very slowly and failed to reach it's objectives on schedule and was heavily criticized in the after action report (like most of the other units taking part in operation).

The way of personnel which originated of the "Brandenburger", did belong to "Streifkorps Karpaten", later ended with "SS-Jagdverband Südost" and were picked for small scale commando operations with units like Wehrwirtschaftsstab 85 (recon, preparation of operations) is illustrated very well here, looking at the entries in these Soldbücher :
http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:du ... e&ie=UTF-8
(thanks over to that other forum member there for presenting this outstanding examples !)


of interest :
back on [page 82] I tried to give a very short description/summary about Frontaufklärungskommandos :
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9#p1088819

Most helpful and interesting would be to read a work by Dietrich Kirn (name changed after the war -> Witzel-Kirn) :
see here : http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_the ... brand1.htm

This work
Erschienen im vom Militärgeschichtlichen Forschungsamt herausgegebenen Militärgeschichtlichen Beiheft zur Europäischen Wehrkunde
Heft 5, Oktober 1990
5. Jahrgang ISSN 0932-0458
by KC Holder Witzel-Kirn is now fully available to read there [in german] ! It covers the "Brandenburger" and their development, the parallel structure and switch to Frontaufklärung II lateron - highly recommended.

Bernd

[Bernd R]

RE : Fester Platz Wilna
OOB added ; recipients of Gren.Brig. 761 and SS-Pol.Rgt. 16 added ; not yet those of GR 399 and II./AR 240 / 170. ID whose awards eventually fall into the Wilna fightings.
Tolsdorff, swords, removed to here (was listed with AOK 4).

Wilna
OOB / http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... latz+Wilna
Gren.Rgt. 399 / 170. Inf.Div.
Gren.Brig. 761
Gren.Rgt. 1067 (elements) / Kgr. Tolsdorff
SS-Pol.Rgt. 16
Fallschirm.Jäg.Rgt. 16 (elements)
II./Art.Rgt. 240 / 170. Inf.Div.
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 256 / 256. Inf.Div.
Flak-Abt. 296
with a strength of 8 infantry battalions

Swords
Stahel, Rainer 18.07.1944 [79. Sw] Generalmajor Kdt Fester Platz Wilna
Tolsdorff, Theodor 18.07.1944 [80. Sw] Oberstleutnant Kdr Gren.Rgt 1067 u. Fhr Kgr. Tolsdorff in Vilnius/SU
[Armeetruppe ("Walküre") AOK 4 ; nickname : "Der Löwe von Wilna"]

Knight's Cross
Poel, Gerhard 16.10.1944 Generalmajor Kdt Oberfeldkommandantur 400 u. Kdt von Wilna
Stoecks, Helmut 20.07.1944 Unteroffizier im Stab / Kdt Fester Platz Wilna

German Cross in Gold
Kaltenbach, Rudolf, 02.08.1944, Hauptmann, Gren.Brig. 761
Kaupel, Ernst, 02.08.1944, Hauptmann d.R., II./Gren.Brig. 761
Schanzenberger, Walter, 27.10.1944, Zugwachtmeister der Schupo, III./SS-Pol.Rgt. 16
Titel, Walter, 21.07.1944, Oberstleutnant, SS-Pol.Rgt. 16

Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army
Held, Bernhard, 17.09.1944 (3948), Hauptmann der Schupo, Kampfgruppenführer I./SS-Pol.Rgt. 16

Bernd