Max Wünsche

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Kima
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Max Wünsche

#1

Post by Kima » 31 Dec 2020, 12:32

Hi~
I wondering about Max Wünsche was what kind of man.
Something like leadership, personality etc. (Also, relationship with Jochen Peiper).
I tried to find, but I could find only so simple things.

Thanks alot. Have a nice day :D

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Cult Icon
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Re: max wünsche

#2

Post by Cult Icon » 31 Dec 2020, 14:50

The veterans accounts in SS-Panzer regiment 12 by Stephan Cazenave have opinions about this officer as a person & leader.

- charismatic, actor-like good looks, in his first appearance he told the boys that the barbers massacred their hair and that he "wanted good haircuts, not Russians"

-focused on eliminating drill and unnecessary training steps & orienting the training towards that which was more receptive to boys. This involved making the training more sports and competition oriented, and he allocated cash prizes to them for motivation.

-there is an account of him interfering in a potential court martial and lightly disciplining some boys


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eindhoven
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Re: max wünsche

#3

Post by eindhoven » 02 Jan 2021, 20:10

I think you can see in this excerpt from a report Wünsche wrote to Kurt Meyer 23 March 1944 that he was an outspoken leader unafraid of pointing out short comings regardless of rank or title. He also expected his leaders to know their jobs and did not suffer fools.

A loose translation:

4.) Duty roster
The duty rosters submitted by the units prove to me that they have been drawn up thoughtlessly, not in accordance with the proper level of training and not taking into account the requirements of time.
It is incomprehensible to me why there are units that let even 1 week go by without having shot at least with pistol, rifle and machine gun. If fuel is not available to do it from the Kpfw. then it has to be done at least with weapons removed.
I refer to the order of the Div. Kdr regarding night training and the Unterführer training.
I repeat now for the last time that the silly notion that night training is satisfied when the rattling of cooking utensils, the lighting of cigarettes, the lighting of lamps, etc., finally disappears.
During night training, apart from the ordered position building, all the activities mentioned in point 1, 2nd paragraph must be carried out.
Orientation and finding one's way in the terrain is a natural part of it, but it can only be a part of the night training.
The most important thing in night training is to get our men used to fighting at night. Night attacks will play a more decisive role in the future than in the past.
Wunsche to Meyer March 23 1944.jpg

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seaburn
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Re: max Wünsche

#4

Post by seaburn » 02 Jan 2021, 21:05

From my research of Wünsche these last five years, I have found that he was many things to many people. His subordinates, peers and commanding officers were generally in agreement that he was an exemplary soldier who had strong tactical qualities coupled with a unwavering loyalty to National Socialism. His captors were torn between despising his arrogant attitude but admiring his war record, especially in Normandy.

I don't believe there was a rivalry of any sort with Jochen Peiper, certainly there have been authors who have portrayed their duel careers in a black V white narrative but that was on the basis of Peiper being saddled with war crimes allegations unlike Wünsche.

These war crimes just focus on what happened in the Western theatre (Boves, Ardennes) and as Wünsche was cleared by the British for any involvement of war crimes in the west, you can see why the Black V White narrative has evolved. With the opening of the Eastern Block archives, this narrative will be reviewed as Wünsche's Abteilung were part of Kurt Meyer's reinforced AA btln during the 3rd battle for Kharkov and as such, they were party to deeds on the EF that would constitute war crimes in any man's book. How much Wünsche actively participated in this will form part of the bio that I am putting together.

There were many finds and surprises on the road in researching his life and career - his family background alone threw up a big surprise! His closeness to Hitler and how that influenced the drive to return him to German hands after his capture - the reason he did not become a Stab Officer despite passing the grade with flying colours, how close was he to Himmler etc.

I have been very grateful to receive much help from venerable forum members and published authors in this quest and I was gifted with an extensive audio interview he gave which helps formulate an overall perspective. Hopefully, I will be able to share the results of this research in the near future.

Should anyone have any unpublished photos that would like included in this bio, please PM me.

Happy new year to all!

Arumando
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Re: max wünsche

#5

Post by Arumando » 14 Oct 2021, 17:12

Hello, any news about the book?

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seaburn
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Re: max wünsche

#6

Post by seaburn » 29 Nov 2021, 23:17

Sorry for the late reply - I'm still chugging along with the edits - all chapters except a short last one written. But some new information has come to light and additions are never ending!

steve248
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Re: max wünsche

#7

Post by steve248 » 05 Dec 2021, 15:56

Ah, research constipation. What we all suffer from.

Arumando
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Re: max wünsche

#8

Post by Arumando » 09 Dec 2021, 19:36

Thanks for good news! I am really excited about it.

Arumando
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Re: max wünsche

#9

Post by Arumando » 13 Sep 2023, 19:21

Hi, It's been a few years, I definitely haven't forgotten and I'm still very curious about what was found on "Unser Max Wünsche“ . Any news on the book?

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Georg_S
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Re: max wünsche

#10

Post by Georg_S » 16 Sep 2023, 23:48

I Moved the topic from "heer, Waffen-SS" subforum because I think SS u Polizei is are more suitable place for the thread

/Georg
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