Unknown Cossack officer

[Ivan Ž.]

Hello, everyone

Does anyone recognise this (rather tall) Cossack officer? He seems to be an Oberstleutnant.

(He was photographed in the company of v. Pannwitz.)

(Photo source: ECPAD)

Thanks in advance,
Ivan

[ASAM]

This is major Erwein Karl Graf zu Eltz.

[Ivan Ž.]

Thank you for the reply, ASAM, but please write the source of the info.

I've already discussed this possibility with a friend of mine. However, I failed to find more info on him; I know that there's a book of his for sale, but I don't have it yet. What bothers me is that I've seen him mentioned as a Major, while the man in the photo I posted seems to be an Oberstleutnant (the photo was taken in mid-March 1944). Was Graf zu Eltz promoted to Oberstleutnant, what was his assignment in March 1944 and is there a better resolution (confirmed) photo of him?

A low-resolution photo from the cover of his book "Mit den Kosaken":

7772_0.jpg (61.31 KiB) Viewed 3454 times

Cheers,
Ivan

[ASAM]

Thank you for the reply, ASAM, but please write the source of the info.

Schuster P., Tiede H. Die Uniformen und Abzeichen der Kosaken in der Deutschen Wehrmacht. Norderstedt, 1999. P. 151.

[Ivan Ž.]

Excellent, thank you for the scan (I don't have that book either). But there it is again: he is credited as a Major, but he seems to be wearing Oberstleutnant shoulder boards. See the photo showing him seated with a cigar. Any info/explanation about his rank? Is that an Oberstleutnant pip/star on his shoulder board or some other insignia?

Ivan

[ASAM]

Excellent, thank you for the scan (I don't have that book either). But there it is again: he is credited as a Major, but he seems to be wearing Oberstleutnant shoulder boards. See the photo showing him seated with a cigar. Any info/explanation about his rank? Is that an Oberstleutnant pip/star on his shoulder board or some other insignia?

Ivan

You're right - it's very interesting. I can't answer that question, but I think it's other insignia.