alcius wrote: ↑10 Nov 2022, 12:50
For someone who has 46 panzerkills, it must have a tall decoration.
Ah, damn ...
first thought: Günther Hellmich would be a good candidate for this (both Hellmuth and Hellmich are possible, in my opinion). He got EK2 and EK1 in 1941 with Stug.Abt. 184 already, was recommended for the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold early 1943 and finally got the Ritterkreuz in December 1943. Stug.Abt. 270 indeed was highly successful against soviet tanks, also, but ...
According to the Book "Sturmartillerie" by ... Kurowski
and Tornau Stug.Abt. 270 in September/October 1943 just managed to operate ONE battery of Sturmgeschütze, led by Oblt. Wolz, Günther Hellmich at that time was a Hauptmann already, so obviously Hellmich was NOT in action during that time.
Also, it's true that it's very unlickely that Günther Hellmich signed this photograph with his family name while writing greetings to his beloved ones.
So ..., no, I have no real clue for this Hellmuth X.
It's possible that the 46 tank kills where the score of the unit, and it's also possible, that the man in question didn't get a higher award above EK 1 (see Lt. Alfred Rubbel and Lt. Frhr. von Rosen from Tiger 503 or Uffz. Ohler from Stug.Brig. 270, Oblt. Gösel from Stug.Brig. 244) ...
You know, the forename Hellmuth (with 2 L and with TH at the end) isn't that common in Germany, but I haven't found a suitable candidate.
Nothing to work with, unfortunately ...
Oliver