Who is this officer from GroßDeutschland?

[Waland66]

Hi!

Who is this officer from the GroßDeutschland division?
I think he is a Oberst.

Best regards
Paal

[J.N. Houterman]

When the picture is taken in the summer of 1943 it could perhaps be the Ia, Ob. Oldwig von Natzmer. DKiG April 1943, RK Sept. 1943. His face bears some resemblance, though it's hard to tell.

Cheers,

Hans

[Waland66]

Thank you Hans!

I have seen a picture of him, but there he has dark hair.
So i don't know....

Regards
Paal

[Elwyn W]

Hi,

Obst Erich Koehler? Kmdt Inf Rgt 1 GD. Killed Dec 1, 1942. Posthumously promoted GenMj. DKiG. I enclose three pics.

Cheers.
Frieherr

[Waland66]

Hi!

That looks more like him, yes.
Thanks Freiherr.

Regards
Paal

[Glenn2438]

Hi,

I don't think it is Oberst Erich Koehler. The same officer is pictured next to General der Pioniere Alfred Jakob in the photograph below. Jakob was awarded the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross in June 1943. Koehler was killed in December 1942.

This officer's uniform has the Black Pioniere Waffenfarbe. He is very likely a senior member of the Inspector of Railway Pioneers and Fortress's (Jakob) staff.

Regards
Glenn

[Galicia]

If you're really interested, trace his awards. Look what he's wearing:

1. Both Iron Crosses
2. War Merit Cross, 2nd Class
3. Some Army Long Service Medals
4. Ostfront Medal
5. German Cross

[Waland66]

Hi all.

Are we agree that it is the GroßDeutschland armcuff he is wearing?

Regards
Paal

[Waland66]

Hi!

Can it be Erich Kahsnitz?

Regards
Paal

[J.N. Houterman]

Kaschnitz is a fair possibility. Again a good resemblance. The pic has to be taken then in June or July 1943 (after Jacob got his award and before Kaschnitz was killed).

But as stated here before it could well be a staff officer of Jacob. As Kaschnitz was not...

Cheers,

Hans

[Waland66]

Hi!

But he is a GroßDeutschland officer, or?

regards
Paal

[Waland66]

Hi!

I think i have the name: Hans-Detlev Chrapkowski, can it be him.
Here is apicture i found of him on a site:

Regards
Paal

[J.N. Houterman]

A nice guess. Got the DKiG on 28 May 1944 as Major in the Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon "Grossdeutschland". Could be the link with the Pioniere general Jacob. There are probably some experts around to see if his rank & further decorations match. There seems to be some age difference between the persons on the different pictures though, although it remains hard to tell.

Cheers,

Hans

[Elwyn W]

Hi,

Here are two additional pics of Chrapkowski. In Pic1 he was with Breith. He strikes me a above average in height -- not the case with the mystery oberst in the picture with Jacob, unless Jacob was really tall. Pic2 also shows Chrapkowski with a bar to his WW1 iron cross. The oberst next to Jacon didn't.

thanks

Frieherr