VERLAG AUGUST GUNKEL
POSTCARDS
RITTERKREUZTRAGER DES HEERES
KNIGHT'S CROSS of the IRON CROSS (ARMY)
This series of postcards from Verlag August Gunkel features soldiers that were awarded the prestidious Knight's Cross, the highest award in the German Army. The award was available to all members of the armed forces and related militias and could be won by anyone from a private to a fieldmarchall. The medal was initiated on 1st Sep 1939 with the invasion of Poland. Apart from the basic medal there were other variations that were bestowed which consisted of oak leaves, crosses, swords and diamonds. A total of 7,000 awards were made.
A series of short books published by ‘Aufwarts Verlag’ Berlin NW7, was also produced that gave a little more detail of the medal winner, an example of which is shown on the right pane, a book published to honour Oberstleutnant Ritter Von Heigl. The books sold for 30Pf each and there was also a special wallchart that depicted some of the winners.
The postcards shown below are in no particular order as the series is not numbered.
ALFRED GERMER
(1)
ALFRED GERMER
ALFRED GERMER
Example of the Reverse of these Cards
(1) Oberleutnant Alfred Germer was born on 7th Jun 1914 in Strassburg and was awarded his Iron Cross on 26th May 1940 whilst being assigned to Pioneer Battalion 171. He reached the rank of Major and was killed on 1st Mar 1945 in the vicinity of Elbing in East Prussia. The award was given for his capture of the heavily fortified Redoubt 505 on the left section of the Maginot Line, northwest of Montmedy in France.
ERNST FRIEDRICH LANGENSTRASS &
ERNST GEORG BUCHTERKIRCH
(2)
ERNST FRIEDRICH LANGENSTRASS
ERNST FRIEDRICH LANGENSTRASS
(3)
ERNST GEORG BUCHTERKIRCH
ERNST GEORG BUCHTERKIRCH
(2) Ernst Friedrich Langenstrass was born on 16th Jan 1914 in Scheidersfelde (Pommerania) and was awarded his medal on 5th June 1940 as an oberleutnant and Company Commander of 2 Kompanie, Pioneer Batallion 28. 28 Infantrie-Division. He was awarded the Knight's Cross 1st (1st Nov 1939) and 2nd Class (29th Sep 1939). He was awarded the Knight's Cross for his unit's action against the French troops defending Fort Sart near Maubeuge. He was later awarded the Ostmedaille (East Medal or 'Frozen Meat Medal' as it was known by the service men) on 28th Jul 1942, whilst serving with the 11 Infantrie-Division. On 16th Sep 1943 he was also awarded the 'Deutsches Kreuz in Gold'. He died on 22nd Nov 2010 in Nuβdorf am Inn, Bavaria.
(3) Ernst Georg Buchterkirch was born on 10th Sep 1914 in Pommerania, in the town of Stolp and died on 17th Aug 1971 in Berlin. He saw action with the Condor Legion in Spain and won the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 19th Sep 1939 and the 1st Class on 15th May 1940, his Knight's Cross came on 29th Jun 1940 as an Oberleutnant and Company Commander in 2. Panzer Regiment 6, 3 Panzer-Division, XVI Armee Korps, 12th Army. The Knight's Cross was awarded for the successful destruction of 6 enemy tanks with his own Panzer (his unit destroyed 18 tanks) in a battle of France, near Pont Sur Seine. He added the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 31st Dec 1941, following action in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa in Jun 1941 when his Company destroyed 12 Russian tanks near Buchowiecze.
EKKEHARD KYLLING-SCHMIDT &
ERWIN ROMMEL
(4)
EKKEHARD KYLLING-SCHMIDT
EKKEHARD KYLLING-SCHMIDT
(5)
ERWIN ROMMEL
ERWIN ROMMEL
(4) Ekkehard Kylling-Schmidt won the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 9th Nov 1940 and the 1st Class on 22nd Jul 1941 as leader of 3 Kompanie, 1 Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 26, 30 Infantry-Division. He won the Knight's Cross on 20th Oct 1941 as a Leutenant (2nd Lieutenant) for action against the Russians near Kudka, Rwy, Gosstjosh, Lowatj and Nagatkina. He was later awarded the oak leaves on 4th Dec 1942, again for action against Russian troops around Lushno, Aleshenka and Lytschkowo. He also went on to win the Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silver (tank destruction badge) three times. He was born on 21st Jun 1919 in Flensburg and died on 28th Aug 2000 in Koblenz after being a prisoner of war from May to Aug 1945.
(5) Field Marshall Erwin Rommel is well remembered for his leadership of the Arfika Corps in North Africa during the war, having previously been in action in France. To list his achievements would be well beyond the scope of this webpage. He was born on 15th Nov 1891 in Heidenheim, Wurttemburg. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 26th May 1940 as a Major General and Panzer Division Commander. He was later awarded the Oak Leaves on 20th Mar 1941 and then the swords on 20th Jan 1942 as leader of Panzer Group Afrika.
FRIEDRICH CARL &
FRIEDRICH WILHELM MULLER
(6)
FRIEDRICH CARL
FRIEDRICH CARL
(7)
FRIEDRICH WILHELM MULLER
FRIEDRICH WILHELM MULLER
(6) Friedrich Carl was born on 24th Sep 1916 in Strassburg and was awarded the Iron Cross on 9th May 1942 as an Oberleutnant and Battery Commander in an Artillery Regiment.
(7) Friedrich-Wilhelm Muller was born on 29th Aug 1897 in Wuppertal-Barmen and was executed on 20th May 1947 for war crimes. He was the commanding officer of the 105th Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Knight's Cross on 22nd Sep 1941 and the Oak Leaves on 8th Apr 1942 for action against the Russians. In Aug 1942 he commanded 22nd Air Landing Infantry Division in Crete where he was responsible for many acts of atrocity against the local population, including massacres of civilians at Viannos, Anogia, Amari and Damastra as well as the execution of 100 Italian Officers on the Island of Kos. During his tenure on Crete he earned the name 'The Butcher of Crete'.
GUSTAV BERGMANN
GOTTHARD ESSBACH
(8)
GUSTAV BERGMANN
GUSTAV BERGMANN
(9)
GOTTHARD ESSBACH
GOTTHARD ESSBACH
(8) Gustav Bergmann was born on 28th Apr 1916 in Seerappen, Eastern Prussia and was killed at Dorpat, Latvia on 26th Aug 1944. As an Obegefreiter (Corporal) with 9 Kompanie, III Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 696, 340 Infantrie-Division, he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 4th Oct 1942. The award was given for his actions around Veronezh in Sep 1942 where he eliminated several soviet machine gun nests and drove a wedge through the heavy Russian defences despite being injured. He was also given the War Wound Badge in black as well as the infantry Assault badge.
(9) Gotthard Essbach was born on 29th Mar 1917 in Falkenstein in Saxony and died in Marburg an der Lahn (Hesse) on 19th Apr 2001. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 22nd Sep 1941 as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with 9 Kompanie, III Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 31, 24 Infantrie-Division for preventing the Soviets from destroying a bridge at Cherkassy. He was also awarded the 'German Cross in Gold' on 23rd Jan 1943, the Iron Cross 2nd class and Iron Cross 1st Class.
GUNTER V. FALKENHAYN
GOTTFRIED GEISSLER
(10)
GUNTER V. FALKENHAYN
GUNTER V. FALKENHAYN
(11)
GOTTFRIED GEISSLER
GOTTFRIED GEISSLER
(10) Gunther Von Falkenhayn was born on 16th Sep 1920 in Zeitz, Saxony and was killed on 3rd Jan 1944 at Dvorische/Vitebsk Oblast in the Soviet Union. He awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class and the Knight's Cross on 25th Nov 1942 as a Leutenant (2nd Lieutenant) with Jager Regiment 75, 5 Jager Division. The Knight's Cross was awarded for his bravery against a Soviet bunker south of Lake Ilmen in Sep 1942. He recieved his 5th wound in the struggle to capture this series of bunkers during the course of Operation Michael.
(11) Gottfried Geissler was born on 17th Oct 1914 in Homberg (Rhineland) and died on 21st Jul 2006 in Moers, Northrhine-Westphalia. He was awarded the 'Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen' (Westwall Medal) in March 1940 with Artillerie-Regiment 34, 34 Infantrie-Division, the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, bronze wound medal for three wounds received in Jun 1941, The Infantry Assault Badge on 12th Jul 1941 and the Knight's Cross on 21st Aug 1941 as an Oberleutenant (1st Lieutenant) with 3 Batterie, Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 185. The award was given for his unit's action around Riga on 28th Jun 1941.
GERHARD HEIN
GUSTAV KRUTEMEIR
(12)
GERHARD HEIN
GERHARD HEIN
(13)
GUSTAV KRUTEMEIR
GUSTAV KRUTEMEIR
(12) Gerhard Hein was born on 9th Jul 1916 in Klein Paniov-Rybnik, Upper Silesia and died on 6th Jun 2008 in Harrislee, Schleswig-Holstein. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 23rd Jun 1940 and the 1st Class on 27th Jun 1940. The Knight's Cross was awarded on 3rd Sep 1940 as an Unterofficer der Reserve (Corporal of Reserves) with 10 Kompanie, III Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 209, 58 Infantrie-Division. The action took place at St. Evre (a suburb of Toul) where he was responsible for house clearing of enemy forces that were threatening the German advance. He was awarded the Oak Leaves on 7th Sep 1942 for capturing a battery of Soviet artillery and breaking through the Russian defences on the Stalin Line near Priluga, additional action near Monastorek, Alexejewka, Urisk and Novgorod in Mar 1942.
(13) Gustav Krutemeier was born in Exter, Herford on 9th Mar 1914 and died on 12th Dec 1971 at Gadderbaum, Bielefeld. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 3rd Oct 1942 as an Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officier) of 1 Gebirgs-Pionier-Batallion 99 for action on the Lapland front.
GERHARD MULLER
GERD V. RUNDSTEDT
(14)
GERHARD MULLER
GERHARD MULLER
(15)
GURD V. RUNDSTEDT
GURD V. RUNDSTEDT
(14) Gerhard Muller was born in Breslau on 19th Dec 1896. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 9th Sep 1942 as an Oberst and Commander of an African Panzer Regiment.
(15) Gerd Von Rundstedt was born on 12th Dec 1875 in Aschersleben as is well known as a Tank commander. His biography is too extensive to list here but he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 30th Sep 1939 following action in Poland and went on to win the Oak Leaves on 19th Jul 1940 and was promoted to General Field Marshall.
GERHARD VOIGT
HELMUT BECK-BROICHSITTER
(16)
GERHARD VOIGT
GERHARD VOIGT
(17)
HELMUT BECK-BROICHSITTER
HELMUT BECK-BROICHSITTER
(16) Gerhard Voigt was born on 19th Sep 1910 in Kulmsee in West Prussia and he died on 9th Jun 1969 in Runding, Cham. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 25th Jun 1940 as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with Pioneer Battalion 18 for his capture of Fort Bergues, the cornerstone of the Dunkirk defences during the Battle of France.
(17) Helmut Beck-Broichsitter was born in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein on 30th Aug 1914 and died at Uetersen, Schleswig-Holstein on 25th Sep 2000. His award was gained on 4th Sep 1940 as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with 14 Kompanie, IV Battalion, Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 'Groβdeutschland' for combat near Etalle in Belgium. His unit was responsible for the destruction of 6 armoured cars and 83 enemy tanks from 10th to 15th May 1940 following the Meuse crossing near Sedan. He was also awarded the Infantry Assault Badge on 20th Feb 1942, the 'Winterschlacht im Osten' (East Medal) on 12th Aug 1942, silver wound badge on 20th Feb 1942, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class in May and Jun 1940, the 'Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS' in Jun 1943 and was promoted to Major on 1st Feb 1944.
HEINZ BERGER
HUBERT BRINKFORTH
(18)
HEINZ BERGER
HEINZ BERGER
(19)
HUBERT BRINKFORTH
HUBERT BRINKFORTH
(18) Heinz Berger was born in Wahren, Saxony on 1st Dec 1914 and died on 16th Apr 1983 in Leipzig, Saxony. He was awarded the Knight's Cross whilst serving as a Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) in 14 (Panzerjager) Kompanie, III Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 187, 87 Infantrie-Division on 17th Sep 1941. Berger was awarded the medal for his actions on 30th Aug and 1st Sep 1941 when, as a gunner in a Pak 3.7cm crew, west of Bolotina, near Jarzero destroyed 13 Russian tanks. This included 12 medium and one heavy tank. To this point in the war Berger had destroyed 25 Soviet tanks. He had previously won the Iron Cross first and second Class.
(19) Hubert Brinkforth was born in Marl, Westphalia on 15th Apr 1916 and died 5th Jun 1942 in Pogostje, Russia. He is buried in the German War Cemetery in Sologubovka. His Knight's Cross was awarded on 7th Mar 1941 as a Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) in 14 (Panzerjager) Kompanie, III Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 25. Brinkforth was the first soldier of this low rank to be awarded the medal. He was the gunner of a Pak team that destroyed a British tank formation, 11 tanks in total, near Abbeville, France on 27th May 1940. After the war two of the 11 kills were claimed by a rival tank crew.
HANS BECKER
HANS HINDELANG
(20)
HANS BECKER
HANS BECKER
(21)
HANS HINDELANG
HANS HINDELANG
(20) Hans Becker was born in Golzwarden, Oldenburg on 30th May 1914 and died in Oberursel, Hesse on 15th Jan 2004. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 28th Nov 1940 as a Leutenant in 2 Infantrie-Regiment 116, 9 Infantrie-Division. He joined the army on 1st Nov 1935 rising to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) on 15th Nov 1944. The award was for bravery in defensive combat near Amiens as part of Operation Fall Rot. His actions included swimming across a heavily defended river at Noye Creek as well as defending his position against 21 tanks near Saleux. Becker was also warded the Infantry Assault Badge in 1941, the "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" ( East Medal) in 1942, the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class and the "Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse" (War Merit Cross 2nd Class).
(21) Hans Hindelang was born on 16th Apr 1912 in Trossingen, Wurttemburg and died on 1st Jun 2004 in the same town. He was an Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant Major) with 14 (Panzer-Jager) Infantrie-Regiment 'Groβdeutschland' when he was awarded the medal on 4th Sep 1940 for bravery during the Battle of Stonne. His three 3.7cm Pak teams were attached by 3 French Char B1 heavy Battle tanks which knocked out two of the Pak's, the Germans however destroyed the 3 tanks despite the Pak being inferior against the Char B1.
HARALD V. HIRSCHFELD
HANS HECKER
(22)
HARALD V. HIRSCHFELD
HARALD V. HIRSCHFELD
(23)
HANS HECKER
HANS HECKER
(22) Harald Von Hirschfeld was born on 10th Jul 1912 in Weimar, Saxe-Weimar and died on 18th Jan 1945 near Tarnow, Poland. He died as commnader of 78 Strurm-Division after being severely injured by an aeriel bomb near a bridge on the River Dunja during the defence of the Dukla Pass. He was posthumously awarded the rank of General Leutnant (Lieutenant General). He was awarded the "Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938" (Anschluss Medal) and the "Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938" (Sudetenland Medal) in 1938. Hirschfeld was also awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (28th Jun 1941) and 2nd Class (1st Nov 1939) as well as the black wound medal (23rd Jul 1941) and the Infantry Assault Badge (25th Jul 1941). A silver wound badge was awarded on 23rd Sep 1941 and then a Gold Wound Badge 2nd Oct 1941. A "Ordinul Corona Romaneii Knight" (Order of the Crown Romania with swords) medal was awarded on 1st Nov 1941 just before he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 15th Nov 1941 as an Oberleutnant (Second Lieutenant) with 7 Gebirgs-Jager-Regiment 98, 1 Gebirgs-Division, 1 Panzer Aremee, Army Group South for action against Soviet troops in the capture of Alexandrowka. He was awarded the "Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (East Medal)" on 1st Aug 1942 and the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves on 23rd Dec 1942 as Captain and Battalion Commander of Gebirgs-Jager-Regiment 98, 1 Gebirgs-Division, XXXXIX Gebirgs-Korps, 17 Army, Army Group A, during the Battle of Barenkowo. During his service he was wounded 8 times and was awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross.
(23) Hans Hecker was born in Duisburg, Rhineland on 26th Feb 1895 and died 1st May 1979 in Hannoversch Munden, Lower Saxony. He joined the army on 2nd Aug 1914 and by the end of his military service he had reached the rank of Generalmajor (Major General). He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 5th Aug 1940 as a Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) with Pioneer-Batallion 29 (motorisiert), 29 Infantrie-Division "Falke", 2 Armee, Army Group C. The medal was awarded for outstanding command of his battalion during the Battle of France including the installation of a bridge over the Aisne, near Barby, which was crucial to Guderian's Panzers in their race across France. The award also included the construction of bridges across the Rhine-Marne Canal (13th Jun 1940) and the Saone River at Pontailler on 16th Jun 1940. The action of Hecker and his troops was instrumental in encircling French troops positioned along the Maginot Line. Hecker was also awarded the "Deutsches Kreuz" in gold on 19th Sep 1942 with the Afrika-Korps and the "Deutches Kreuz" in Silver on 19th Sep 1942. Additional awards included the "1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuzes 1er Klasse 1914", the "1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuzes 2er Klasse 1914", the "Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern", the "Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern", the "Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer", the "Armelband Afrika", the "Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 2. Klasse, 18 Jahre", the "Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 3.Klasse, 12 Jahre", the "Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre", the Infantry Assault Badge, the "Colonial Order of the Star of Italy - Commendatore" and the " Medaglia d'argento al Valore Militare".
HANS LIMMER
HUGO PRIMOZIC
(24)
HANS LIMMER
HANS LIMMER
(25)
HUGO PRIMOZIC
HUGO PRIMOZIC
(24) Hans Limmer was born in Pilsting, Niederbayern on 7th Oct 1914 and was killed on 1st Feb 1945, Northwest of Elbing, Poland. He was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class before the Knight's Cross on 27th Oct 1941 as an Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant Major) with 1.(PzSpah), Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 7.
(25) Hugo Primozic was born on 16th Feb 1914 in Backnang, Wurttemburg and died on 18th Mar 1996 in Fulda, Hesse. He joined the army as a gefreiter (Private) on 1st Apr 1935 and completed his service as a Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 18th Aug 1942 and the 1st Class on 16th Sep 1942 whilst serving with II Zug, 2 Batterie Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 667. The Knight Cross was awarded on 19th Sep 1942 for destroying 45 enemy tanks (24 in a single day) during the fighting in the central sector of the Eastern Front. He was also awarded the black wound badge on 23rd Sep 1942. On 24th Dec 1942 he was awarded the Infantry Assault Badge and the Oak Leaves cluster was added to his Knight' Cross on 25th Jan 1943 for reaching a total of 60 enemy tanks destroyed.
JOACHIM LUTZOW
KURT KIRCHNER
(26)
JOACHIM LUTZOW
JOACHIM LUTZOW
(27)
KURT KIRCHNER
KURT KIRCHNER
(26) Joachim Lutzow was born on 8th Nov 1913 in Bautzen and died on 18th Aug 1998 in Remagen. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 4th Nov 1941 as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) and leader of Sturngeschutz-Batterie 667. The medal was awarded for the successfully breaking through the Soviet defences south of Leningrad.
(27) Kurt Kirchner was born in Berlin, Brandenburg on 19th Mar 1911 and was killed in action on 31st Jul 1944 near Avranches, France. He is buried at the German War Cemetery at Mont-de-Huisnes. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 23rd Jul 1941 and the 1st Class on 16th Sep 1941. Kirchner was awarded the Infantry Assault Badge before gaining the Knight's Cross on 20th Feb 1942 whilst serving as a Wachtmeister (Constable) with Geschutzfuhrer, Sturmgeschutz-Batterie 667. The Knight's Cross was awarded for several actions including the defeat of Soviet infantry from 19th to 27th Aug 1941 northwest of Luga, resisting Soviet breakthroughs of the XXVIII Armeekorps frontline around Pogostje (Leningrad) in Feb 1942 and for the destruction of a total of 30 enemy tanks. Kirchener was also awarded the "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (East Medal) and the "Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)" - The Tank Combat Badge,
KONRAD LYHME
KARL TORLEY
(28)
KONRAD LYHME
KONRAD LYHME
(29)
KARL TORLEY
KARL TORLEY
(28) Konrad Lyhme was born in Gluckstadt on 27th Nov 1912 and died on 17th Jun 1979 in Oldenburg. Lyhme was awarded the Knight's Cross on 9th Oct 1942 as a Captain and Battalion Leader with III Infantrie-Regiment 50. The medal was awarded for his part in securing a bridgehead on the Terek River, south of Mosdok despite heavy resistance from Soviet forces.
(29) Karl Torley was born in Iserlohn on 16th Oct 1913 and was killed in action on 19th Jul 1943 near Kalinovka in the Ukraine, Russia. He was a Major at the time of his death but was postumously promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 23rd Nov 1941 as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with 2 Kompanie, I Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment (motorised) 60, 16 Infantrie-Division (motorised) for the defence of the village of Talnoje in Russia. The village was a vital supply and medical hub for several German Divisions. The Oak Leaves cluster was added on 11th Oct 1942 for Torley's battalions assault on the fortified village of Jaschkul in the Kalmyk Steppe. Among Torley's other awards were the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd Class and the "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (East Medal)".
KLAUS WAGNER
PAUL SPEICH
(30)
KLAUS WAGNER
KLAUS WAGNER
(31)
PAUL SPEICH
PAUL SPEICH
(30) Klaus Wagner was born on 30th Oct 1917 in Schmalkalden, Thuringia and died on 24th Apr 2002 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. He is credited with the destruction of 22 tanks in his career. The Knight's Cross was awarded on 4th Sep 1942 when serving as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 667. The award recognised Wagner's part in fighting around Rzhev in Aug 1942 when his battery destroyed 83 Soviet tanks, Wagner's crew destroying 18 of them on 29th and 30th Aug. Wagner was also awarded the Iron Cross Class 1 and 2 as well as the "(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen "25", II.Stufe" (General Assault Badge) and the Silver Wound Badge.
(31) Paul Speich was born in Gutersloh, Wiedenbruck on 22nd Aug 1914 and died on 1st Jul 2005 near Pskov in the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 18th Nov 1941 as an Unterofficer (Corporal) and Group leader of 1 Pionier-Battalion 162. The award was given for his part in the great encirclement battle east of Kiev on 20th Sep 1941 near Ivanyikovo. His squad managed to ambush and capture a battery of 6 enemy guns preparing a surprise attack on the German's flank.
SEBASTIAN REISER
WERNER BAUMGARTEN-CRUSIUS
(32)
SEBASTIAN REISER
SEBASTIAN REISER
(33)
WERNER BAUMGARTEN-CRUSIUS
WERNER BAUMGARTEN-CRUSIUS
(32) Sebastian Reiser, born on 14th Aug 1918 in Kutzenhausen (Bavaria) and died on 1st Feb 1943 in a Soviet Prisoner of War camp near Stalingrad. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 11th Oct 1941 as a Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) with 1 Batterie, I Abteilung, Artillerie-Regiment 297, 297 Infantrie-Division. He received the Knight's Cross after he destroyed 14 Soviet tanks with a 15-cm artillery cannon south of Radziechow during an armoured attack just after the start of Operation Barbarossa.
(33) Werner Baumgarten-Crusius was born on 29th Jan 1919 in the city of Dresden, Saxony and died on 4th Nov 1995 in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse. He was awarded the iron Cross 2nd Class on 1st Oct 1939 and the 1st Class award on 31st Oct 1940. His Knight's Cross was awarded on 22nd Feb 1942 whilst serving as an Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) and Company Leader with 5 Kompanie, II Battalion, Infantrie-Regiment 156 (motorised), 16 Infantrie-Division (motorised). He added the Oak Leaves on 27th Feb 1943 as a Battalion Commander with I Batallion, Grenadier-Regiment 156 (motorised), 16 Infantrie-Division (motorised) for his leadership in the destruction of the Russian 4th Guards Tank Corps in the Fedorenko Gorge on 20th Feb 1943.
WALTER HEROLD
WILHELM NIGGEMEYER
(34)
WALTER HEROLD
WALTER HEROLD
(35)
WILHELM NIGGEMEYER
WILHELM NIGGEMEYER
(34) Walter Herold was born in Weiden, Bavaria on 10th Aug 1897 and was killed in action by Partisans on 28th Nov 1944 near Bochnia, Silesia, Poland. He joined the army as a Gefreiter (Private) on 23rd Oct 1915 and rose to the rank of Generalmajor (Major General). He was awarded the "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (East Medal)" on 24th Apr 1942 and the Knight's Cross on 13th Oct 1941 as an Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) and Commander of Artillerie-Regiment (motorised) 10, 10 Infantrie-Division (motorised). The award was given for the part the artillery played in the defence of Propoisk from 19th to 25th Jul 1941. Herold was also awarded the "1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuzes 2er Klasse 1914" on 7th Jun 1940 and the "1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuzes 1er Klasse 1914" First Class on 24th Jun 1940,
(35) Wilhelm Niggemeyer was born on 9th May 1918 in Haan-Dusseldorf in the Rhineland and died on 14th Feb 2008 in Erfstadt-Lechenich, North Rhine-Westphalia. Niggemeyer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 16th Aug 1941 and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 8th Sep 1941. The Knight's Cross was awarded on 18th Sep 1942 when serving as a Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves) with Pionier Battalion 26, 26 Infantrie-Division LIII Armee-korps, 2 Panzer Armee, Army Group Center. The Knight's Cross was awarded for his part in knocking out 2 Soviet tanks, forcing 28 additional tanks to call off the attack near Kaluga on 22nd Aug 1942. He later added the Oak Leaves on 17th May 1943 for his part in assisting the 26 Infantrie-Division's retreat from the Don, South of Veronezh on 20th Jan 1943. Niggemeyer was also awarded 4 tank destruction badges for destroying Soviet armour using only close combat equipment. He was also awarded the ""Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (East Medal)" and the Infantry Assault Badge as well as a silver wound badge.
WILH. WEIDENBRUCK
WERNER ZIEGLER
(36)
WILH. WEIDENBRUCK
WILH. WEIDENBRUCK
(37)
WERNER ZIEGLER
WERNER ZIEGLER
(36) Wilh Weidenbruck was born on 5th Feb 1915 in Neuenkirchen and died on 28th Apr 2011. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 1st Jun 1940 and added the 1st Class on 28th Aug 1940. On 2nd Jan 1942 whilst serving as an Oberleutnant with 5 Panzer-Regiment 3 he was awarded the "Deutsches Kreuz in Gold". Weidenbruck was also awarded the Knight's Cross on 16th Sep 1942 when serving as an Oberleutnant (lieutenant) and Company leader with 5 Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 3, 2 Panzer-Division, 9 Armee, Army Group Center. The award was given for his part in the Kompanie's defence around Rzhev in Jul 1942, support of Schutzen-Regiment 304 in Bori north of Karmanovo, the destruction of 20 Soviet tanks around Shtanino and Ryabinki and the destruction of 88 Soviet tanks from 5th to 23rd Aug 1942.
(37) Werner Ziegler was born in Hausach (Schwarzwald) on 30th Apr 1916 and died on 15th Apr 2001 in Ofersheim, Baden-Wurttemburg. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 7th Jul 1940 and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 26th Apr 1941. The Knight's Cross was awarded on 31st Dec 1941 as a Leutenant (2nd Lieutenant) with Infantrie-Regiment 186, 73 Infantrie-Division, XXXXII Armee Korps, 11 Armee, Army Group South. Ziegler's company took the heavily defended town of Petrovskoye between the Dniester and the Bug on 14th Aug 1941. The Oak Leaves cluster was added on 8th Sep 1942 for fighting around Novorossiysk on 6th Sep 1942. Swords were added to the medal on 23rd Oct 1944 for Ziegler's regiment's part in the final battle of Sevastopol in May 1944. Ziegler was also awarded the Black Wound Badge as well as the Infantry Assault Badge, the "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (East Medal)", the "Krimschild (Stiftungs ausführing)" and the "Kubanschild".