Some really excellent photographs.

[cerberus]

Some really excellent photographs showing members of 2nd S.S. panzer Division "Das Reich" recieving awards following the successful winter offensive of 1943 to recapture Kharkov.
Photograhs show some of the major personalities of the division being awarded the Knights Cross and German Cross in Gold.

http://www.photosammler.de/Data/HTML/Ritterkreuz/rkwass01.htm


2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
Knights Cross Award Ceremony on 20th april 1943
after the Charkow-battles. SS-Gruppenführer Walter Krüger is awarding KCs to
SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen
SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler
SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser
SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiss
SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Worthmann
SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm was awarded the Oakleaves to the KC


The division is paraded to honour the soldiers recieveing Germany's highest awards , included in the photgraphs are the division's Tigers.

It is interesting to note that present are some prime movers with quad 20mm Flak guns mounted on them , guns are armed and trained on the sky.

These are quality photographs , the men in them represent some of the most battle hardened veterans of Das Reich.
One of the rare quality moments which the interent occasionally throws up.
Enjoy ! and better still , take time to read more about the men shown.

[Slavic Enforcer]

When I saw the title I knew it will have anything to do with Nazis.

[cerberus]

Which goes to show that I have a more balanced view than some there would have you believe.;)

[Slavic Enforcer]

Which goes to show that I have a more balanced view than some there would have you believe.;)

I would rather say you don't have your avatar without a reason (pussy). :)

[Ahknaton]

I would rather say you don't have your avatar without a reason (pussy). :)
Isn't cerberus supposed to be a dog too?

[Ravenheart]

Isn't cerberus supposed to be a dog too?

A three-headed one even. ;)

[Jimbo Gomez]

Cerberus is the meanest junkyarddog in all of mythology.

[Ravenheart]

Cerberus is the meanest junkyarddog in all of mythology.

Fenris could eat Cerberus for breakfast ;)

[Jimbo Gomez]

Fenris could eat Cerberus for breakfast ;)

I've got 50 € on Cerberus pal. :D

[cerberus]

I would rather say you don't have your avatar without a reason (pussy). Ken Abyss
Believe me "thon boy2 is much smarter than any dog I have ever seen bar one.;)

[Ace Rimmer]

Ken Abyss
Believe me "thon boy2 is much smarter than any dog I have ever seen bar one.;)

I believe you , cats are superior , dogs are idiots.

[Trojan]

I believe you , cats are superior , dogs are idiots.

So my cats keep telling me ... :rofl:

[cerberus]

St.bannfuhrer. Tychsen.
E.K. 2nd 30/5/40 , E.K.1st 18/7/40 , Wound Badge in Black 30/7/41 , Wound Badge in Silver 4/1/42, Wound badge in Gold 12/2/42 , Infantry Assult badge in Bronze 24/11/41, panzer Assult badge in Silver , East Front Medal and DK /Gold 13/5/42.
R.K. 31/3/43 as Strumbannfuhrer and CO of 2nd Detachment of SS.Pz Regiment of Das Reich.
Oakleaves 10/12/43. Presented to Tychsen by Hitler.
Wounded nine times he was killed in an action with the US 2nd Armoured Division.
Buried as an "unknown" in Marigny France his body was correctly identified in the early 1970's.

St.bannfuhrer. Stadler.
E.K.2nd. 25/9/39 , E.K. 1st. 26/6/40 .
R.K. 6/4/43 as CO of 2nd Bn., SS-Pz. gre. Rgt. "Der Fuhrer" of Das Reich".
Oak Leaves. 16/9/43 As Obersturmbannfuhrer and CO. of Das Reich.
Swords.6/5/45 sa SS-Brigadefuhrer and Generalmajor of S.E. front.
Photograpghs taken in the recapture of Kharkov frequently show Stadler wearing a side cap and fur lined parka. Very distinctive photo which is well known.

St.bannfuhrer. Kaiser.
E.K. 2nd. 28/7/41 , E.K.1st , 24/8/41 , DK. in Gold 29/10/42.
R.K. 6/4/43 as SS Hauptsurmfuhrer and CO of 3rd (Panzer) Bn. SS-Pz Regiment "Der Fuhrer".
Oakleaves 19/4/45 as CO of a battle Group of the 17th SS- Pz.Gren. Div. "Gotz von Berlichingen".
He is listed as "missing" near Nuremberg , buried as being "unbekannt".

St.bannfuhrer. Weiss
E.K. 2nd 9/43 , E.K. 1st 12/8/40, Wound badge in black 13/9/43 , Wound badge in Sliver 1/4/42 ,Infantry Assult badge in Bronze 2/4/42, East Front Medal 15/8/42 and DK in Gold 23/4/44.
R.K. 6/4/43 , as CO of SS- Reconn. Detachment , SS-Pz. Corp Das Reich.
He was last war time commander of 502nd Heavy SS-Pz. Company.

Hpt.sturmbannfuhrer Worthmann
E.K. 2nd ( unknown) , E.K. 1st 18/8/40.
R.K. 31/3/43 as Hauptscharfuhrer and CO of 6th Army Section of "Kempf" Army group South.
Killed on 7th July 1943 at Kursk.

Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm.
E.K. 2nd 29/5/40 , E.K. 1st 4/6/40 , WOund badge in Black 8/6/40 , Infantry Assult badge 10/10/40, Eastern front Medal 30/8/42.
DK in Gold 3/12/41.
R.K. 16/2/42.
Oakleaves 5/4/43.
Swords 17/3/45.

The names and stature of the awards speak for themselves , nothing won here was simply awarded for "turning up".

Biography details from " Their Honor was Loyalty" J Schneider. (RJ Bender).
"German Cross in Gold , Holders od the SS and Police" Mark yerger. ( RJ Bender).
"Waffen SS Comanders" Vols. 1 & 2. Mark Yerger. ( Schiffer).

[OVERWATCH]

Thanks for the info, Cerb. Amazing how many of these fine soldiers survived the war.

Here's an interesting photo. Can anyone spot what is wrong with it?

http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/2450/513ih4pv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Hugh Jorgen]

Thanks for the info, Cerb. Amazing how many of these fine soldiers survived the war.

Here's an interesting photo. Can anyone spot what is wrong with it?

http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/2450/513ih4pv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Could it be that the insignias on the sleeves of the two rear guys are Canadian airforce, but they are all wearing German helmets?

[Donny the Punk]

Nope. They look like reichseagles to me.

http://www.highflightproductions.com/images/Img11.jpg

However, the one standing up does appear to be wielding an M-1 Garand.

[Ahknaton]

Thanks for the info, Cerb. Amazing how many of these fine soldiers survived the war.

Here's an interesting photo. Can anyone spot what is wrong with it?


No shadows on the side of the building from the soldiers?

[Donny the Punk]

Akh thinks the moon landings were faked. :D

[Ahknaton]

Akh thinks the moon landings were faked. :D
Nah, they're real, but Hitler got there first in his UFO 20 years before the Americans. :D

[Gleb]

Here's an interesting photo. Can anyone spot what is wrong with it?


The guy with a grenade is humping the guy with a gun? :p

Pervert!

[Hugh Jorgen]

Nope. They look like reichseagles to me.

http://www.highflightproductions.com/images/Img11.jpg

However, the one standing up does appear to be wielding an M-1 Garand.

What do you mean "Nope"? You just proved my opinion by posting this
image which is RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force).

http://www.highflightproductions.com/images/Img11.jpg

[Donny the Punk]

It's completely different from the one on the jackets. That one has a downward protrusion and lacks the crown on top. The wings are also shaped differently and the inside is solid rather than only partially filled with the letters RCAF.

[Hugh Jorgen]

It's completely different from the one on the jackets. That one has a downward protrusion and lacks the crown on top. The wings are also shaped differently and the inside is solid rather than only partially filled with the letters RCAF.
Yeah ... it does look different.

[Donny the Punk]

http://www.dasreich.co.uk/_images/cci_eagle_br_hr_flt_1945_o.jpg

or

http://www.dasreich.co.uk/_images/cci_ea_slov_ss_6115_o.jpg

[Kodos]

Could it be that the insignias on the sleeves of the two rear guys are Canadian airforce, but they are all wearing German helmets?


Ummm I thought it was that the two in the front don't have steel helmets which I thought ALL German infantry wore.

Those look like Reicheagles to me.

[cerberus]

Looks like a " re-enactment photo" , or one that is posed.
The cam patterns are different , kit looks incomplete, two guys have frogs but no bayonets , why is the second guy wearing his smock , yet has another piece of cam. on his backpack , the machine pistol , might there be no magazine in it ? , looks odd.
They are too grouped , too casual , it seems to clinical , they look "too clean".
Ground does not look "fought over"
Not an expert on helmets but the clean helmet worn by the guy third from the left , looks wrong ?
One if not two of them don't sem to be carrying guns.
Would expect to see at least one with a side arm.
Lastly why is the grenade still in his hand ? It too looks "odd".

[OVERWATCH]

However, the one standing up does appear to be wielding an M-1 Garand.

I hadn't noticed that! Also, see how he's pointing it at his comrades :eek:

Also, the grenade in the boot seems to be a mistake waiting to happen.

Cerb pointed out everything else. Definitely posed. No clip in the SMG!

[cerberus]

The rifle might be a K-98.
From the angle it is dificult to tell , but I think it may be a K-98.
Ummm I thought it was that the two in the front don't have steel helmets which I thought ALL German infantry wore.

Under the cam. covers , helmets. Waffen SS were ahead of the field in combat clothing.

[cerberus]

88 , What is the source for the photo. ?
Is it WW2 or a post war one ?

[Ahknaton]

One other thing: the camera-man would be exposed to enemy fire if there really were hostile forces in the building (I guess it could be taken with a telephoto lens, if those existed in WW2)

[OVERWATCH]

88 , What is the source for the photo. ?
Is it WW2 or a post war one ?

Someone put it on ebay claiming it was authentic.

Found it on Axis History.com. One fellow on there thinks the photo is not re-enactors because the first soldier is wearing an extremely rare camo pattern on his smock.

[cerberus]

I don't have anything which details the various patterns , some of them were / are now very rare and fetch serious money.
Its certainly a posed photo. - men in it don't sem to be under any degree of stress.
Some of the posed photos used for propaganda purposes are daft, two which you see quite often , soviet troops runnign past a disabled short barrelled Mk.IV which is belcjhing black smoke via its open hatch on the side of the turret.
Another of a winter suited Fj soldier smiling as he "checks out" a disabled T-34which is doing likewise from its divers hatch.
When you mention eBay it says it all.
Would not be at all surprised if its from "Synder's Treasures" , he frequently sells over priced photos as " the real deal".