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Old August 28th, 2021 #21
alex revision
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The Man Who Would Not Surrender

Waffenbrüder from LATVIA ✠ Alfrēds Riekstiņš ✠

In the summer of 1959, Ritterkreuzträger and former SS-Unterscharführer Alfred Riekstins of the SS Waffen Füsilier Bataillon 19, was killed by Soviet forces in a forest vicinity of Frauenburg, Latvia. Riekstens' continued resistance, fourteen years after the unconditional surrender of Germany's armed forces to the All-Lies is symbolic both of the intensity of the German's defensive Courland campaign and the determination of her soldiers who fought it. Heeresgruppe Kurland's successful stand for eight months in the face of huge and repeated onslaughts by the Red Army left it UNDEFEATED right up to the surrender on 8 May 1945.

Alfrēds Riekstiņš was awarded: ✠ Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ✠ Iron Cross First Class ✠ Iron Cross Second Class ✠ Wound Badge in Black ✠ Infantry Assault Badge ✠ Close Combat Clasp in Bronze & Silver.
 
Old August 30th, 2021 #22
Ray Allan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alex revision View Post

The Man Who Would Not Surrender

Waffenbrüder from LATVIA ✠ Alfrēds Riekstiņš ✠

In the summer of 1959, Ritterkreuzträger and former SS-Unterscharführer Alfred Riekstins of the SS Waffen Füsilier Bataillon 19, was killed by Soviet forces in a forest vicinity of Frauenburg, Latvia. Riekstens' continued resistance, fourteen years after the unconditional surrender of Germany's armed forces to the All-Lies is symbolic both of the intensity of the German's defensive Courland campaign and the determination of her soldiers who fought it. Heeresgruppe Kurland's successful stand for eight months in the face of huge and repeated onslaughts by the Red Army left it UNDEFEATED right up to the surrender on 8 May 1945.

Alfrēds Riekstiņš was awarded: ✠ Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ✠ Iron Cross First Class ✠ Iron Cross Second Class ✠ Wound Badge in Black ✠ Infantry Assault Badge ✠ Close Combat Clasp in Bronze & Silver.

Now Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have become NATObots, unfortunately.
__________________
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Last edited by Ray Allan; August 30th, 2021 at 02:57 AM.
 
Old September 12th, 2021 #23
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SS# 61349 ✠ Carl-Heinz Frühauf ✠ 14.02.1914 - 18.04.1976

SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 49 "De Ruyter" / 23.SS Panzergrenadier-Division "Nederland."

AWARDS & DECORATIONS :

✠ Knights Cross awarded on 4 June 1944
✠ Iron Cross First Class
✠ Iron Cross Second Class
✠ Prague Medal
✠ Eastern Front Medal
✠ Wound Badge in Black
✠ Wound Badge in Silver
✠ Infantry Assault Badge
✠ Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
✠ SS 4 Year Service Award
✠ SS 8 Year Service Award
✠ SS 12 Year Service Award

Frühauf’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…





Waffenbrüder from Romania ✠ Stefan Strapatin ✠ 15.11.1922 - 15.06.1990

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 49 "De Ruyter "

23. SS-Panzergrenadierdivision "Nederland"

In the late summer of 1944, as the Narva front was pushed further into Estonia, SS-Rottenführer found himself on standby near a friendly vehicle park when he became aware of an imminent enemy presence. Knowing the catastrophe that would result from the loss of so many vehicles, he rallied his nearby comrades and led them into battle against the attacking enemy. After Strapatin had personally destroyed two enemy tanks with the Panzerfaust (raising his total of destroyed tanks to four), he and his group were able to defeat the accompanying enemy infantry.

The Soviet attack was repulsed, and as a result of his actions not only was the vehicle park saved from destruction, but also a nearby battalion command post. For this decisive success Strapatin was awarded the Knight's Cross.


✠ Miguel Ezquerra Sanchez ✠ 10.01.1913 - 29.11.1984

Served in the Wehrmacht 250. Infanterie-Division "Azul" and later with the 28. SS Panzergrenadier-Division "Wallonien." He was one of the hundreds of Spaniards who fought heroically against communism in Berlin until the end of the war. These exceptional human beings were known as Unit Ezquerra. This group of Spaniards destroyed many T-34 Soviet tanks trying again and again to take the German Foreign Ministry building and Chancellery.

He also was awarded the Knights Cross personally by Adolf Hitler, and was one of the over 2100 Spanish volunteers who won the German Iron Cross First Class !

Also awarded German Iron Cross Second Class ✠ German Infantry Assault Badge ✠ Spanish Eastern Front Medal ✠ German Medal For Spanish Volunteers in the Crusade Against Bolshevism ✠ Spanish Medalla Militar ✠ Spanish Civil War Campaign Medal ✠ Spanish Cross For the Campaign in Russia.
 
Old September 12th, 2021 #24
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SS Obergruppenfuhrer ✠ Artur Phleps ✠ 29.11.1881 - 21.09.1944

This great European Warrior was decorated by 8 SOVEREIGN NATIONS !!

including his native state of Romania where he died in front line combat. He left the Romanian Army to join the Waffen-SS where he served with the elite European 7. SS Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen." His knowledge of several languages and excellence as a great leader and warrior won him the love of the Europeans he commanded. Phleps was referred to as "Papa Phleps" by his ethnic German, Romanian, Dutch, Flemish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Croatian and Finnish volunteer troops that he commanded.

His known awards are:

✠ Croatian Cross of the Military Order of the Iron Trefoil, First Class
(Phleps was one of only three known recipients of this Order in this Class).
✠ Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
✠ German Cross in Gold
✠ Iron Cross First Class Spange
✠ Iron Cross Second Class Spange
✠ Infantry Assault Badge
✠ Austrian Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis) in Bronze with War Decoration and Swords on 13 October 1914
✠ Hungarian Signum Laudis Badge in Gold w Crown & Swords on 15 March 1916
✠ Austrian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration and Swords on 3 July 1915
✠ Decoration for Services to the Red Cross 2nd Class with War Decoration on 23 October 1915
✠ Prussian Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class on 27 January 1917
✠ Austrian Order of the Iron Crown 3rd Class with War Decoration and Swords on 24 April 1917
✠ Officers Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph with War Decoration and Swords on 23 July 1918
✠ Order of the Star of Romania Officers Cross with Swords on Ribbon of Military Merit on 12 March 1920
✠ Order of the Star of Romania Commanders Cross on 28 February 1933
✠ Czechoslovak War Cross on 1 March 1928
✠ Order of the Yugoslav Crown 2nd Class in 1933
✠ Bulgarian Order of Military Merit with Swords on 26 April 1934
✠ Romanian Order of the Crown - Commander on 1 January 1927
✠ Romanian Order of the Crown - Grand Cross with Swords on 10 May 1939
✠ Romanian Order of The Crown - Knights Cross in 1941
✠ Romanian Order of Michael The Brave with Swords in 1941
✠ Romanian Crusade Against Bolshevism Medal in 1942


THE GREAT EUROPEAN WARRIOR — ARTUR PHLEPS

Phleps’ Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Artur Phleps carried out Operations ‘Weiß’ I. and II. during the time period 20.01.-09.03.1943 as commander of the SS-Freiwilligen-Division ‘Prinz Eugen’.

In this time he especially distinguished himself through his far-sighted, energetic and flexible leadership. During the decisive attack from the Bos.-Petrovac area in the general direction of Bos.-Grahovo (23.02.-28.02.1943) it was to Phleps’ credit alone that the Petrovac-Drvar road could be reached. This was in spite of his Division having to march across snow over a metre deep while crossing a mountain as well as encountering numerous tree and road blocks.

Via a broad deployment of all available forces the enemy (in strength of 4 brigades) was surprised and their resistance definitely broken, meaning that for the remainder of the operation they were incapable of offering serious resistance.

Thanks to the personal actions of SS-Obergruppenführer Phleps alone his Division succeeded in reaching Livno and later the Bauxit mines west of Mostar.

Enemy losses amounted to 1930 counted dead, 1673 estimated dead, 2378 wounded as well as countless materiel (heavy and light MGs, horses and vehicles) captured. In the course of further clean-up operations in this area the SS-Freiwilligen-Division ‘Prinz Eugen’ thrusted from the Mostar/Capljina area further to the southeast on the 15.05.1943. In doing so it succeeded in rendering an orderly withdrawal of Chetnik forces from this area impossible.

Within a very short time the Division was able to advance further to the southeast over arid and very mountainous terrain into the Niksic and Gornje-Polje areas. Through his initiative the divisional commander enabled his unit to overcome this water-deprived terrain. By this movement the Division secured a favourable jump-off point for surrounding the enemy forces pulling back from the Turmitor massif.

The thrust against Saving against a fiercely defending foe was achieved over the course of three days, and the Division succeeded in taking control of the three river crossings near Savnik in a 400 metre deep ravine in a coup-de-main. By this the path for a further advance towards Zabljak was opened. In cooperation with the 1. Gebirgs-Division (operating to the east) the enemy was blocked from retreating in a southeasterly direction. During this time the bandits north of the left wing of the Division assembled strong forces in a bow-shaped area passing through Piva, Drina and Sutjeska. They wished to force a breakthrough in both a southern and northern direction.

On the night of the 30.-31.05.1943 the Division received the order to release all available elements from the Savnik area and swiftly transfer them to the left wing in order to prevent an enemy breakthrough from the Mratinje area towards the south. Here it was solely thanks to the personal energy of SS-Obergruppenführer Phleps that, within two days and two nights, 3 battalions, 2 heavy motorized artillery batteries, two Flak platoons and two Panzer-Kompanien could be dispatched to the area around Avtovac (180 km away) with makeshift motorized assistance.

Through the ruthless thrust over the 2000 metre high Maglic massif and through extensively occupying the area north of the Cemerno col, the Division succeeded in closing the pocket to the north in cooperation with the right wing of the 118. Infanterie-Division.

The physical and combat achievements of the SS-Freiwilligen-Division ‘Prinz Eugen’ in this wild, rough and remote mountainous area, in the middle of snowstorms, rain and fog, are truly remarkable. They are the pinnacle of all other successes of this kind carried out by the SS-Gebirgs-Division ‘Prinz Eugen’, all the more so when one considers it was formed from men from lowlands.

The swift conduct of operations from the Narenta to the Piva rivers, then the tactically difficult repositioning of the Division’s main effort from the right to the left wing, and finally the encirclement operation in the Maglic massif gave the hounded enemy no rest and smashed the hostile resistance in such a way that it collapsed.

SS-Obergruppenführer Phleps, by his personal bravery and superior leadership, did an outstanding job during these operations. The successes of his Division are above all attributable to the tactics that Phleps developed and well as his training of the Division under very trying circumstances.

Given these outstanding achievements, I ask that the commander of the SS-Freiwilligen-Division ‘Prinz Eugen’, SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Artur Phleps, be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

Awarded on: July 4th, 1943

https://vk.com/@-192447891-the-great...r-artur-phleps
 
Old September 19th, 2021 #25
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✠ Adolf Ax ✠ 23 June 1906 – 6 February 1983

Native born son of Mouscron, Belgium, and the first Commander of the 32. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "30. Januar." Ax attended a German school in Flanders, Belgium. After completing his education he moved to Germany, became a German citizen and in 1929 joined the NSDAP (# 378 043) and the SS on 01.12.1930 (# 3848). He served in the SS Panzer-Division "Das Reich" having won the Iron Cross Second and First Class on the Eastern Front. In 1942 he developed serious health problems and was placed on a Staff position. When the 32. SS Grenadier-Division "30. Januar" was formed in January 1945 he was then appointed the first Commander of the new division. He was transferred in the closing weeks of the war to the 1. SS Latvian Grenadier Division where he was awarded the Knights Cross (# 5092 on 28 April 1945). This was later confirmed in 1981 by 'The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients' (AKCR).

AWARDS & DECORATIONS :

✠ Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
✠ Iron Cross First Class
✠ Iron Cross Second Class
✠ War Merit Cross First Class w Swords
✠ SS Long Service Award 4 Years
✠ SS Long Service Award 8 Years
✠ SS Long Service Award 12 Years
✠ SS-Julleuchter
✠ NSDAP Long Service Award 10 Years
✠ NSDAP Long Service Award 15 Years


✠ Otto Kumm ✠ 01.11.1909 - 23.03.2004

✠ NSDAP# 421.230 ✠ SS# 18.727

Served with SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer" / 2. SS Panzer-Division "Das Reich" and later was Commander and won the Swords with 7. SS Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen." He is known as one of the founders of the Post World War Two aid organization for former Waffen-SS members, the HIAG (Hilfsgemeinschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit der ehemaligen Angehörigen der Waffen-SS).

Awarded: ✠ Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords ✠ German Cross in Gold ✠ Iron Cross 2nd & 1st Class ✠ Wound Badge in Black ✠ Infantry Assault Badge in Silver ✠ Eastern Front Medal ✠ Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar ✠ Bronze Sport Badge ✠ Bronze DRL Sport Badge ✠ SS Honor Ring ✠ SS Julleuchter ✠ SS Honor Dagger ✠ SS 4 Yr. 8 Yr. & 12 Yr. Long Service Awards ✠ NSDAP 10 Year Service Medal ✠ Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht 06.06.1944 & 10.11.1944.


✠ Albrecht Krügel ✠ 22 April 1913 – 16 March 1945

Early member in 1931 of both the NSDAP # 419 297 and SS # 11 433. Awarded the Knight's Cross 12.03.1944 while serving with 23. Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Norge," and Oak Leaves on 16 November 1944 with 24. Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Danmark," both attached to SS Nordland Division.

Albrecht Krügel was admired and respected by the Norwegians and Danes he commanded for his excellent leadership skills and bravery by example in the front lines at the famous Baltic epic "Battle of Nations" and the Kurland battles. Albrecht Krügel was killed in combat 16 March 1945.

AWARDS & DECORATIONS :

✠ Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
✠ Iron Cross 1st Class
✠ Iron Cross 2nd Class
✠ Close Combat Clasp in Bronze
✠ Wound Badge in Black
✠ German Cross in Gold
✠ Eastern Front Medal
✠ Sudetenland Medal
✠ Prague Medal
✠ Infantry Assault Badge
✠ Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht 28 March 1945
✠ NSDAP 10 Year Long Service Award
✠ SS Ehrenring
✠ SS Julleuchter
✠ SS 4 Year Long Service Award
✠ SS 8 Year Long Service Award
✠ SS 12 Year Long Service Award
 
Old September 19th, 2021 #26
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Good to get more infos about some other Nationalist heroes.

Thanks for sharing that with us, Alex. Good work much appreciated.
 
Old October 31st, 2021 #35
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Great photo showing men of SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung “Das Reich” in assault gunner uniforms wearing various types of belts & buckles and headgear. From left to right Hermann Bolte (German Cross in Gold), Friedrich-Wilhelm Graun (German Cross in Gold), Ernst August Krag (Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves), Wolfgang Otto (German Cross in Gold) and Hartmut Braun. Bolte and Otto are wearing single Tank Destruction Badges on their right arms. Krag is wearing an officers overseas cap with red soutache and Otto is wearing a two-button model M1943 field cap. The other officers are wearing their officer service caps.
 
Old November 5th, 2021 #38
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Last edited by alex revision; November 5th, 2021 at 01:26 PM.
 
Old November 22nd, 2021 #39
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Rudolf Sieckenius (16 May 1896 – Killed in Action – 28 April 1945)

Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16. Panzer Division

Commanding Officer Rudolf Sickenius was killed during the Battle of Berlin. The book "Rommel’s Lieutenants: The Men Who Served the Desert Fox" by Samuel W. Mitcham Jr.,Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006; pages 41-42, states: “His division was assigned to defend the entire sector covering the entire positions along the Landwehr Canal. During the next three days, Sickenius tried to hold his positions while the German defensive lines were pressed ever backward, toward the center of the city. Tempelhof Airport was overrun on 27 April and, on the morning of 28 April, Sickenius found himself surrounded in Goerlitzer Station. His main forces had already been destroyed and the Russians had pushed beyond him, toward the Fuehrer Bunker. Within their ammunition almost gone, Sickenius and a handful of survivors held out until late afternoon, although they knew that their position was doomed. General Sickenius then ordered the survivors to save themselves if they could; meanwhile, he and a handful of stalwart volunteers would launch a final suicide against the enemy to provide cover for their escaping comrades. The general himself charged forward firing a Schmieser machine pistol. A few moments later, Sickenius and his men were cut down by Soviet machine gun.


Karl Gros (10 November 1911 – 21 March 1992)

Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division

Zugführer (platoon leader) who served the entire war, he likely had an impressive number of tank kills.


Siegfried Gehrke (30 April 1917 – 9 October 1998)

Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division

Panzer Ace who earned high awards for numerous tank kills during the advance on Stalingrad.


Friedrich-August Brühl (1 May 1913 – 5 November 1981)

Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division

Awarded for his actions north of Stalingrad where Panzer-Regiment destroyed over 100 tanks dealing the Soviets a crushing defeat. Awarded all of Germany's highest awards, this Panzer Ace fought in many great tank battles including Anzio, Normandy and the Ardennes Offensive.


Heinz Beutler (23 December 1915 – 26 September 2010)

Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division

Panzer Ace who fought tank battles at Stalingrad & Anzio, he greatly distinguished himself during the massive breakout from 'Hell's Kitchen' at Cherkassy in 1944.
 
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