Visiting German veterans part II

[Stijn David]

Glider lovers

Hello,


Here is another one

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=41658

Check it out

Greetings,

[Stijn David]

A picture

Hello,


Here is the recipient of the shown awards => at the time this picture was taken (medio early 1943) he was a Uffz. in Tunesia and squadleader, as we can see from the picture he already earned his EK 2 (as the ribbon is in his tunic).

Cordial greetings + enjoy,


ps: more to follow soon

[Stijn David]

the award documents

Hello,


Here are the according award documents that go along with this goruping => I will start in chronological order and once again with the rarest among these paper treasures.

The award document for the Glider pilots badge => this is the large DIN A4 type that was only awarded a few months during early 1941


Cordial greetings,

[Stijn David]

a bravery award

Hello,


Here is a bravery award won by our brave soldier in Tunesia => the main important issue is that guys earned there ek's while in Infantery combat !!! (one must keep in mind that they where qualifyed glider pilots after all !!!!!!!!)

Cordial greetings,


The signature on this award document is from Oberst (at that time !!! ) Friedrich Freiherr von Broich (KC + DKiG holder) , you can find more info on this particular award document in the following link: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=44167

[Stijn David]

the africa cufftitle

Hello,


Here is his original africa cufftitle award document +> note that the stamp is missing


Cordial greetings,

[Stijn David]

The black wound badge

Hello,


And here is the award document for the black wound badge => it makes on certainly think as i have seen his arm (shortened by 2 cm. due to a explosion bullet) and this was the sole award they received for that suffering !!!!!!!


Cordial greetings,

[Stijn David]

the iron cross 1 e class

Hello,


Our brave glider pilot received his EK 1 when he returned towards his old unit (the Erg.Gr. (S) 2) upon healing from his bad arm wound.


Cordial greetings,

[Stijn David]

the last award document

Hello,


And here is the last actual award document from our brave soldier => he qualifyed already for the " Erdkampfabzeichen " whil fighting in Tunesia but it was not before late 1944 (more then a year after the actual fighting !!!) that he received his hrad earned badge.



More to follow iff you guys are interested offcoarse

Cordial greetings,

[Ian Tannahill]

Giday Stijn,

Simply outstanding!!!

Thank you for taking the time to share this grouping with us.

All the best,

Ian

[PaulR]

That is a first class grouping . I would love to hear some stories from his experiences.

Paul

[Stijn David]

A few more pieces

Hello,


Here are a few more pieces from this fella's grouping => this is the most complete grouping i have ever encountered during my visits of German veterans I wonder howmuch our beloved dealer friends would ask when they had the chance to sell it ???????? ) . There is still a lot more to follow but i won't bother you guys to much for now ...........

Cordial greetings and enjoy

[grovb]

really nice additions what can i say i am jealous!

[Stijn David]

Glider pilots grouping

Hello,


Here is a bit more information about Leutnant R. his complete carreer (both pre-war as wartime)

As a young fellow he was always obsessed with flying and did enter the DLV as a youngster ( exact date: 12.06.1934 in the Fliegersturm I./2 Stuttgart )

While a DLV member he earned his first Glider badges => namely the A, B and C certificates :

A - certificate: 11.08.1935
B - certificate: 01.09.1935
C ) certificate: 12.07.1936

Over the years his passion for Glider planes did last and he was called up to serve in the German army during 1938, here he was attached towards a Flakartillerieschule but with the help of his commanding officers he was allowed to even ground a Glider flying unit inside the Flak unit.

Here he and a few friends (2 to be exact) did ground this Glider training unit and they did build the following Glider planes = SG 38, Grunau 9, Baby II) + during the weekends with suitable weather the interested persons could train themselves on glider flying.

The commanders of the Flak School where: Hptm. Dibold and Oblt. Pfutzenreuter.

He stayed with the Flak unit untill the end of 1940 where he was transferred towards the Glider training unit based a Neuhausen (Ostpreussen) also better known as the Erg.Gr.(S) 1.

While being a member of this unit he did follow special glider training courses at the Ith, etc .... and did train untill being a full qualifyed military Glider pilot .

He was first promoted towards Obergefreiter during 1941.

At the end of 1941 he did became a part of a Glider grouping that did some supply missions in Russia ans started from Hagenow towards the following places in the East = Warschau, terespol, Deblin, Seschtschinskaja, Juchnow, Konotop, Smolensk, Ramenoje, Smolensk.

After this supply missions he was transferred back towards his homebase at Hagenow. During the above named missions he gathered also about 6 Frontflights in his function as Glider pilot flying the DFS 230.

During early 1942 our friend was transferred once again to become a member of the newly grounded Glider school of Posen (Erg.Gr. (S) 2) and was promoted towards the rank of Uffz. at 01.06.1942 . His task over there was a Glider instructor where he was involved in training the new recruits.

Then the story brings him towards Tunesia (see before) where he was involved in quite a bit of fighting and where he did earn most his awards such as the :

* Iron Cross 2 nd. class
* Wound badge black
* Africa Cufftitle
* Iron Cross 1 e Class
* LW Ground assault badge

(interesting note: many of the awards where bestowed on him on a much later date !!!!!!!)

Once recovered from his bad arm wound he did rejoin his old unit (Erg.gr.(S) 2) at posen and was further involved in the Glider pilot training. Here he did receive anotehr promotion on 01.10.1943 towards Feldwebel.

At the beginning of 1944 he was once again hospitalized for a further operation on his arm (the same wound as in Tunesia) and stayed there untill 04.1944.

From there on he went on and did once again rejoin his old unit and was transferred towards a Fsch.Jg.Ers.u.Ausb.Btl. , here he was promoted at the date of 01.12.1944 towards the rank of: Fhj.Feldwebel.

He was send towards Holland during early 1945 and was promoted a last time one 01.01.1945 towards the offciers rank of: Leutnant. In Holland he was once again involved in some fighting and was finally made POW during March of that year.

After becoming a POW we can trace him back towards a POW camp in Belgium (situated at Zedelgem) and afterwards towards great-Britain.

Cordial greetings + iff ou collect long enough and specialize im pretty sure you will be able to find trasures as this grouping

[Stijn David]

A page out of his Segelflugbuch

Hello,


Here is a scan out of this persons Glider Flight log => he did make a total of 387 military Glider flights.

This page is particulary interesting for one of our Moderators !!!


Cordial greetings,

[Ian Tannahill]

Giday Stijn,

Would the pilot's name be Lt von Könitz?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Ian