Rudolf Witzig Bundeswehr Portrait Photo

[Mike Yokum]

I was fortunate to add this nice studio photo to my collection. It's an FJ RKT/EL, Rudolf Witzig, hand signed, Bundeswehr portrait photo! This is not a repop with facsimile signature. I'll include a close-up of his medal bar which shows his many awards.

I hope you like it! Thanks to my mostly invisible Dutch buddy, for bringing this one to my attention!

[Mike Yokum]

medal bar

[Mike Yokum]

back

[Seewolf]

Great pic of this very high decorated FJ

The photo must have been taken till 1962 because in 1962 germany switched their post codes. Here we have the very old postcode with 3 numbers.

mostly invisible Dutch buddy

The flying dutchman, no one can see him but he is everywhere

[LuckyLuudje]

You guys are funny
But I need use all my little spare time for hunting (and not completely without succes).

This is a very nice picture of a very high decorated FJ person, Mike.
I like it a lot

It looks like all the rows are seperate ribbons.

And I think this picture can be dated.
Like Rudiger said that the zipcode changed in 1962, so that is a very good indicator.
I posted a BW uniform with the same rounded shoulder paths and they are thought to be used from 1962.
So picture from 1962?

[Nigel N]

Very Nice portrait photo Mike, and even better with the signature!! Impressive medal bar too!! Good Catch!! -Nigel

[Mike Yokum]

Thanks gents!

Many thanks to Luud pointing me to it and to Rudiger for helping to date it!

Your quick help in dating this is VERY appreciated my friend!

[vic007]

Nice one, Mike
Indeed a nice addition if you are specialized in FJ stuff.

Thank you for showing

stijn

[Matthieu]

Missed this thread ... strange . But what a whopping picture that is .

I can recognize most devices on the ribbon bar, but is he wearing both the Kreta & Afrika ribbon ?

[Mike Yokum]

Thanks Stijn and Mathijs!

You got it right Mathijs! He is wearing both the Kreta and Afrika cufftitle awards. He also has the Ital ribbon. He was a leader in and won the RK at Eben Emael. Well, let me just add some "official" history from Wikipedia...

Rudolf Witzig joined the 16th Pioneer Battalion in Höxter on April 1, 1935, as an officer candidate. Two years later, on April 20, 1937, he was promoted to Leutnant and served as a platoon leader in the 31st Pioneer Battalion. Witzig volunteered for service in the Fallschirmjäger on August 1, 1938, and joined the Parachute Infantry Battalion under the command of Major Richard Heidrich. A year later, after transferring to the Luftwaffe and then holding the rank of Oberleutnant, he was leader of the Sturmabteilung Koch pioneer platoon. This unit was named after Hauptmann Walter Koch.[1]

Witzig's greatest military achievement was the capture of Fort Eben-Emael in the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael on May 10, 1940; that same day, Oberleutnant Witzig was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. A special announcement of the Wehrmachtbericht on May 11 lauded the accomplishments of Witzig and his airborne landing group. On May 16, Witzig was further honored by an early promotion to Hauptmann.[1]

Rudolf Witzig led the 9th Company of the Parachute Assault Regiment during the Invasion of Crete. Wounded in the course of the battle, he was transferred from the Luftwaffe hospital in Athens to several other hospitals.[1]

On May 10, 1942, Witzig was placed in command of the Corps Parachute Pioneer Battalion. He received promotion to Major on August 24, 1942. From November 1942, he and his battalion served in Tunisia under the command of Oberst Hasso von Manteuffel, General Friedrich Freiherr von Broich, and General Alfred Bülowius, incorporated into the Barenthin Luftwaffe Regiment. The defensive successes in the northern sector of the Tunisian Front are closely linked with Rudolf Witzig.

Witzig served as the commanding officer of I. Battalion, 21st Parachute Pioneer Battalion, from June 15, 1944, and simultaneously as commanding officer of the regiment. Witzig and his unit were mentioned a second time in the Wehrmachtbericht on August 8, 1944, after the destruction of 27 enemy tanks near Kumele.

His last service in World War II was as commanding officer of the 18th Parachute Regiment, from December 16, 1944. With his regiment, he went into captivity on May 8, 1945. Witzig's last honor of the war had come the previous day, when his name was placed on the Honor Roll of the Luftwaffe.

These two paragraphs are the direct translations of the Wehrmachtbericht -

1) Saturday, 11 May 1940 -
The strongest fort of the fortress Lüttich, Eben-Emael, which dominates the crossings of the Maas and Albert-Canal near and west of Maastrich surrendered Saturday afternoon. The commanding officer and 1000 men were taken prisoner of war.
The fort was already rendered defenceless and the garrison pinned down on 10 May by a specially selected unit of the Luftwaffe under the leadership of Oberleutnant Witzig and deploying new combat means. The garrison dropped their arms when an attacking unit of the Army, after heavy combat, established contact with the detachment Witzig.

2) Tuesday, 8 August 1944 -
1st Battalion of the Fallschirm-Pionierregiments 21 under the command of Major Witzig distinguished themselves and showed exemplary fighting spirit in the combat area west of Kauen. The Battalion destroyed 27 enemy tanks in close combat on one day.

Yep, he was one bad dude!

[Mike Yokum]

Santa was a day late with a couple of goodies but I'm NOT COMPLAINING!!!

Here are some more shots featuring FJ RKT/EL Rudolf Wtizig.

The first is a postwar copy of a wartime photo where he is presenting awards to his men. While it is only a postwar pic, it is hand signed!

[Mike Yokum]

The second is a real treat as it is a wartime press photo featuring all the Eben Emael leadership at a post raid RK award ceremony. The two gents to the far left are Walter Koch and Rudolf Witzig.

[Nigel N]

Very special photo's Mike, real pieces of history!! The Eben Emael raid was a turning point in warfare, and the guys who carried it out were, quite rightly, hailed as heroes back in Germany!!
Its great that you've got a link to this event in your collection!!
Another fine addition!!!!!!!nicethread.gif -Nigel

[Mike Yokum]

One of the things I've enjoyed most about our group of collecting friends is how we share in each others joy when an important piece for our respective collections is obtained or when after along wait one of us finds a piece that had previously eluded us.

Well, I hope you'll enjoy this one with me...

A few weeks back a very generous Dutchman sent me a German book entitled, "Die Ritterkreuztrager der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945 -Teil II Fallschirmjager-"

Though it's entirely in German, I've been able to learn a great deal. One interesting find I made is related to the Witzig signed photo that started this thread. On page 371 in the section devoted to Witzig the very picture now in my possession is portrayed! I've photoshopped the signature from the original onto the photo in the book. IMO it is the very same photo. What do you say?

[Nigel N]

Looks the same to me Mike! every stroke of the pin seems identical, so i think they are one and the same!!
Its always nice to be able to say you have a piece that has been published, makes it even more special and a piece to be really proud of!!
I think i know the mysterious "generous Dutchman" and i can honestly say, he has also been a huge help to me too, and i'm sure to many others!!
Bedankt!!!!!!!
-Nigelbeerchug.gif