Vets wearing their 57ers!!!

[Paul E]

I believe the plaque is from Kameradschaft Kratzert the Austrian Bund ehemaliger Fallschirmjager .

[GHP]

Yes Vitali was a FSJ he won the RK as Zugführer 5./FschJägRgt 4 on 30/4/45 !

Thanks Paul!

I'm just surprised he's not wearing a Fallschirmschuetzenabzeichen. I suppose he has others he's not wearing; such as the Ground Assault Badge?

--Guy

[Brig]

I think your doing a great job on this subject ! Thanks to you both ! I agree while most Vets wore the 57 type after the war, there were some rebels who did not. They are still "Post War" and should be in this thread for sure ! Tom

Were there punishments in place for the rebels who refused to transition their awards to the 57 models in uniform?

[Tom B]

Hi Brig....

I do know that in "Germany" the law dictated that no display of the Swas. was allowed. In the OdR it was not allowed to be worn. In some countries however it was not a problem...ie. Spain and of course the U.S. had no such laws. And conversely in some countries a wearer had to gain special permission. As told to me by Hans Rudel, he refused to follow such diredtive by the OdR and consequently was never a member. Tom

[Brig]

No such law in the US, but the US never recognized the medals

Were there any TR vets transitioned into the US forces? General forces, not special projects

[Tom B]

Former Wehrmacht in the U.S.M.C.

Hi Brig, Well there were some former German military that served in the U.S. military. I served in the Marine Corps with a former German soldier. When I knew him he was a Ssgt. and had been in the Corps for 10 years. During WW2 he was in a Panzer Div. as a mechanic. Tom

[Sepp45]

As told to me by Hans Rudel, he refused to follow such diredtive by the OdR and consequently was never a member. Tom

Nobody would dare say anything, I guess Much respect.

[Brig]

Hi Brig, Well there were some former German military that served in the U.S. military. I served in the Marine Corps with a former German soldier. When I knew him he was a Ssgt. and had been in the Corps for 10 years. During WW2 he was in a Panzer Div. as a mechanic. Tom

That must have been awkward at first

[Sepp45]

Interesting postwar photo of RKT SS-Obersturmführer Hans Bauer; note how the uniform is missing all of the eagles and SS ranks, but the medals are wartime.

[Tom B]

Bauer is wartime photo

Hi Sepp, This photo was taken just a couple of days before Bauer surrendered to U.S. troops near Traunstein, Germany in April of 45. He said he removed all "SS" insignia himself. His battle group was then attached to what was left of the 416th Infantry Div. (Traunstein is just east of Munich) Tom

[peterm]

Thanks Paul!

I'm just surprised he's not wearing a Fallschirmschuetzenabzeichen. I suppose he has others he's not wearing; such as the Ground Assault Badge?

--Guy

Viktor Vitali came from the "Flak" and joined the paratroopers on 15.04.1944. He never had a para-badge or a ground assault-badge. You can see all his decorations (except wound badge in black and 1.10.1938-medal) in the pic below (Flak-badge and KVK earned with "Flak-Scheinwerfer-Abteilung 648", EK II, EK I, RK and wound-badge in black earned with FJR 4).

Kind regards, Peter

[Tom B]

More Hans Bauer info.....

Forgot to mention Bauer was awarded his RK personally by Diamonds winner Gen.Lt. Theodor Tolsdorff in early April 45. I only met him once in the late 70's but he was a wealth of info. and a real nice person ! Tom

[GHP]

Not a "57er" ... But "Postwar" and DeNazified

Interesting postwar photo of RKT SS-Obersturmführer Hans Bauer; note how the uniform is missing all of the eagles and SS ranks, but the medals are wartime.

Simon Orchard posted the images below at this WAF thread. It shows a deNazified hat, buckle, and Infantry Assault Badge:



Simon's great research shows that deNazification occured -- with the express exception of the Iron Cross; see paragraph 3:


--Guy

[GHP]

Viktor Vitali came from the "Flak" and joined the paratroopers on 15.04.1944. He never had a para-badge or a ground assault-badge. You can see all his decorations (except wound badge in black and 1.10.1938-medal) in the pic below (Flak-badge and KVK earned with "Flak-Scheinwerfer-Abteilung 648", EK II, EK I, RK and wound-badge in black earned with FJR 4).

Kind regards, Peter

Thanks Peter! This thread is fantastic -- I'm learning a LOT!

--Guy

[GHP]

Ordenskissen: Hasso von Manteuffel

Posted by Sepp45 on a WAF thread here:

Who is the RK traeger bearing the Ordenskissen?

--Guy