Vets wearing their 57ers!!!

[Tom B]

Interesting: during the funeral service of Wilhelm Bittrich the one carrying the awards is Viechter.

I have always wondered how it was decided who was selected for such honors ??? Do you have any idea Sepp ?

[Sepp45]

I have always wondered how it was decided who was selected for such honors ??? Do you have any idea Sepp ?

No idea Tom, but I could guess is usually a soldier who won a prestigious award or was close with the deceased.

[Steve 5]

Ritterkreuzträger Bundeswehr Generalinspekteur Friedrich Foertsch.
Prost ! Steve.

[GHP]

General Jürgen Bennecke

Great photo Pierce, thanks!

Ribbon #10 is the US's Legion of Merit in the degree of Commander (the oakleaf indicates a 2nd Award).

The top three grades of the LoM is awarded only to members of the armed forces of other nations; American service members may receive only the basic "Legionnaire" medal.

--Guy

[GHP]

Gents, can not see anything about his arm ? but this makes interesting reading............ http://translate.googleusercontent.c...bhvklFfId0hRYg
Prost ! Steve.

Thanks Steve! In case anyone cannot get to the translated page Steve provided, here is the pertinent portion:

As shells came crashing down around Hermes, he prepared to signal.

"I had just raised my left arm to fire off a red flare when a German shell landed directly to my right. It tore out my right elbow, leaving what what left dangling from a thread of tissue. It felt like my life was flowing out of me. "

The commander of 6th Company Lieutenant Heinz Jost, had seen what what happening to his men on the hill and sent out a rescue party to retrieve Hermes and the other men from the first assault group. Many had been wounded or killed so. Hermes which taken from the field, but only much later in the day was there time to transport him to a field hospital. On June 11, 1944, Hermes which presented the Knights Cross for taking the hill outside of Kovel. The attack he and his men made cleared the way for the offensive to resume. All the wounded and nurses in the field hospital were saved.

--Guy

[Tom B]

Thanks Steve! In case anyone cannot get to the translated page Steve provided, here is the pertinent portion:

--Guy

Hello Guy !! Thank you for posting this info !! Tom

[Sepp45]

Unusual photo of Major Hannes Trautloft during his time with the Bundeswehr, where he retired in 1970 holding the rank of Generalleutnant.

[Sepp45]

German vet during a visit of the Queen of England to West Germany during the 60's.

[Tom B]

German vet during a visit of the Queen of England to West Germany during the 60's.

Hello Sepp !! Interesting that he wears his Russian front medal with the back showing to hide the Swas.. can't tell if he has done the same with his EK 2. Tom

[Sepp45]

Hello Sepp !! Interesting that he wears his Russian front medal with the back showing to hide the Swas.. can't tell if he has done the same with his EK 2. Tom

I believe that the EK2 is a 57 edition...

[Sepp45]

General der Bundeswehr Friedrich Albert Foertsch during the visit of JFK to Germany, 1963.

[Nigel N]

Hello Sepp !! Interesting that he wears his Russian front medal with the back showing to hide the Swas.. can't tell if he has done the same with his EK 2. Tom

The EK2 looks like a 57 Deumer, but more interesting, judging by the finish and the broad rim, the Ost also looks like a 57 Deumer?? But why flip it if it is???
-Nigel

[Sepp45]

Blue division vet: Sargento (Feldwebel) Jose Maria Villar Fernandez

[Tom B]

Blue division vet: Sargento (Feldwebel) Jose Maria Villar Fernandez

Hi MY Friend ! Love these Blur Div. photos !! Tom

[Sepp45]

Freiherr von der Heydte