Oak？？？

[jcwater]

[ChrisJ]

Oak ?

Nope

[Dez H]

Looks like a hand made set of oaks, could well have been made on board a ship while out at sea.

[Ludwig]

OLs

That´s Bleichrodt who got the OLs, but here they are only retouched to the photo.
Note the very early and very rare style of KC with only 1/2 or 3/4 loop.

[Denis]

Hello
Ludwig is right ! The most important thing on that photo is not the retouched OL (a usaul practice in that year and often encoutered on period postcards) but rather this 3/4 eyelet KC which is rarely seen (Mölders, Grasser, Treeck, Pongratz...).
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Denis

[jcwater]

original text :Bleichrodt wearing the blue reefer jacket .Bleichrodt was awarded the Knight`t Corss on October 24,1940 as commander of U-48.He received the OAK Leaves on September 23,1942 while in command of U-109.

[Tim Calvert]

I've also got a 3/4 eye RK attributed to Major Egon Thiem, 12.07.40


Denis, seems that most were awarded in '40. Also a couple in '41.

Werner Molders..............29.05.1940
Fritz-Hubert Graser.........19.07.1940
Egon Thiem...................21.07.1940
Johann Pongratz............04.09.1940
Heinrich Bleichrodt.........24.10.1940

Dr. Egon Treeck............08.08.1941
Hartmann Grasser..........04.09.1941

Anybody else????

[Sal Williams]

What's going on? There were pics I guess but not now so I don't really understand what you guys are talking about
Best, Sal

[Sal Williams]

this time the pics came up, all is clear now

[Denis]

Hello

Good job Tim !
Maybe Rudolf Roy : see this thread
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=roy
It remains to be confirmed. Should it be, it would be interesting since Roy was awarded the RK in late 44. It should be supposedly the remain of a 3/4 RK batch.
Do not hesitate to post any other info from a new recipient wearing a 3/4-Schinkelform RK.

Regards
Denis

[Ludwig]

3/4

If you have the excellent books from Biblio Verlag, about the KC holders, you can find quite many more soldiers wearing this rare type of KC. Check early holders from the Kriegsmarine and Gebirgsjäger.

[Denis]

Hi

I found a new one

BUCHTERKIRCH ERNST-GEORG
DoB : 10/09/1914
DoD : 17/08/1971
Last rank : OBERSTLEUTNANT i.G.
Last position : Ia (PZGRUPPE WEST)
EK1 : 15/05/1940
DKiG : Not awarded
RK : 29/06/1940 (106th) as Oblt. 2/PZ. RGT. 6 (3. PZ. DIV.)
EL : 31/12/1941 (44th) as Oblt. 2/PZ. RGT. 6

Thanks for the tip Ludwig

Best regards
Denis

[jcwater]

thanks everyone, but what i wonder is the intersting Oakleaves, i have never seen it before

[Denis]

Hello JCWater


As Ludwig said it previously, in fact, these oakleaves were added by the studio/photographer after the photo was taken.
The original photo was showing Bleichrodt wearing only his Knights Cross. It was later modified (retouched) to comply with his new status of oakleaves winner.
This was a common practice at that time.
As a drawing is better than 1000 words, here are 2 examples :
first of all, a Hoffmann card depicting Erich HArtmann, the famous fighter pilot, with Oakleaves and Swords added.
Regards
Denis

[Denis]

The other example :

2 postcards from the Film Foto Verlag sery which depicts Bärenfänger. The first one shows him as a EL recipient and Major. The second one gives him the rank of Oberstleutnant with the swords finely added. This is however the very same photo.
I hope I was clear enough

Regarding KC holder wearing 3/4 RK, I had a look on several volumes from the Bibilo Verlag sery and I found a new name : this is Albin Esch. I am almost sure he wears such a cross.
Tim : maybe we should start a new thread as such to try to gather more names ?

Regards
Denis