Oskar Dirlewanger's Ritterkreuz?

[panzer1432]

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I have never seen a Knights Cross personalized. How would one know for certain it was his ? I think it will always be lost of time.

Mike

BTW super ID disc !!

[Sepp45]

I have never seen a Knights Cross personalized. How would one know for certain it was his ? I think it will always be lost of time.

Mike

BTW super ID disc !!

That's the question, Mike. I believe someone has it and I'm pretty sure he knows the past of it. Dirlewanger had time to change clothes, and surrender in 1945. He had to give up his medals to someone.. family perhaps? And no documents either?

[panzer1432]

Sepp,

If his RK or DKiG ever pops up, they will be super valuable ! Dirlewanger Brig has always been lightning rod of attention and opinions. Hard to say what happened. I have spoken with several Germans who said they threw medals etc... away. Some have told me they gave to a family member.

In any case it would be a special piece.

Mike

[Sepp45]

Sepp,

If his RK or DKiG ever pops up, they will be super valuable ! Dirlewanger Brig has always been lightning rod of attention and opinions. Hard to say what happened. I have spoken with several Germans who said they threw medals etc... away. Some have told me they gave to a family member.

In any case it would be a special piece.

Mike

That's the exactly my point, but Oskar Dirlewanger was a heavy decorated soldier.

05.05.1915 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
04.10.1915 Goldene Württembergische Tapferkeitsmedaille
30.04.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
13.07.1918 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
00.00.1939 Spanienkreuz in Silber
24.05.1942 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz II. Klasse
16.09.1942 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz I. Klasse
09.10.1942 Tapferkeitsauszeichnung für Ostvölker II. Klasse in Silber mit Schwertern
10.11.1942 Tapferkeitsauszeichnung für Ostvölker I. Klasse in Silber mit Schwertern
00.06.1943 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
09.07.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold
05.12.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
19.03.1944 Nahkampfspange 1. Stufe in Bronze
30.09.1944 Ritterkreuz
Winkel für alte Kämpfer
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

Do you know any case of a known RKT who discarded his Ritterkreuz or any other important medal, like the DKiG?

[Ludwig]

Most certainly he also was awarded the Bandenkampfabzeichen!

[Steinar]

I would loved to own Oskar Dirlewangers medals.
He really was something of a madman, however, his medals did not harm anyone, and I really dont care what he did. Can't change anything about it.

I dont think he gave it away (the uniform or the badges he was wearing) but he probably burned it in the cabins fireplace, or hide it. If it was me, I would hide it in a bag at a safe place and get it later.

What about his apartment or house? was it bombed, if not souvenir hunters probably raided the place.

[Tom B]

One sad story to share

Many years ago I was told by a RKT that his small unit was about to surrender to the Soviets so he hid his RK in the wall of a house they had been using as a HQ. After several years as a POW in Russia he wanted to try to find his RK but the house was in the east. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the east "opened up", he did return only to find the house was gone ! It had been demo'd in the mid 50's for a parking garage ! Bye -Bye RK !

[Sepp45]

Another grouping of historical importance, would be of a "Dirlewanger's clone": SS Obergruppenfuhrer Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski. He commited the same or worse crimes at Warsaw.

And he never faced trial.



He died in 1972.

Regards,
Sepp.

[Giel VW]

Interesting information again Sepp!

Just my two cents, but the pilot badge and ground assault are both crap as well. Taken into account that the rare Warsaw shield is also present, I think chances are very slim the rk would be original in the first place.

[AUSGANG]

Many years ago I was told by a RKT that his small unit was about to surrender to the Soviets so he hid his RK in the wall of a house they had been using as a HQ. After several years as a POW in Russia he wanted to try to find his RK but the house was in the east. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the east "opened up", he did return only to find the house was gone ! It had been demo'd in the mid 50's for a parking garage ! Bye -Bye RK !

Oskar Dirlewanger was beaten to death by his jailers on June 7 1945... After studying him up I think that was a rather light sentence...

[Glowlight]

Well he was dug up again in 1960 to verify he was actually dead.

[Sepp45]

Well he was dug up again in 1960 to verify he was actually dead.

That's right, because some rumors said he was in Egypt.

A men surrounded by mystery and death, so as his brigade.

[Steinar]

Many years ago I was told by a RKT that his small unit was about to surrender to the Soviets so he hid his RK in the wall of a house they had been using as a HQ. After several years as a POW in Russia he wanted to try to find his RK but the house was in the east. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the east "opened up", he did return only to find the house was gone ! It had been demo'd in the mid 50's for a parking garage ! Bye -Bye RK !

You never know, perhaps someone found it before they demolished the house, or perhaps even the demolishing crew found it. One never know.

[mwliles]

My friend French MacLean wrote a very good book about this man entitled "The Cruel Hunters". In it he did extensive research of German records. He concludes that he was beaten to death by the French shortly after the war. I do wonder how he received some of the awards that he is listed as earning. The Spanish ones are ones that I would particularly question. What unit was he in and what did he do and how did he get to Spain in the first place. I assume he had to be with the Heer which was a small minority of the German effort in Spain. He was well protected by Gottleib Berger who was his chief sponsor. He was certainly showered with medals and badges much beyond a person of his age and physical attributes earned through merit. Much of this man does not seem real almost like someone that was created to play a role. Like Himmler he also thought that he could elude capture by the occupation forces. One can only wonder what he could have been thinking.

[Sepp45]

My friend French MacLean wrote a very good book about this man entitled "The Cruel Hunters". In it he did extensive research of German records. He concludes that he was beaten to death by the French shortly after the war. I do wonder how he received some of the awards that he is listed as earning. The Spanish ones are ones that I would particularly question. What unit was he in and what did he do and how did he get to Spain in the first place. I assume he had to be with the Heer which was a small minority of the German effort in Spain. He was well protected by Gottleib Berger who was his chief sponsor. He was certainly showered with medals and badges much beyond a person of his age and physical attributes earned through merit. Much of this man does not seem real almost like someone that was created to play a role. Like Himmler he also thought that he could elude capture by the occupation forces. One can only wonder what he could have been thinking.

Here's Dirlewanger with the Spanish Cross, the DKiG, the RK, and the CCC in Gold. He was a cruel criminal and a sick person, but the man was wounded 12 times and was decorated for bravery.

Like I said before, a very estrange case.