Unknown DKIG FJ Winner - to be identified

[Revellations]

Hi all,

Can I have some help to identify this Oberleutnant. DKiG Winner but do not know if it is when he was a Bomber Pilot or as a FJ Officer. Has the Narvik Campaign shield, EKI LW GAB and Black WB. No further information on the photo but hopefully someone can idenitfy him. I appreciate any help in advance.

Thanks

Scott

[Óscar G]

Hi Scott and everyone,

He's the Oberleutnant Bruno von Kayser (who was born 10 January 1905), probably the most famous Kriegsberichter attached to the Fallschirmtruppe. He was engaged in the "Weserübung" operation in 1940, as well as the campaign on France. He worked for the Berliner Illustrierte Nachtausgabe by this time. As far as I know, his participation with the Fallschirmtruppe started by the jump on Corinth, in 1941. Then, Crete, Russia -probably Africa- and Italy. However, his most famous operation was the "Gran Sasso" action on 12 September 1943. Von Kayser, together with other war correspondant, Obj. Toni Schneiders (who died in 2006), took the famous photos (and filmed) the freeing of Mussolini carried out by Fallschirmjäger of the Lehr-Bataillon (in fact, I./FJR 7). Von Kayser worked for the "Illustrierte Beobachter" newspaper. He was part of the group, led by Oberleutnant von Berlepsch, which landed on the plateau of Campo Imperatore.
In this regard, Greg Way´s webpage argued about him that: "the German archives could not come up with anything about von Kayser's military record but I recently heard from a man who knew him after the war. He was a famous ballroom dancer and had his own dance hall in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><ST1Germany</ST1</st1:country-region>". He also writes -when referring to Gran Sasso operation- that "Kriegsberichter Bruno von Kayser, whom the men regarded as an idiot".
<OHowever, as far as I´ve been able to read and know, there is nothing to reject regarding his performance on Campo Imperatore during the freeing of Mussolini.
It happened rather the opposite. I mean, he, together with Oblt. von Berlepsch, couldn´t hide the fact that they didn´t like Skorzeny´s behaviour at all. <ST1Mors </ST1himself realized of this by meeting them at the hall of the hotel. The tension amongst them was obvious to Major Harald Mors...
</O<O</O
It also seems that he captured an important French General (something stated by his relatives, although I can not say for sure it's right...). It was the reason of his DKiG, won on 26 November 1943. By that time he was still Leutnant and belonged to the PK-ZUg/XI. Flieger Korps.

Before the Gran Sasso operation, he had been seriously wounded on the face (you can easily notice by watching carefully the left cheek of his face...).
He also took part in the last Fallschirmjäger drop on Baraque Michel, Ardennes, in the "Stösser" operation. This time as being Oberleutnant. According to Griesser's "Les lions de Carentan", page 112, his group (150 FJs) met Von der Heydte's one on December, 18th 1944. However, v. d. Heydte himself states that "Am 18. Dezember, stieß der Kriegsberichter, Leutnant Kaiser (sic), mit etwa 350 Fallschirmjäger zu mir" ("Muss ich sterben, will ich fallen...", page 180).
By the way, it's been a widespread belief (myth) that the man reporting to von der Heydte-on the attached photo- is Oberleutnant von Kayser (by instance, Griesser's "Les Lions de Carentan" states it on page 112)... But he's not von Kayser! And this is not just my theory, but something confirmed by his relatives.
He was promoted to Hauptmann and was wounded again in the fighting around Bremen in 1945, becoming a POW of the English army. Finally he returned to Germany in 1945...

... But this is not all about him. He was not only a famous war correspondant, but also a very famous dancer, even before the war! He, together with his wife, Melitta, formed a famous dancer couple in the 20s and 30s. Bruno and Melitta were the first German professionals ballroom dancers. In fact, they won the German championship in 1929, and the European one, from that same year till 1937. Furthermore, Bruno played in a film called "Der erste Ball" (1955). After the war, he started again with his passion and was one of the founders of the International Council of Ballroom Dancing, whose head office was located in London. It also seems that their daughter, Olga (who was born on 9 July 1939) tried to follow her parents' footsteps.
Bruno von Kayser died on 25 August 1982.

His awards and badges:
Fallschirmschützenabzeichen
EKI
EKII
Narvikschild
Kreta Ärmelband
Fliegerschützenabzeichen für Bordfunker
DKiG
Luftwaffe Erdkampabzeichen
Verwundeten Abzeichen Schwarz
Frontflugsspange für Kampf und Sturzkampflieger in Silver.

By the way, your photo also appears in Davis' "Uniforms and insignia of the Luftwaffe. Volume 2: 1940-1945", page 72.

Hope it helps. Best regards.
Óscar<O</O

[Ian Jewison]

Bruno and Melitta von Kayser

[Revellations]

Óscar,

Thank you so so so much!! I appreciate your lengthy and interesting post. Amazing information on both his war and pre/post war activities. A Kriegsberichter with a lot of experience and a eventful career. I really appreciate this information and thank you very much. Ian thank you for your photo as well.

Cheers

Scott

[Óscar G]

Óscar,

Thank you so so so much!! I appreciate your lengthy and interesting post. Amazing information on both his war and pre/post war activities. A Kriegsberichter with a lot of experience and a eventful career. I really appreciate this information and thank you very much. Ian thank you for your photo as well.

Cheers

Scott

It's my pleasure, Scott .
Best regards. Óscar

[GregWay]

Von Kayser

To all,
Not sure if this thread has closed but here goes. It's great to see that my photo (I wish I had watermarked it now all those years ago as I once never saw a duplicate and now it's everywhere, lol), the subject.of controversy. It's great. The caption was written on the back of the photo which accompanied a letter from the veteran. I took it as gospel all those years ago as I could not prove otherwise. It's still a great photo and probably the last.one of VDH before his captivity. Anyway, the man will remain a mystery as I could find noone else who had even seen this shot at the time (16 years ago)
As for the Gran Sasso. My source was one of the glider.pilots who stated that the men did not like him and thought him an idiot. Hauptmann Gerlach apparently gave VK hell for insisting he accompany the Duce. He made quite a scene about having to stay behind. Anyway, that's what these forums are for, enjancing knowledge etc. Great info and I've not yet read Volker book. After my absence I am playing catch-up by ordering the books I have missed in 12 years. I did correspond with Volker prior to his writing the book so if any of you know his whereabouts can you let.him know I've been asking for him. ATB

[PanzerElite]

i can't see the foto, could you please post the foto? not link.
what a fantastic correspondant !
i like bravery war-correspondant, -doctor, -pfarrer!