Austrian Cavalry Officer from Vienna

[DougD]

Hi all, I am trying to research a Cavalry Lt.Colonel Riepl who was probably stationed in Vienna. He did serve in Russia and I am 90% sure he had the Iron Cross 1st class. The name sounds Austrian to me as well; maybe pre-war Austrian army cavalry?

I am hoping that since he was a Lt.Colonel there might be some info on him available.

any help would be great!

DougD

[harmel]

Pers research

Hi DOUG-possibly the same man.
no first name had served with 11th Pz Gdr Regt,
but according to my info was an inf officer.
Promoted to Obstlt 1/9/42(97a)
Hope it helps Harmel

[DougD]

tunic

Thanks! i am not sure its the same guy as I have the tunic and it is cavalry, not infantry ( its a nice yellow piping). I do appreciate any effort though, thanks!

Doug

[Simon O.]

This is the same guy alright. In january 1939 he was an Oberleutnant in the 3 schwadron of Kavallerieschützen Regiment 11, 4 Leichte Division. That would indicate he likely came from the Austrian Kraftfahrjäger Btl. 2 "Feldmarschall Radetzky" in Vienna which was used to form the I Btl of that regiment.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...er/KavSR11.htm

Prior to July 1939 the official waffenfarbe for Kavallerieschützen regimenter was golden yellow and according to Mike Pruett's book " Field uniforms of the German army panzer forces in world war 2" Pz.Gr.Rgt.11 used golden yellow as its waffenfarbe throughout the war.

So what you have is a nice Panzer Grenadier officer's tunic from a unit that kept the cavalry yellow branch colour out of tradition.

[DougD]

info

Thank you simon! -doug

[MJC]

Speak of the Devil and............................

Simon knows his stuff. The man in question has the first name of Rupert and was indeed in Btl. 2. Sorry for the poor quality, badly cropped scan.

Mike

[Simon O.]

Excellent work Mike, so from that i read it as he transferred into the newly raised Austrian Bundesheer in 1920 which means he saw WWI service as a ranker.

[DougD]

info.

Thanks guys, great info!