Unknown RKT

[Ed Taylor]

Trebes Photo

I am attaching a copy of the photo that was cut off from the above photo.

[Trebes]

Trebes photo

Thank you, Ed, very interesting.
Sure you are right with the dating of the photo (winter 1941/42). It matches with his rank "Oberleutnant".
But now the story of Trebes having lost his officer's rank and all his orders and badges due to his accidental killing of Polzin becomes questionable. He should have been taken away his rank and badges immediatedly after the accident, shouldn't he?
Furthermore, in 1941 Trebes can hardly be the mentioned "friend from Africa", because the Ramcke Brigade was not there until summer 1942.
Sorry for opening another thread here, ... I really should start an new one.
T

[Ed Taylor]

Kupfer received his RK on Nov 23, 1941 and was promoted to Major April 1, 1942. In this photo he is still a Hauptmann. He was also severely wounded in Sept and was recuperating in Kitzbuhel following major surgeries including facial injuries. He did not return to active duty until late spring 1942. Therefore the photo must be dated between 11/23/41-4/1/42. Trebes was reported to have lost his RK and rank after the tragic accident that killed his friend. He was sent to Africa where he was reported to have lost his arm. Photos taken after his return from Africa (including the one in this thread) show him with both arms, his RK, and his rank. I suspect that his mother-in-law's influence with Goering no only saved him from legal action, but also saved his RK and rank. They were either never taken away or else they were reinstated after a brief period of time (i.e. a slap on the wrist). They could not due without a combat experienced and decorated officer at that point in the war.

I agree with you about him being the "friend from Africa". When I reread the letter Kupfer also mentions that he was a friend from his time in Graz which would indicate that he was probably a pilot.

[Ruslan M]

Hello,

I am pretty sure RK holder between Kupfer and Staiger it's Armin Thiede.

Best wishes

Ruslan

[Mike H]

.....

While you are speaking of Hermann Staiger, I thought you gentlemen would like this wonderful portrait I have of him in my collection.

Mike

[Ed Taylor]

Ruslan, I think you are correct that it is Armin Thiede. He certainly looks like his other photos. It also fits nicely with the facts. In Kupfer's personal letter he refers to a friend who had just arrived in Kitzbuhel. He refers to him as the youngest and best liked member of his heroic 7.Schwadron (Staffel) who had been deployed back to the homeland as a Stuka instructor at the beginning of the Russian war. Thiede was with 7./St.G.2 during the Balkan and Crete campaigns. Kupfer as an old cavalry officer tended to use the old cavalry term Schwadron when refering to a Staffel. Thiede was also briefly assigned to a Stukaschule around this time. I have several other photos with both Kupfer and Thiede. In June 1942, Kommandeur Kupfer noticed that one of his planes was missing and he returned to where he had last seen it and discovered that the Ju-87 had made an emergency landing. The crew was standing next to the aircraft and waved. Kupfer made a rough landing. While there were German tanks nearby, Russian troops were even closer. With shells landing close by, the pilot and his Bordfunker ran to Kupfer's aircraft, climbed in, and Kupfer made a difficult take off and they all returned safely to their base. The rescued pilot was Armin Thiede.