LSSAH: New CCC in Gold and German Cross group / Individual reserach

[Ruimteaapje]

Hi R.,

Thanks R. for the great details and contribution.

Leidreiter was his adju and should have known where one and another cc day came from imo.

All the best,
Markus

Yup, but all in all most of Knittel's cc days are documented so there isn't much doubt. Keep in mind that Leidreiter first met with Knittel in 1942 when he was assigned to 3./AA LAH after he graduated from Tölz. It wasn't before April 1942 that he became his adjutant. While Leidreiter was at the Junkerschule Knittel served in the Ssambeck Stellung and - as I stated before - compared to Knittel Leidreiter "missed" almost four months of heavy combat in early 1944. In all honesty I think Leidreiter was wrong about this (and that's what I told him too)

[leib1]

Ruimteaapje are you also known as Harro ?

[Ruimteaapje]

Ruimteaapje are you also known as Harro ?

Certainly ;-)

[leib1]

Lol thought it had to be you

[Ruimteaapje]

Which makes me wonder about your nom de plume in other forums "leib1"!

It's interesting to note that it could take a long, long time before an award was actually presented to its winner. Another example from the AA LAH:

Theo Gernt
DKiG Vorschlag: 18. September 1944
Verliehen: 30. Dezember 1944
Leidreiter: "ich war- und bin es ja auch heute noch - ein wenig stolz, dass ich auf Befehl von Emil Wawrzinek irgendwo in Ungarn – Plattensee - vor der angetretenen Kompanie diesem braven Mann das Deutsche Kreuz in Gold an seine Brust heften durfte." - Plattensee, so that's somewere in March 1945 (to give a little context to Gilbert's DKiG been awarded on 28/2 and been presented to him in May)

BTW, for Markus...

[markus]

Dear R.,

You're one of my kind!

Many thanks for posting that request of the LSSAH to the Heeres PA in Berlin,
asking for presentation date for the golden clasp to Uscha Gilbert. Very interesting.

The example of Theo Gernt is also very interesting: 2.5 months passed until
the recommendation had been accepted and then it took another 4 months
until this brave soldier could finally wear the hard earned award on his breast
for a couple of days until the award was probably taken away from him during
when taken prisoner.

[Ruimteaapje]

My pleasure, but please note that you just mixed up Gilbert and Gernt!

Knittel wrote the proposal for Gernt on 18/9/44, it was awarded on 30/12/44 and Leidreiter said he presented the DKiG to Gernt somewere near Plattensee (Lake Balaton) which must mean early or mid March (when LSSAH was there during frühlingserwachen/spring awakening), that being some five or six weeks after it was awarded. Gernt could wear the award almost two months before the division capitulated. It was Gilbert who recieved his DKiG days before the end of the war.

Gernt was one of the most valued NCO's of the Abteilung.

Perhaps we should open an SS-PzAA1 DKiG and other awards topic. Lots and lots of stuff like this in my files.

Dear R.,

You're one of my kind!

Many thanks for posting that request of the LSSAH to the Heeres PA in Berlin,
asking for presentation date for the golden clasp to Uscha Gilbert. Very interesting.

The example of Theo Gernt is also very interesting: 2.5 months passed until
the recommendation had been accepted and then it took another 4 months
until this brave soldier could finally wear the hard earned award on his breast
for a couple of days until the award was probably taken away from him during
when taken prisoner.

[markus]

Hi R.,

Yes, I seem to have gotten that mixed up.

I guess that's what happens when you read and write on the
Blackberry all week. Haven't had time to really sit down at the
Laptop wiith our 1.5 year old son keeping us busy, busy!

But great infos R. This is the stuff I personally love about the
hobby. Collecting items does not give me the same kick as
Real information on persons and events.

I'm sure that a lot of more opportunities will surface during
the next months and years!

Cheers,
Markus

[Ruimteaapje]

But great infos R. This is the stuff I personally love about the hobby. Collecting items does not give me the same kick as Real information on persons and events.

True, but it's sad that collecting first hand memories has become a race against te clock with so few veterans left. Already too much is lost forever.

[markus]

Yes, very true. They are all passing dramatically fast now.
The kast time I sent my friend a Fedex envelope with mtrl
to read I sent it all one a Friday. It arrived on Monday in Germany,
but my friend had passed that same weekend in his sleep and
never received my 'care-package'.

I will send more to another friend tomorrow. 'Until all brothers are
silent', so to say.

[SJP]

Gilbert

Thanks for posting all this additional information
______________________________________________
Cheers Steve

[markus]

Willi Gilbert

Frontkämpfer !

[Ruimteaapje]

Wasn't that photo taken in Bretteville in 1942?

[Mark C. Yerger]

Unpublished photo of Rudi Knobloch
(10.(gep) SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2)
after receiving his Close Combat Clasp in Gold

[markus]

I'm quite sure the photo was taken in the summer of 1942
in France. Where exactly I'd need to investigate further.

To the best of my knowlegde Wilhelm Gilbert had 51 close combat
days registred until Jan.15, 1945. It would be very interesting to try
and estimate the total days until May 8, 1945.

Any suggestions?

@ Mark: Many thanks for posting this very nice photo of Knobloch!