Announcement

**Jommeke** · 01-21-2012, 03:51 PM

**Jommeke** · 01-21-2012, 03:51 PM

And finally a pic of the grave

**Jommeke** · 01-21-2012, 04:07 PM

Hello

I just realized i made a mistake in the title and in my reasoning.
The rank on the pic is of a Standartenführer and this rank is 2 places up the ladder as a Sturmbannführer.

So maybe this is not Wäckerle or is he???
Or was i looking at the wrong person? Could it be he is the one on the second pic on the left with the cigaret?

Now i'm even more confused....

Any advice is more then welcome

KR

J

**Jommeke** · 01-21-2012, 04:13 PM

**V. J. Kursietis** · 01-24-2012, 03:20 AM

Hi,

Hilmar Wäckerle is the man in the middle of the pics wearing the sunglasses. In the second pic you can clearly see the Standartenführer marking on his collar tab.

Please see here for a short bio of the man: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4822

Best regards,

VJK

**Mark C. Yerger** · 01-24-2012, 10:28 AM

From volume 7 of German Cross in Gold Holders of the SS and Police (photo caption)

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w

ontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w

ontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w

ontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Hilmar Wäckerle (left) speaking with divisional commander Felix Steiner in Russia. On the right is August Dieckmann. An early and influential SS-Verfügungstruppe commander, Wäckerle (SS# 9 729) was born in Forschheim on November 24, 1899. He joined the SS on March 1, 1931, with the 1./29.SS-Standarte and became adjutant of its I.Sturmbann in February 1932 with the post becoming permanent when commissioned on August 24, 1932. Wäckerle was the first commander of the Dachau concentration camp from late March to late June 1933. Promoted to Sturmhauptführer on January 30, 1933, Wäckerle was next the Stabsführer of Abschnitt X from July 15, 1933, to March 1934. Promoted to Sturmbannführer on March 1, 1934, he joined the Political Readiness Detachment Württemberg in Ellwangen on May 7, 1934, as a Kompanie Führer. Wäckerle took first command of the III./SS 2 (later "Germania") on March 2, 1935. On May 17, 1935, he moved to command of the I./SS 2 and was promoted to Obersturmbannführer on September 13, 1936. Wäckerle next became the first commander of the newly forming III./SS 3 (later "Der Führer") on April 1, 1938, and then led the I./Westland from June 1940. Two months later he took command of SS-Standarte "Westland" on August 1, 1940. Promoted to Standartenführer on August 21, 1940, Wäckerle was killed while commanding "Westland" east of Lemberg, Russia, on July 2, 1941.

**Lasse L** · 01-24-2012, 01:07 PM

It may also be added, that following the death of Wäckerle, the Soldiers of his Regiment took a gruesome revenge on the population of the village where he had been killed. I read somewhere that they killed around 150 civilians as revenge, and I do believe that this action actually was mentioned in the war diary of the II./Rgt. "Westland".

**Jommeke** · 01-24-2012, 01:40 PM

Thank you all for your reaction.
Now all is clear to me.

On the grave it says Staf. which has to be short for Standartenführer.
Like Kursietis says you can see the tabs on the second pic.

Mystery solved and i have a lot more information about the officer on these pics!

Tanx a bunch!

J

**Mark C. Yerger** · 02-15-2012, 12:47 PM

Will be several more detailed/clear photos of him with Steiner in volume 7 of my German Cross holder series.

Announcement

Pics of Oberführer Wäckerle

Pics of Oberführer Wäckerle

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Users Viewing this Thread