unknown knights cross winner?

[Ian Jewison]

Is RKT 1 wearing black or red on the peaked cap? Maybe this will narrow down the search for Artillerie or Pioniere!!!

/Ian

[Denis]

Following to Ian's good comment, I have only kept the recipients belonging to Art. or Pionier units and being awarded the KC before 1944 with a rank equals or below Uffz.
18 soldiers are retrieved
After some research, unID 1 might be Heinrich Ofenloch (RK 12/07/1943 as Uffz. 1/Pi.Btl. 323). Indeed, Ofenloch is credited with one TDB.
Unfortunately (and as usual) I can't access to my books : can anybody check if :
1- Ofenloch was awarded the DK ?
2- a possible photo of him exists in Bender/Breyette book about the Tank Destruction Badge ?
Thanks in advance
Regards
Denis

[Ian Jewison]

Ofenloch was not a DK winner!!! Do we have him!?!?!
Well done Denis

[Denis]

Hi Ian
Not very sure about Ofenloch and I haven't got any photos from him ! I hope I am right : the doubtful point is his KC awardind date : July, 1943 I would have originally said that this photo was taken before that date due to Uniforms.
I hope we'll be able to check that.
Denis
PS : this thread looks like more and more to a chat session !!

[Ian Jewison]

I found a photo Ofenloch on the web but respected this persons copyright.....the awards, position etc. matched that in this photo.......I think we have our man!
Do you have a photo of him at home Denis?

Cheers! Ian

[Denis]

Great news Ian !!
No I don't think so. Is it possible that you post the URL to the Ofenloch pic. Copyright will be respected and everybody will be able to see him.
Well done
BTW : does unID 4 wear a Sport badge or something else ? What is the purpose of his lanyard ?
Regards
Denis

[Ian Jewison]

I forgot about the link...I just thought about it and logged back on.......

Incidentally the pictures are for sale so he might even get some trade!!!

http://www.samba66.com/html/forsale2.htm

Ofenloch is 3/4 way down on the right....

Uin4 is wearing a DRL Sports Badge I think and a Marksman lanyard....is that also Ostmedaille and 1.10.38 m/Spange?

/Ian

[Denis]

Thanks for the link. this belongs to Paal Waland who contributes to this forum.
I agree with you about the ribbon bar of unID 4 : Ostmedaille and Czech annexion medal with Prague bar
The piping of the peaked cap sems to be very clear : this is certainly a member of the Infantry branch (the IAB confirms that point).
So here is what we have about this guy :
he was appointed as an officer AFTER July, 1943
he belongs to Infantry
he was a veteran of the ostfront and fought there in 1941-42
he was among the troops which entred into Czechoslowakia
he was not awarded the DKiG BEFORE July, 1943
he was awarded the RK before July, 1943
Hope we'll find it but this is a big task !
Denis

[Samba66]

It is Heinrich Reinke.

Regards
Paal

[Denis]

Hi Paal
Many Thanks for the info. This info will avoid headache since I have got a short list of 136 names (among those Reinke).
Would you have a picture of him ?
So the 4 KC holders are finally identified :
From left to Right :
Uffz. Ofenloch
Ofw. Brakat
Ofw. Schlee
Ofw. Reinke

Best regards
Denis

[Ed_Haynes]

An inspiring bit of cooperative reaearch to watch from the sidelines. A deserved "well done" to all of you!

Ed Haynes

[Samba66]

Hi!

Here you have Reinke:



Regards
Paal

[Ian Jewison]

Thanks very much Paal for posting that photo.
It looks like it could well have been taken on the same day with "Wach" Bataillon members in the background!

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Interesting photo of Reinke as we were discussing whether or not he was wearing Offizier collar patches or NCO's...we came to the conclusion he was an Oberähnrich but they just didn't look right....
The reason being they are NCO's with only partial tresse around the collar!
Also he doesn't appear to be wearing "W" on the shoulder boards! Perhaps he was not a member of the Wach Bataillon?

I think this group photo is indeed worthy or more research!

Very interesting................

/Ian

[Denis]

Thanks Paal !
Ian, you're perfectly right : a partial tresse and probably a color shot taken the same day