Knight cross winner with 4 TDB

[uwemue]

Hi there,

is there anybody, who can name this KC winner ?

In the back is this a russian tank ?

Regards

Uwe

[stgeorge64]

Uwe

I saw a copy/print of this same photograph offered on ebay.de a short time ago and was hoping myself also, that someone might be able to positively identify this soldier.

Regards Richard.

[Gran Sasso]

Hi there,

is there anybody, who can name this KC winner ?

In the back is this a russian tank ?

Regards

Uwe

Thats Robert Rahlenbeck, his mother was the neighbor of my grandma. So I knew him.

The T34 in the background is not a victim, but the "tool" that makes him win the knightscross: it was integrated in the german frontline, and he was the gunner. In front of the tank they posted a sign "Hier wohnen 3 Landser, die beschiessen den Russen mit dem eigenen Panzer" (Here live 3 Landser, who shot at the russians with their own Panzer). He maganed to destroy 18 T34s on one day.

[Edgar Estrada]

What happen to him? Did he survive the war?

Regards

Edgar

[Gran Sasso]

Thats Robert Rahlenbeck, his mother was the neighbor of my grandma. So I knew him.

Of course - I am not that old...

[Porsche]

Damn, I was bidding on those photo's too. Glad to see they went to a good home.

Cheers,

Neil

[Panzer Rob]

Thats Robert Rahlenbeck, his mother was the neighbor of my grandma. So I knew him.

The T34 in the background is not a victim, but the "tool" that makes him win the knightscross: it was integrated in the german frontline, and he was the gunner. In front of the tank they posted a sign "Hier wohnen 3 Landser, die beschiessen den Russen mit dem eigenen Panzer" (Here live 3 Landser, who shot at the russians with their own Panzer). He maganed to destroy 18 T34s on one day.

Small world!

Great story there, "Gran" - thanks for sharing that with us

Nice photo, too!
Rob

[uwemue]

For sure the world is a village. I bought that pic on ebay.de for less than 10 €, the seller comes from Berlin too. Great story, thanks "Gran" for your help. Do you know something about the awards of Robert Rahlenbeck ?

Regards

Uwe

[Gran Sasso]

Do you know something about the awards of Robert Rahlenbeck?

Sure - I always told my grandma to ask for his items. She told me he was never proud of his RK, not even when he arrived by train in his hometown, and all the officials of the town were there. My grandma was present as BDM-girl. As the years gone by he felt sorry for what he has done (killed other humans) to win the RK, thats the explanation, too, why you would never find a signed foto or so of him.

She also told me he has sold all his medals some years before I begged her to ask him. Well, when talking to him a few years later, I learned he has sold everything AFTER I asked my grandma, for 2.000,-DM...

All I got is one signed foto, and another unsigned one.

[W Petz]

Patrick,


Very interesting story Patrick..too bad you missed it all.

The same image was on Ebay.de from a seller in Celle, Germany that ended Nov 23. I was outbid at the last moment...it went for 20.49 Euros..how many more images are out there? Bill

[torstenbel]

Thats Robert Rahlenbeck, his mother was the neighbor of my grandma. So I knew him.

The T34 in the background is not a victim, but the "tool" that makes him win the knightscross: it was integrated in the german frontline, and he was the gunner. In front of the tank they posted a sign "Hier wohnen 3 Landser, die beschiessen den Russen mit dem eigenen Panzer" (Here live 3 Landser, who shot at the russians with their own Panzer). He maganed to destroy 18 T34s on one day.

the story behind the man on the front cover of this newspaper is similar in that he shot up a T34 tank, got the crew out of it with his pistol, climbed into the tank and stopped a soviet advance with it...Cheers, Torsten.

[D. Löwenhamn]

According to Rahlenbeck himself it is not him on the photo.

Daniel

[Porsche]

Daniel,
Apparently the guy in the photo is Pius Butz.

Cheers,

Neil

[Elwyn]

Sure agrees with what Veit Scherzer had of Butz.

Cheers
Elwyn

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Big Feat Indeed!

Gentlemen,

I wonder if there are similar stories of a German soldier capturing a enemy tank,shot the crew of it and used the tank against it former army? The feat by Robert Rahlenbeck was truly amazing!

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao