Help identifying RKT please!?!?

[Ian Jewison]

After digging around through references and original photos I can confirm the line up for photos 24 as follows:

Oberst Hans Christern RK (Kdr. Pz.Rgt. 35)
Unknown (wearing M36? also in my photo....)
Genmaj. Clemens Betzel EL (Div.Kdr. 4 Pz.Div.)
Oberst Gerlach v. Gaudecker RK (Kdr. Pz.Gren.Rgt. 33)
Obstlt.i.G. Peter Sauerbruch RK (Ia 4 Pz.Div.)
Major Wilhelm Westermann RK (Kdr. Pz.A.A. 4)
Major Fritz-Rudolf Schultz EL (Kdr. I/Pz.Rgt. 35)
Lt. Erich Friedrich RK (Zugfhr. 1/Pz.Gren.Rgt. 33)
Hptm. Kurt Schäfer RK (Kdr. I/Pz.Gren.Rgt. 33)

Interestingly Friedrich and Schäfer were holders of the coveted Nahkampfspange in Gold.

So far I have been unable to identify the officer wearing the M36 ....

/Ian

[F L Clemens]

You guys do great work.

Imagine this without the internet! So many books need correction...so little time.

[Doug Nash]

Can anyone identify this offer?

Hi -
Since you're on the subject of the 4th Panzer Division, can anyone identify this RK Traeger? Photo was taken early April 1944 during the relief of Kovel. He may have been with the 5th Jäger Division as well, since a battalion of that division was attached to KGr Hoffmann (from PzGrenRgt 12), which was able to fight its way through the encirclement and relieve the forces in Kovel.
Thanks -
Cheers, Doug

[F L Clemens]

That is Dr Schulz-Merkel. I spoke with him on the phone once, missed being able to meet him though.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44479

[Doug Nash]

Hey Fred!

Hey Fred - so which picture is the right one of Merkel - the one that Anders posted (which I think matches the newsreel footage) or the second one I posted & the one that also appears on the Axis History Foum? I think the one that Anders posted is a ringer - which one do you mean? (am I am NOT being sarcastic!) This is Ander's photo right here.
Cheers,
Doug

[F L Clemens]

Both pictures you have here are Schulz-Merkel. He can look a little different depending on the angle. I believe that is due to his nose catching the light differently.

[Doug Nash]

Merkel

And what a big schnozzola it is! Ha cha cha cha!!
(tip o' the hat to Jimmy Durante)

Here's the picture from the newsreel that shows the whole O-Group outside of Kowel in early April (probably 4 or 5 April) 1944. The chubby looking older guy second from the right is Oberst Hoffmann.

[F L Clemens]

I'll answer your IM about what Schulz-Merkel was doing at this point here for others to learn from too - . He was both a doctor and a panzer commander. He was in charge of the Sanitaetsstaffel for PR35 but he also stepped in as commander of I./PR35 while the actual commander (Fritz-Rudolf Schultz) was on leave. Schulz-Merkel had received his Ritterkreuz back in mid-43 when he stepped into the breach when the previous commander of I./PR35 (Hans-Dethloff von Cossel) was killed. I guess Schulz-Merkel would have been Patton's kind of doctor - making sure that the other dumb bastards died for their country while keeping his own dumb bastards alive.

Both Schulz-Merkel and Oberst Hoffmann have accounts about Kowel in the PR35 history book.

I did not talk about Kowel with Schulz-Merkel. because I was after Lauchert info. Our phone conversation was fairly brief and the only quote I remember was him saying, "Ich war nur Arzt." Quite a modest statement.