Luftwaffe Ritterkreuzträger

[D_Dutch]

Hello,

I have received a very nice photo of a couple of Lutwaffe soldiers during an interview.
At first I wanted to buy the photo because of the really cool mircophone but then I also noticed that the guy at the far right is wearing a Ritterkreuz!
According to the seller this was Ritterkreuzträger Matern, who commanded II Z.G.1.
But I read that he was only awarded the Ritterkreuz posthumously, so It is impossible that the guy on the photo is Matern.
So the question is... Who ís the Ritterkreuzträger?

[harmel]

luft kc holder

Hi def -Hptm Karl-Heinrich Matern-12 victories ,shot down by a Spitfire
8/10/43 nr Brest.
Awarded KC post 9/10/43
Born Althof East Prussia 20/2/1919
Harmel

[D_Dutch]

Hi def -Hptm Karl-Heinrich Matern-12 victories ,shot down by a Spitfire
8/10/43 nr Brest.
Awarded KC post 9/10/43
Born Althof East Prussia 20/2/1919
Harmel

Do you mean that the soldier who is being interviewed is Matern?

[John Toner]

The only two other RKTs in Materns unit (II./Z.G. 1) were Hans Peterburs and Helmut Viedebantt. The man on the right does not look at all like Peterburs, but he might be Viedebantt.

John

[harmel]

Matern

Sorry Dutch-the one being interviewed,the KC holder on the
right is Major Helmut Viedebantt he won the KC as Oblt 30/12/42
Born Bonn 23/12/42 and killed in an incident 1/5/45 while on a supply
missin to Berlin,as Cmdr 1/SKG 10,tragic just before the surrender.
Regards Harmel

[harmel]

Matern

Sorry meant to say John was the source for me to id
Viedebantt,thanks John.
Regards Harmel

[D_Dutch]

Thank you both very much for the identification for both of these men!

[Steve P]

Interesting photo!

[D_Dutch]

Interesting photo!

Thats what I think too.
I wonder why Matern was being interviewed, maybe for shooting down his 10th enemy aircraft.
If this was the case the interview had to be between the 30th of December 1942 and the 8th of October 1943.
The gap between the two dates could be narrowed down if it would be possible to find the promotion dates of Matern.

[Christopher]

I love research!!

[JG 51]

Is it me and my small screen. But it really looks like he is missing the buttons on his shoulderboards...

[D_Dutch]

Sorry Dutch-the one being interviewed,the KC holder on the
right is Major Helmut Viedebantt he won the KC as Oblt 30/12/42
Born Bonn 23/12/42 and killed in an incident 1/5/45 while on a supply
missin to Berlin,as Cmdr 1/SKG 10,tragic just before the surrender.
Regards Harmel

Although I do not want to complain, I read on wikipedia (Also on Lexikon der Wehrmacht) that he was commander of III. Gruppe/KG 200 at time of his death.
On ww2aircraft.net is read this;

Maj Helmut Viedebantt

Was Staka 5./ZG1 in late 1942, in dec42 transferred together with Maj. G. Tonne to SKG10

Is this the same unit as you are mentioning?