Best "Das Reich" Photo?

[Michael73]

Hello

A new one from Thomas Huss - award ceremony of Ehrenblattspange!
Just look at wounded Boska!

Regards,
Michael

[Raphael1]

Are U sure its Ehrenblattspange?

[Michael73]

Are U sure its Ehrenblattspange?

100% sure

The fact that the photo appears to be original is amazing IMO!

[MarcRikmenspoel]

It's a mixed award ceremony. This one and others from the same day are in various books. Boska is indeed getting the EBS. It'll be presented by Walter Krüger, with Das Reich IIa Dieter Kesten assisting. Next to Boska are Alfred Idel (Uscha.) and Ernst-August Krag from the Stug. Abt., and then Johann Brandstätter from the Kradschützen Bataillon (he was still wearing a Langemarck cufftitle). The three are receiving the German Cross in Gold, with Idel having it pinned to his tunic at this moment.

See page 131 of my Soldiers of the Waffen-SS for another view of this scene, after the awards have been given. Finding an original print from this set is a good acquisition!

Hello

A new one from Thomas Huss - award ceremony of Ehrenblattspange!
Just look at wounded Boska!

Regards,
Michael

[Akira Takiguchi]

Great photo. Here "another view" taken by SS-Bildberichter Hans Michàlek.

[Mark C. Yerger]

other end of the line

[Mark C. Yerger]

The first 2 volumes of "German Cross in Gold Holders of the SS and Police" have others from the award day, Krüger started with a speech standing on a Tiger tank. 1 photo in the above shows Kumm, Tyschen and others celebrating after the presentation was over with KC worn on award day (not at neck). Kumm got the first Oakleaves of the Division that day. Kesten later won the KC.

And biographies for all the German Cross in Gold holders, including any proposal texts that survived, are also in the above 2 volumes.

[D_Dutch]

Krüger started with a speech standing on a Tiger tank.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Doing some file work today, found this original given to me by Ernst August Krag of Krüger from a slightly different angle.

[Brian R]

It's a mixed award ceremony. This one and others from the same day are in various books. Boska is indeed getting the EBS. It'll be presented by Walter Krüger, with Das Reich IIa Dieter Kesten assisting. Next to Boska are Alfred Idel (Uscha.) and Ernst-August Krag from the Stug. Abt., and then Johann Brandstätter from the Kradschützen Bataillon (he was still wearing a Langemarck cufftitle). The three are receiving the German Cross in Gold, with Idel having it pinned to his tunic at this moment.

See page 131 of my Soldiers of the Waffen-SS for another view of this scene, after the awards have been given. Finding an original print from this set is a good acquisition!

I'd love to see the other photos in this series. It surely seems to be from the spring of 1943 given the DK award dates of the various soldiers. However, how can it be an Ehrenblattspange ceremony for Boska? He was named in the Ehrenblatt on April 18, 1943, but the award did not exist yet. I'm guessing he was recognized for being named and simply given his actual Ehrenblatt urkunde. Or, he was recognized while the others had their DKiGs handed to them but did not actually receive anything.

Does anyone have this actual photo in his collection?

[MarcRikmenspoel]

I think you have it correct, Boska was recognized, and maybe given a certificate, for being named in the Honor Roll.