highly decorated SS ??

[Stijn David]

Hello,


Im posting this picture fro a young friend of mine, this picture is interesting in many ways ( and gave me a headage where to post ) => look at the awards this person is wearing , 2 TDB , German cross, KC, Panzerassault badge ( numbered !!!!!!!! )

I actually believe that it was taken after the war however , look at his arm +> there we see a bit of the SS eagle peeping trough and yet no collar tabs reffering towards SS !!!!

Enjoy and i hope our friend wil hop in and ask what he has to ask

Greetings,

[Denis]

Hello
Even if your friend has not asked any question yet, this guy is Karl Heinz Lichte (well, I think so...)
Some elements of info :

DoB : 23/08/1920
DoD :
Last rank : SS Hpstuf.
Last unit : 5/SS Pz. Rgt. 5 (5. SS Pz. Div.)
EK1 : 07/41
DKiG : 07/12/44
RK : 25/03/45 as Hpstuf. 5/SS Pz. Rgt. 5 in 5. SS Pz. Div. "Wiking"

Like you, I believe that the photo was taken just after the end of the war but I am not sure. There is another photo depicting SS Hpscha. Walter Pitsch wearing both his KC and a tunic without collar patches. Pitsch was awarded the KC on 06/05/1945 as a member of the 4/SS Flak Abt. 1 (1. SS Pz. Div.).
It is worth noting that Lichte belonged to a panzer unit. He should have worn the black panzer wrapper. Instead of that, he is shown wearing the standard field grey collar tunic.

Regards
Hope this helps

Denis

[bhholst]

Hello;
I can confirm Denis' finding that the picture shows K.H. Lichte .
I base rhis on the signature on the photo and the identical picture shown in
Jost W. Schneider's book about the K.C. recipients of the Waffen-SS and Police " Verleihung Genehmigt- Their Honor Was Loyalty 1939-1945".
Bernhard H. Holst