Unknown Heer DKIG-Holder

[ustufvorwaerts]

Hi everybody,

maybe someone can help out here.
Who might this Heer DKIG-Holder be ???
Photo was taken in a Photo-Studio in Ulm - so maybe he´s related somehow to this town or the troops that used to be stationed there.

Thanks in advance,

ustuf ...

[ustufvorwaerts]

last one ...

[Simon O.]

A pionier oberst, but if you can make out the cyphers on the shoulderboards we might be able to come up with a name.

[Tom B]

A pionier oberst, but if you can make out the cyphers on the shoulderboards we might be able to come up with a name.

Your info is correct. But a name...a difficult project

[jmark]

A pionier oberst, but if you can make out the cyphers on the shoulderboards we might be able to come up with a name.

Pi.Btl.5, Pi.Ers.Btl.5 and Pi.Btl.45 were based in Ulm. I think there are enough clues to work out who this guy is:
• Fought in WW1, where he won EK1, so most likely born 1900 or earlier;
• DKiG in WW2;
• Held rank of Oberst;
• Associated with Ulm.

I'll see what I can dig up.

Jason

[ustufvorwaerts]

Many, many thanks so far. Really appreciate your help.

ustuf ...

[Simon O.]

We can also say that the photos were taken sometime after the summer of 1942 and obviously he served on the easterfront during the winter of 41\42.

The Ulm connection could be a little misleading and an oberst is too high a rank to command a battalion by the latter part of the war. The cyphers would also seem to include more than one character, so not a 5 i would say.

My guess is he is also a career soldier given the number of medal bar loops

[jmark]

The Ulm connection could be a little misleading and an oberst is too high a rank to command a battalion by the latter part of the war.

Agreed, the Ulm connection may be tenuous, but my experience with portrait photos like this shows that soldiers tended to get them done in their home towns while on furlough or convalescing. Ulm was not a garrison city for many units, yet five pioneer battalions called it home (Pi.Ers.Btl.5, Pi.Btl.5, 15, 25 and 45). In my opinion, the two main reasons this officer would get a photo taken in Ulm were a) he resided there; b) he was stationed there.

Here's a full list of units based in Ulm:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ernenUlm-R.htm

The senior pioneer post in Standort Ulm was "Kommandeur der Pioniere V".

My research (for an earlier book) revealed that lots of officers passed through 45 in the pre-war years, including several that reached high ranks. For some reason, many opted to keep the old cyphers on their shoulderboards, even when transferred to new units.

Here's a candidate: Gerhard Wiese, Major, took command of Pi.Btl.6 on 01.10.1937 (Pi.Btl.6 evolved from Pi.Btl. Ulm A on 15.10.1935). Wiese was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 27.10.1941 as Oberstleutnant and Kdr. of Pi.Rgt.Stab 614. Promoted to Oberst with RDA 01.01.42. He was born 11.11.1896. So, he's got a connection with Ulm (albeit not a solid one), right age, right rank, right medals. Wiese wrote a book about Pi.Btl.6 and it has pics in it, maybe it has his photo in it.

Jason

[harmel]

Dkig holder

Nice pics and great info from Jason!!!
I had a name but if the photo is 1941/42 it would rule him out.
Of interest the name is Major Kreutzer in 1939? Cmdr of 5th Pion Bn.
There is an Oberst Erich Kreutzer possibly above officer who was
Pion Fuh 16th Army who was awarded DkiS 28/3/45
Harmel

[harmel]

Dkig holder

Sorry forgot to mention Simon as well!!!
Harmel