European SS officers to be ID-d

[kass]

Hi
There came few photos with the letters (approx 400) of Estonian SS officer Toivo Kaarheit. One taken in Bad Tolz in 1943 shows him (on the right) with men from various EU countries. Maybe someone can ID these later to be officers?
On the back of the card reads: Denmark, Swiss, Flanders, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, German of Romania, Norway, Dutch, Estonia.

Regards
K.

[MarcRikmenspoel]

I can identify some of these men, and I'll post a link to this thread so other friends can see this and have a go at it.

The Swiss man resembles Paul Benz. The only other Swiss in this course (9. Kriegsjunker Lehrgang), afaik, was Waldo Rodio, and it does NOT resemble him, so it probably is Benz.

The Swede is Gunnar Ekloef.

There's only a handful of Icelandic candidates, and it isn't Bjoern Bjoernsson, who flunked out of this course anyway. I'll do some more digging.

The Dutchman is George Duiker, who is still alive at around age 92, at least according to the last I've heard. He published his memoirs a few years ago in Dutch.

I'll post again if and when I learn more. Thanks for sharing this GREAT photo!

[Helbe]

Hello,

First, thank you kass for sharing this picture. It's nice to see something from the 9. Kriegs-Junkerlehrgang an der SS-Junkerschule Tölz (01-02-1943 - 31-07-1943).

Here is what I've found already... For some nationality it's more difficult because there were many guys there.

Mark already gave some informations but I would like to add a few things.
I left the height of the men because it can help us to identify them.

So from left to right.

DAN
??

CHE (agree with Mark)
Benz, Paul
10-10-1920 Zürich, Schweiz
177 cm

BEL
Laporte, Fernand ??

SWE
Eklöf, Erich (not Gunnar as written by Mark)
22-02-1922 Ragonda, Schweden
183 cm

ISL
??

FIN
??

ROU
Mischung, Rudolf (Hans, Fritz)
30-06-1920 Temeschburg, Banat, Rumänien
168 cm

NOR
Todarson, Odd (not sure)
24-02-1924 Bergen, Norwegen
182 cm

NLD
Duiker, George
04-11-1922 Zandvoort, Holland
182 cm

EST
Kaarheit, Toivo
22-06-1908


If people want to contribute to this thread, do not hesitate !
Other pictures can help too.

[MarcRikmenspoel]

I've seen photos of Rudolf Mischung, and I don't think that he is the Romanian ethnic-German in the photo. The Fleming also doesn't look like Fernand "Nand" Laporte.

Ekloef went by the first name Gunnar. I believe Erik may have been his true first name, or his middle name, but he was commonly known as "Gunnar."

Odd Tordarson is almost certainly the Icelandic volunteer listed. His is the name I was searching for. He was born to an Icelandic father and a Norwegian mother, and while he volunteered in Norway, he was classified by the SS as Icelandic.

[kass]

Guys,
many thanks for the contribution for you all. Its always nice to ID some strangers from the photo.
There´s no more Tölz photos unfortunately.
There was one photo where he is in Debica (Poland) training camp where Estonian Legion was formed. Picture was taken after he's course in Bad Tölz. Kaarheit is on the left. Rudolf Bruus is in the middle and the third guy is unknown. Probably German. I think picture is taken before the attestation of the Legion.
And another picture shows Kaarheit in a wagon on their way to Ukraine in 1941.
He joined Bataillon "Ostland" in 1941 after that Polizei reserv bataillon nr. 33. In Ukraine he was transferred to Ukrainian Polizei bataillon nr.116 as an instructor in Belaja Tserkov. In 1942 joined Estonian Legion. In 1943 went for 3 month course in Bad Tölz. He mentions in one of he's letters to he's wife that he would like to do 6 month course as well.
Was wounded in Narva front in 1944 and died in he's way to the hospital on the 11-th of March.

Amongst he's letters was a letter and postcard from Fritz Klingenberg.
Would anyone bother to translate the letter?

Kind Regards
K.

[kass]

adsf

[kass]

lkh

[MarcRikmenspoel]

The letter gives Winter Solstice greetings, and explains that now more than ever, when the new Europe is surrounded by encroaching enemies, the Germanic people must embrace National Socialism so as to stand strong and protect millenia of European culture.

Klingenberg was in charge of Germanic Waffen-SS training at Bad Toelz, so this all makes sense in context.

I took my copy of Wikingin Suomalaiset out of storage, and looked at the photos of Finnish Junkers at the 9. JKL. Our Finn from the group photo is Sakari Jarvinen (umlauts over the "a" in his last name, this laptop I'm using won't allow it).

[Lasse L]

That is without doubt Erik Gunnar Eklöf from Malmberget, Sweden. His first name was Gunnar, but seems to have used Erich while in the SS.

[LB023]

Are you guys sure his name is duiker? I have been doing some research for a while, but I cant find a trace of him.