SS Officers

[fotoshop44]

Hi,

can somebody say which officers can be seen on the photo? The one with knights cross should be Steiner, right?

Thanks in advance.

[Tim W]

Gille to the right of Steiner
Tim

[yerdna1209]

Hello,
SS-Stubaf. EK1 (WW1) next to Felix Steiner probably is future RKT and Kdr. of the II.Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Artillery Regiment Joachim Richter. His photos are really rare.

[MarcRikmenspoel]

The guy next to Steiner with the WW1 EKII clasp is not Richter, who had an older appearance. I'm not sure who he is, but I suspect he is Paul Geisler, who was commanding Reg. Westland at this time. He was born in 1899, and so was the right age to hold the decoration.

The Stdfhr on the right is unknown to me, but a check of officer lists from this time (spring 1942, as best I can tell) suggests it is Dr. Gerd Unbehaun, the divisional IVb (Head Surgeon in charge of medical care in the unit).

[yerdna1209]

Geisler was SS-Ostubaf. during his command of "Westland". I don't know indeed rank of this officer (SS-Stubaf. or SS-Ostubaf.), but Richter could be in both ranks:
20.04.1941 SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
20.04.1942 SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
Here is his face (Richter) from book by G.Bernau. I don't say that it's indeed Richter but I think that it's really could be him.

[fotoshop44]

Thanks to all for your help!!!