More. Can anyone confirm if the second one is in the Kehlstein Haus?
Seen most of these in various places before. Yes, the photo of the dancers was taken in the Great Room of the Kehlsteinhaus. Gretl was dancing with Waldemar Fegelein.
Seen these before. They are Hoffmann images and are held by the Staatsbibliothek München.
Fegelein is looking glum because he was marrying the wrong Braun sister. Traudl Jung confirmed that the Hitler circle was aware that Fegelein and Eva Braun were enamoured of each other.
Max.
But the one depicted is very curious. The collar appears to be a 'stand and fall' which is not typical of an Imperial Ulanka or waffenrock. It looks like that more commonly seen on Heer tunics after 1936. Further, of course, the Hoheitsabzeichen is absent, so it is unlikely that this was a military uniform, ie. not a service tunic worn post 1935.
A best guess here would be that the individual sporting this is a former Uhlan or cavalryman (hence the EK decoration) and that this is a private piece of tailoring. Fegelein was, of course, a noted equestrian (and former commander of Florien Geyer), so it stands to reason that amongst his wedding guests/friends would be like-minded individuals.
That said, given where he is standing (in the photograph) - between Fegelein and Braun's Father (and Mother) and the age of the individual, I suspect that he could be a mentor from Fegelein's days in the Reichswehr or, his Father (who was also a noted equestrian and who owned a riding school).
The individual depicted appears to be either an Oberleutnant or a Rittmeister (Hauptmann), so it is unlikely that his identity based on rank would be known or easily found out. Wikipedia notes that Hans Fegelein (Fegelein's Father) was a "retired Oberleutnant", so maybe the individual depicted is, in fact, he.
But the one depicted is very curious. The collar appears to be a 'stand and fall' which is not typical of an Imperial Ulanka or waffenrock. It looks like that more commonly seen on Heer tunics after 1936. Further, of course, the Hoheitsabzeichen is absent, so it is unlikely that this was a military uniform, ie. not a service tunic worn post 1935.
A best guess here would be that the individual sporting this is a former Uhlan or cavalryman (hence the EK decoration) and that this is a private piece of tailoring. Fegelein was, of course, a noted equestrian (and former commander of Florien Geyer), so it stands to reason that amongst his wedding guests/friends would be like-minded individuals.
That said, given where he is standing (in the photograph) - between Fegelein and Braun's Father (and Mother) and the age of the individual, I suspect that he could be a mentor from Fegelein's days in the Reichswehr or, his Father (who was also a noted equestrian and who owned a riding school).
The individual depicted appears to be either an Oberleutnant or a Rittmeister (Hauptmann), so it is unlikely that his identity based on rank would be known or easily found out. Wikipedia notes that Hans Fegelein (Fegelein's Father) was a "retired Oberleutnant", so maybe the individual depicted is, in fact, he.
Just some thoughts.
N
I have seen chauffer uniforms used by some high party, and Hitler's, chauffers that are like this. But yes, it looks like a non-regulation custom designed uniform. Interestingly both Fegelein and his brother have Florien Geyer cuff titles. I am certain that the man beside Frau Braun is Gretel's father, it is almost certain the man in question is Fegeleins father. He is standing beside him and there is a marked resemblance in facial features.
Last edited by Jerome Healy; 02-10-2018, 07:22 AM.
"Was Gretel pregnant when they [she and Hermann Fegelein] married?"
Wikipedia biographies appear confusing at least as to dates:
* Gretl's bio states that she fell in love with Fritz Darges, one of Hitler's SS adjutants, "but he was suddenly dismissed by Hitler and posted to command a unit on the Eastern Front following an insubordinate comment at a meeting [at the Wolfsschanze] in 1944." Darges' bio informs us that that meeting took place on July 18, 1944. One of the purported reasons for Darges' dismissal from Hitler's personal staff "...involves his refusal to marry Eva Braun's sister Gretl Braun, who was pregnant at the time."
* Gretl married Hermann Fegelein on June 3, 1944, which was a month and a half PRIOR to this key meeting at the Wolfsschanze at which Fritz Darges was dismissed.
If these dates and actions are correct, then Gretl may well have been pregnant with Darges' child at the time of her wedding to Fegelein, though Hitler could hardly have been insisting on Darges marrying her after he (Hitler) had attended her wedding to Fegelein the previous month...!
* Gretl's bio provides a further note on a pregnancy, though obviously not her pregnancy at the time of her marriage to Fegelein: "Gretl was pregnant and still at the Berghof when her husband was arrested for desertion on 28 April 1945 in an apartment in Berlin, having gone missing from the Führerbunker. Initially, out of consideration for Eva, Hitler considered ordering Fegelein assigned to the defence of Berlin. However, after learning of Himmler's offer to surrender to the western Allies, Hitler ordered Himmler arrested and Fegelein shot...On 5 May 1945 at Obersalzberg, Gretl gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Eva Barbara in memory of her sister." Was Eva Barbara the daughter of Hermann Fegelein, or of Fritz Darges, or of yet another person??
Sometimes life reads like a cheap dime-store novel!! Cheers,
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