GD Officer Pics

[jacques]

another

[webr55]

Jacques,
I agree. If his awards mentioned here
http://www.feldgrau.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13141&

are correct, it can't be Röseke.

Regards
Chris

[Michael H. Pruett]

Thanks to Bill & Jim for sharing these fantastic photos with everyone! I’ve had the privilege of seeing the entire series (Thanks Jim!) and I have to agree with Jacques that there are several things that lead me to think that this fellow in Jim’s photos is not Erich Röseke.

If you read his "Militärisches Cirriculum" on page 222 of the late Helmuth Spaeter’s book PANZERKORPS GROSSDEUTSCHLAND Erich Röseke was first and foremost a Pionier. While he did serve with Kosaken units

and was awarded Eastern Peoples awards there is no mention of his service with Panzer related or Luftwaffe Field Division units. Our fellow in Jim’s photos proudly wears a black Panzer uniform and the silver PAB and the LWGAB. While it was not uncommon in the late war years for any and everyone (to include Fallschirmjäger) to un-officially wear the black Panzer or Sturmartillerie uniforms our fellow wears first the silver PAB and later a numbered PAB. These were not just "handed out" for hanging out "near" AFV’s but for actually serving in one!

Also the branch color of this fellow in Jim’s photos appears to be a darker color which I speculate is either rose pink or golden yellow? In the few photos of Erich Röseke he appears to be wearing white branch color and was also the Nahkampfspange in silver while it appears to me that the guy in Jim’s photos wears the bronze version.

Physical differences: I noticed that Erich Röseke parted his hair on the left. Jim’s guy parted his on the right. The ears, nose and eyes are different between the two as well.

The guy in Jim’s photos appears to have served as "Ib in Freiw. (Kos.) Stamm-Rgt. 5" and apparently later may have served on the staff of Heersegruppe "Kurland" with Generaloberst Heinrich v. Vietinghof gen. Scheel (January – March, 1945).

I have wondered the possibility that either Spaeter’s list of RK winners was not complete or more likely, that this guy (who continued to wear his GD insignia) was awarded his RK while serving with another unit.

Hopefully someone out there can solve this "Mystery" and put a name to the face.

Best Regards

Mike

[Rick White]

Bill,

I sent you a PM. Please respond at your earliest convienience.

Rick

[Elwyn]

On pic #1, the award on his right breast is the Bulgarian Bravery Award. In pics #3, 4 and 5, the foreign award on his left side is the Romanian Order of the Crown with Swords.

Regards
Chris

A little confused...... could the cross with sword and white border on his right breast underneath the wehrmacht eagle in Pic #1 was a more junior class of the same cross with sword next to EK 1st class on his left breast in Pics #3, #4 and #5? The latter indeed looks like the Romanian Order of the Crown with Swords.

I don't know zip about Bulgarian awards and/or Romanian awards but if you were referring to the Bulgarian Military Order for Bravery in Pic#1, then it may not be as the Bulgarian medal is red and the Romanina medal is red with a white border. I am not sure if you were referring to the 8-corner metallic medal on the left pocket in Pic#2 and Pic #5 though.

Anyway, could it be Hptm Bernard Klemz, RK 27.05.44 as Chef, 5/GD Pz Rgt at Targul Frumos..... plenty of time to win his PzKmpfAbz and Romanian Order of the Crown with Swords!

It's somewhat troubling that Klemz won tthe DGiG just before this on 10.02.44 according to Federl and the award on right breast pocket in Pic#5 does not really look like the DKiG.

Cheers
Elwyn

[W Petz]

All.

I have removed the images of the GD Officer from this thread. I've been contacted by two forum members who make claim to the photos in question. They have asked me to remove those photos. I will abide by their wishes since I really don't own the photos. I apologize if I stepped on anyones toes Bill