Feldgrau.net

Thank you for first short biography of him during World War II, watchdog! I didn't know he was posted to Hungary during the war. From what I have understood he deserted from the German Army (Hitlerjugend) in Germany, but I need to check this up again. These newspapers and TVs today... each one tells...

Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany Is New Pope VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (b. 1927) of Germany, a longtime guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI. Ratzinger, the first German...

Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I always appreciate good efforts when I see them, so thanks Tigers & DerGespent nonetheless.

During the breakthrough in Narvik Fjord the German Destroyer Group suprised and sunk two Norwegian armoured defence vessels NORGE and EIDSVOLD. Both ships were sunk with heavy loss of lifes. Can anyone please recommend me any good books about this short naval battle from Norwegian perspective? Or ev...

Controversial perhaps, still a great man in my eyes. Last week I felt almost ashame. I saw this old, poor, broken and especially proud man sitting in his Pope-mobile, wanting to do his Urbi et Orbi speech. I often laugh at his speech for The Netherlands: en bedankt voor die bloemen (thanks for the ...

The addition of Ortner means that Austrian representation amongst divisional commanders appointed to command Austrian-raised active divisions during the war is very similar to what one would expect from random distribution. I don't think that OKW has put much attention to who is the commanding offi...

As the German for the nationality "Czech" does not begin with "Cz", what is the origin of Alfred Czech's surname? Since the articles says that he originates from Schlesia I presume with great certainty that he was coming from a family of probably mixed German-Polish roots. The s...

Thanks for adding Franek to the list. My information on 44th Infantry Division's commanders ended with Deboi in mid 1942. Have you a list of the others after Deboi? Following the destruction of the 44th Infantry Division in Stalingrad in January 1943, a new division called the 44. Reichs-Grenadier-...

Send me details. Sid: Details are (were) sent to you via pm. I understand that the Nazi leadership in the occupied Netherlands was dominated by Nazi officials of Austrian origin, with Arthur Seyss-Inquart in the lead . . . Besides the Netherlands where many Austrian Nazis held the top ranking posit...

He most certainly saw active service! Yes, he most certainly did, but I think that Sid is looking here for an Austrian general at the head of an Austrian division in combat. Am I right, Sid? The 5th Gebirg-Division was a German (Bavarian) outfit and not Austrian mountain division. General Ringel, w...

Sid, what do you mean by "It is also notable that even Ringel did not command his division during active campaigning"? I think what Sid means is that during July and October 1940, when Ringer was in command the 3rd Gebirgs-Division did not see any action, what is correct. The division rem...

However, with the single exception of Ringel, none of them seem to have received an Austrian commander AFTER the outbreak of war. The same is true of the one Austrian reserve division raised at the outbreak of war. This is of course not entirely true. The famous 44. Reichs-Grenadier-Division Hoch u...

I will print off the list and look them out in the British Library in a fortnight. Hm... Do you often go to the British Library? :?: I'm interested in a copy of an unpublished 24-page long booklet, which is stored in the British Library. If I order them from here I need to go through the official c...

Including your list I have now checked 49 commanders of Austrian-raised divisions and Ringel is so far the only Austrian amongst them! General der Panzertruppe Dr. jur. Alfred Ritter von Hubicki (AUT) was in command of the 4. Leichte-Division (1 September 1939 - 3 January 1940). The division was re...

* Generaloberst Eduard Dietl , (1 May 1938 - 14 June 1940) GER * General der Gebirgstruppen Julius Ringel , (14 June 1940 - 23 October 1940) AUT * General der Gebirgstruppen Hans Kreysing , (23 October 1940 - 10 August 1943) GER * Generalleutnant Egbert Picker , (10 August 1943 - 26 August 1943) GER...