Identification of Pz Lehr Knights Cross holders

[Stransky]

Folks,

I have this photo of the Pz Lehr Schule in Fallingbostel, probably dated 1943, with three Knights Cross holders. Can anyone out there identify these personalities? Any information appreciated!

Thanks!

[Doktor Krollspell]

Hmmm, it looks like the Panzer Officer in the middle also is an Eichenlaubenträger... or? Apart from wearing the DkiG and one Panzervernichtungsabzeichen that is! Maybe you could see on the original picture if he has the Eichenlauben to his RK? With the (correct?) date of 1943, it would be a little more easy to identify him.


Regards,

Krollspell

[Stransky]

Close up at better resolution:

[Stransky]

No-one knows????

[Charles Steiner]

I hesitate to identify the middle one as Oberst Gerhardt and Oberst Freiherr von Hauser to his right... but this remains a difficult one to me... Will have to look it up if the ID checks out...

Cheers,

Charles Steiner

[Charles Steiner]

First update: I've been looking through my books and a possible identification for the middle RK would be

Major Helmut HUDEL (if the date of 1943 is correct)

born 04 july 1915 at Raunheim am Main
RK 27 may 1942 as Hauptmann und Kp.-Chef 1./Pz.Rgt. 7
EL 02.04.1943 (219. rec.)as Hauptmann und Kdr. I./Pz.Rgt. 7
after being flown out of Africa, he was promoted to Major on 01 june 1943
early 1944 he would take command of s.Pz.Abt. 508 in Italy
died 11 march 1985 at Frankfurt am Main

I haven't found the confirmation yet that in the period june 1943 - early 1944 he was posted to Pz.Lehr.Rgt. in Fallingbostel, but there is a high chance that he was. If so, this picutre would fit the time frame...

The RK to his right could be Major Wilhelm Prinz von Schönburg-Waldenburg (RK on 18.05.1941 as Hauptmann und Kp.-Chef 1./Pz.Rgt. 31)

born on 03 april 1913 at Guteborn
he was promoted to Major on 01 february 1943 and took command of I./Pz.Lehr.Rgt. in april 1943.
in august 1943 this bataillon was moved from Wunsdorf to Fallingbostel : so this would mean that the picture dates from the period august - december 1943.
he was killed in battle in Normandy on 11 june 1944.

No clue for the third RK untill now, but I will look some more.

Cheers,

Charles Steiner

[Büffel]

The panzer officer is Paul Schulze,later leader of KG Schulze.

[Doktor Krollspell]

Hello again Stransky, Charles and Büffel!

If the Panzer ELT was indeed Paul Schulze, then the date fort the photograph is wrong. Paul Schulze received the EL on 28.07.1944 as a Major commanding Pz.Abt. 21. Or the identification of Major Schulze is maybe wrong? Our Panzer ELT can not be Helmut Hudel since he never receieved the DKiG.


Regards,

Krollspell

[Stransky]

Time to refresh this thread. Does anyone have confirmation or further suggestions? Does anyone have a photo of Paul Schulze to compare?

[Tolga Alkan]

Hi,

I'm in favour of the fact that Panzer Officer with EL and tank destruction badge is Paul Schulze.Here is portrait photograph.You could compare yourself:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... e#p1331977

[Stransky]

Thank you one and all, mystery (partly) solved I think!