SS Oberst-Gruppenfurer Promotion (Dietrich 7 Haussar)

[heer1]

Where both Paul Haussar and Sepp Ditriech promoted to Oberst-Gruppenfuhrer on the same date (August 1, 1944)?

Also, I have been looking for pictures of Hausser wearing his post promotion rank insignia and just recently came across a picture in the book "SS Leadership Corps" Volume 1. which showed him with the "three pip" collar insignia. I am wondering if this was actually an 'airbrushed" picture?

It seems that I have come across alot of pictures where "Knights Cross, Oakleaves, Swords" are airbrushed onto the photo. Why is this?

I was hoping someone could offer some insight and advise whether that picture in question, regarding Hausser's rank is accurate. I didn't think there were any period pictures of him showing that rank?

I have seen and believe are accurate, pictures of Deitrich with his post promotion rank.

Thanks

[genstab]

Hi, Heer1-
The 1 Juli 1943 SS Rank list, of which I have a photocopy, shows two men with the rank of Oberstgrupenfuehrer:
Schwarz, Franz Xaver 20.4.42
Daluege, Kurt 20.4.42

The 9 Nov 1944 Rank List shows four:

Schwarz, Franz Xaver 20.4.42
Dietrich, Josef 20.4.42 (notified 1.8.44!)
Daluege, Kurt 20.4.42
Hausser, Paul 1.8.44

The story I heard was that Hitler wanted Dietrich to be senior to Hausser. Obviously he wasn't promoted in April 1942 or the Rank List would have reflected it. So I guess this is a case of Dietrich's being given a RDA of 20.4.42 for seniority. He was apparently ranked ahead of Daluege because Daluege was a police general while Dietrich was not only Waffen SS but an old party comrade from before Hitler was in power,and an Obergruppenfuehrer since 1 July 1934- two months before Daluege (9 Sept 1934).

I saw it mentioned on the AHF that the Hausser photo was altered to add his third rank pip as in it he wasn't wearing the higher grade of an award he was awarded before August 1944. I'm no SS expert and this is all I can tell you. Maybe a real specialist can give you more data. I believe Mark Yerger, author of several comprehensive books on SS generals, posts on the AHF and you could find out more from it there.

[Mark C Yerger]

A lot of awards and ranks are added to photos simply because a portrait was unavailable. Otto Weidinger was not even aware of his Swords award till 1951. The portrait often seen with him wearing the award is added to a formal portrait where he is originally wearing just the KC.

Mark C. Yerger

[genstab]

Thanks, Mark. I'm new to this Forum and didn't realize you were one of the moderators here. That's really an interesting fact. I have several of your great books.

[Kameraden]

Are there any genuine photo's of Hausser showing him wearing 3 pips?

Thanx

[genstab]

I don't bvelieve so- there is on on this Forum but the experts said it was airbrushed as he was wearing a lower form of an award in it that was upgraded before the promotion.

[Kameraden]

Bit like Kurt Meyer.
Never seen him with anything more than Standartenfuhrer Rank.

[genstab]

It may be on the AHF site now that I think of it. If you run a search over there you'll probably come up with it.

[genstab]

Just saw your post- the story with Meyer is he wasn't promoted to Brigadefuhrer till 30 January 1945- but he'd been captured in September 1944. The nice thing about the Wehrmacht is that sometimes officers got promoted while POWs. I believe Otto Kretschmer did also.