SS-Gruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), in his staff car, shares a laugh with SS-Standartenführer Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), before departing for division headquarters at Heidelager, 10 July 1944. On the left, Hans Flügel, newly-appointed Adjutant (operations officer) of SS-Panzer Regiment 5, seems to be in on the joke. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Ernst Baumann in Kovel, Western Ukraine. Mühlenkamp will become the commander of the division in August 1944, after Gille went to command IV. SS-Panzerkorps, of which his old division was part.
As Gille departs his headquarters, Mühlenkamp, a loyal member of the Nazi Party since 1933, enthusiastically renders the National Socialist salute (officially known as 'Hitlergruss') as a symbol of respect for his commander. Though not required as a form of salute in the Wehrmacht until after the 20 July 1944 assassination attempt against Hitler, the Waffen-SS began using it at its inception.
Source :
Book "Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp: 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking, Eastern Poland, July 1944" by Douglas E. Nash and Remy Spezzano
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