Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony of Karl Nicolussi-Leck

 Photo of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Paetsch (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking") and SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (Chef 8.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), possibly taken on the day Karl (right) receiving his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 April 1944 while serving in the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking". Paetsch would get his own Ritterkreuz on 23 August 1944 while serving with 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg". Paetsch, went from being an Anti-Tank Company Commander, to a Recce Battalion Commander, to a Heavy Tank Battalion Commander to a Panzer-Regiment Commander. A phenomenal record by any standard! He also served as the Ic (military intelligence and counterespionage) staff officer for the Wiking Division during the first six months the division fought in the Soviet Union. As the Ic, he was privy to the knowledge of many things happening at the front and in the division rear area involving partisans and other segments of the Soviet civilian population. This photo was signed by Karl Nicolussi-Leck.

Source :
Denis J. Horgan photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=162620475691681&set=gm.789508718642677

Award Ceremony of 11. Panzer-Division

These pictures shows award ceremony of 11. Panzer-Division during Unternehmen Barbarossa, summer of 1941. The recipients received Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern.

Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division).

Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) with his officers.

Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) gives the award to his soldiers.

 Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) with all of the recipients in an award ceremony of the division. 6th from left (wearing sidecap) is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division)

 Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) speaking in front of the member of his division. At right wearing black Panzer uniform is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division)

Four new recipients of the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (left) and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern. Wearing black Panzer uniform at far right is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division).

 Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (left, Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) with one of his officer.

 A new recipient of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse from 11. Panzer-Division. He is already sported SA-Treffen Braunschweig 1931 Badge and SA-Sportabzeichen in his uniform.

 The new recipient of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse from 11. Panzer-Division (which also a member of Sturmabteilung if you look at his SA-Treffen Braunschweig 1931 Badge and SA-Sportabzeichen in his uniform) chats with an officer from Sonderführer Z (left)

Other new recipients of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse from 11. Panzer-Division

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=298632194738945&set=pcb.1505028533015898&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Panzergraf

Ritterkreuz award ceremony of Major der Reserve Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division), which was given by Generalmajor Hans-Valentin Hube (Kommandeur 16. Panzer-Division). The "Panzergraf" won this prestigious bravery medal on 25 August 1941 in the Eastern Front, as a reward for his leadership in the battle against the Red Army on 2-3 August previously. As a part of Kampfgruppe Wagner, Panzergraf has a decisive role in the efforts of the German troops to conquer the city of Pervomaisk in Ukraine, a critical road junction for the Soviets. Strachwitz's Panzer Battalion carried out an attack from the north, which later managed to destroy the defense of the Russian troops, a major contribution towards the victorious outcome of this battle. In this photo, we can see that General Hube only used his right arm when awarded the medal so it had to be helped by his aide. This is because he only has one arm, while his left hand has been lost since the Great War (and then replaced by artificial arm). Interestingly, Strachwitz and Hube would later become the two of only 27 people throughout the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS who won the fourth grade of the Ritterkreuz: Brillanten. Strachwitz received the medal on 15 April 1944, while Hube got it five days later, on 20 April 1944.

From left to right: Generalmajor Hans-Valentin Hube (Kommandeur 16. Panzer-Division) and Oberstleutnant Rudolf Sieckenius (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division). Hube had previously received the same medal on 1 August 1941, while Sieckenius got it a few weeks later after this photo was taken (17 September 1941).

Source :
https://crainsmilitaria.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_89
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2253827#p2253827

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann

On 14 January 1944, panzer ace Michael Wittmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) along with his gunner, Bobby Woll, for their achievements which have so far destroyed 88 enemy tanks. The presentation was made at Vinnitsa, Ukraine, by his divisional commander SS-Oberführer Theodor "Teddy" Wisch, who also nominated him for the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz. This picture shows Wittmann with his crew, from left to right. SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Rottenführer Bobby Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / IV.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"), SS- Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer). Behind them is Wittmann's Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Ausf.F "S04", with 88 victory rings on its barrel. Actually the Ritterkreuz recommendation sent by Divisionskommandeur Wisch to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) on 10 January 1944 "only" included Wittmann's winnings as 66 tanks, but something incredible happens: in the four day span between the submission of the proposal to the official approval notification, this tank master went berserk and destroyed no fewer than 22 additional tanks to hoist his winning score to a total 88!

Source :
https://ww2images.blogspot.com/2019/02/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for-michael.html

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Otto Carius

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Oberrhein) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #535 to Oberleutnant der Reserve Otto Carius from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Ege on 2 January 1945 at the outskirts of Salzburg (Austria). The ceremony was quite extraordinary because Carius had already received the announcement of his award from 27 July 1944, but the ceremony was postponed until five months later! This is because the panzer ace was seriously injured by a multiple shot in the seven parts of his body (including the neck!) only a few days before he suppsosedly received the Eichenlaub, so he had to be taken to the intensive care for months at Feldlazarett (Field Hospital). Carius received the news of his award through newspapers when lying weak on the bed, and was only able to walk with his feet in September 1944. When this photograph was taken, he was no longer in charge of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 but had already been transferred to Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 500. Another interesting fact is that the handed-over ceremony was performed by Himmler, whereas the Eichenlaub-grade medal ceremony and above was usually attended by Hitler directly. This is because from the end of 1944 the Führer began to restrict his public activities - along with the deterioration of the war situation - so that such activities were then represented to his closest confidants such as Himmler and Göring. Carius dedicated a chapter about this moment in his book 'Tigers in the Mud': "My first impressions of this man, whom his opponents called a 'bloodhound', had really pleasantly surprised me. I wasn't apprehensive about the upcoming 'cozy' conversation anymore. I described my visit with Heinrich Himmler in such detail, because he really surprised me. After the conversation in his staff headquarters , I gathered some hope for a successful conclusion to the war. That was after I had already considered a defeat almost certain."

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/36771/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Das Reich Award Ceremony after the Battle of Kharkov

First 5 from left: SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen, SS-Untersturmführer Karl Worthmann, SS-Sturmbannführer Sylvester Stadler, SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser, SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß

SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser

SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser and SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß

Foreground (left-right): Unknown and SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Tychsen. Background (left-right): SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser and SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß

Background (left-right): SS-Sturmbannführer Vinzenz Kaiser, SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Weiß and SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm

SS-Gruppenführer Walter Krüger, the commander of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich", has just given Knight’s Crosses and other awards to officers from his division for the superb conduct during successful counterattack at Kharkov, April 1943.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/123412768797/ss-gruppenf%C3%BChrer-walter-kr%C3%BCger-the-commander-of