This picture was taken in October
1941, and showing Oberst Richard Koll (7 April 1897 - 13 May 1963), commanding
officer of Panzer-Regiment 11 / 6.Panzer-Division, and at that period
the combined tank strength of both 6. and 7. Panzer-Division, in a
confident pose in the cupola of his Panzerbefehlswagen III 'RO6' - note
detail of frame aerial. At the right is the CO's signals officer
(Nachrichtenoffizier), wearing earphones (kopfhörer). A pole aerial
rises behind the Gefreiter standing at the left. Koll received
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) in
15 July 1941. In the last two years of the war, he was the Chief of Armed Forces Motor Transportation. This seems a bizarre posting for a highly experienced Panzer commander. According to Wolgang Paul (Brennpunkte), Koll was transffered to the desk job because of the failed Cherkassy relief attack in the early 1944. Someone had to take the blame and apparently this someone was Koll, although he did everything he could, was a 1st class panzer officer and admired by his soldiers and officers, which were dissapointed when he had to leave 1. Panzer-Division, his previous "normal" assignment. His corps commander, General der Panzertruppe Hermann Breith, relieved him of command with an unflattering evaluation on February 21, 1944, with Oberbefehlshaber of 1. Panzerarmee, Generaloberst Hans Valentin Hube, concurring.
Source:
Book "The 6th Panzer Division: 1937-45" by Oberst a.D. Helmut Ritgen
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