The picture was taken by Hanns Hubmann, and showing Generalmajor Walter Hoernlein (right), Kommandeur Infanterie-Division "Großdeutschland" (motorisiert), with an officer of the division studying maps while advancing on Voronezh, July 1942. Hoernlein was already promoted to Generalmajor from April 1942, but it seems that the larisch-stickerei and schulterklappen is not arrive yet! He is also wearing the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #399 in his neck, which he received on 30 July 1941 as commander of Infanterie-Regiment 80. Later he would also got the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (14 February 1943) and Eichenlaub #213 (15 March 1943), both as an officer in the Großdeutschland (GD). He continued to lead GD until 27th January 1944, building a solid reputation as a reliable and efficient leader who nevertheless always found time for his troops, earning the nickname “Papa” Hoernlein. Perhaps the most famous anecdote regarding Hoernlein refers to his allegedly sending a telex to the “Fuhrerhauptquartier”, demanding to know if GD were the only Germans left on the eastern front, after they had been in continual action jumping from one crisis to another during the fighting around Rzhev!
Source:
http://forum.leslufteaux.com/t1677-la-guerre-en-couleurs
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