Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann
Date of Birth: 25.06.1917 - Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 02.12.2010 - Bremen (Germany)
Promotions:
03.04.1936 Offiziersanwärter
10.09.1936 Seekadett
01.05.1937 Fähnrich zur See
01.07.1938 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.10.1938 Leutnant zur See
01.10.1940 Oberleutnant zur See
01.08.1943 Kapitänleutnant
Career:
03.04.1936 Entered the Kriegsmarine as Offiziersanwärter (Crew 36)
03.04.1936 - 13.06.1936 Basic training at the II. Schiffsstammabteilung der Ostsee in Stralsund
14.06.1936 - 21.09.1936 On-board training at the sailing training ship GORCH FOCK.
22.09.1936 - 29.04.1937 On-board training at the training ship SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.
30.04.1937 - 27.11.1937 Main course for ensigns with subsequent officer main examination at the Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik
28.11.1937 - 02.04.1938 Fähnrichslehrgänge (Ensign courses)
03.04.1938 - 02.04.1939 Not determined
03.04.1939 - 00.01.1940 Zugoffizier (Platoon Officer) in the 7. Schiffsstammabteilung in Stralsund
00.01.1940 - 00.01.1940 Adjutant beim Befehlshaber der U-Boote in Kiel
00.01.1940 - 00.05.1940 Wachoffizier in U 17
05.06.1940 - 14.06.1940 Construction instructions for U 137 at the U-Boote Ostsee in Kiel
15.06.1940 - 14.12.1940 I. Wachoffizier in U 137
15.12.1940 - 07.12.1941 Kommandant U 137
08.12.1941 - 20.01.1942 Construction instruction for U 409 at 7. Kriegsschiffbaulehrabteilung Danzig
21.01.1942 - 12.07.1943 Kommandant U 409
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 After the loss of U 409 in the Mediterranean sea northeast of Algiers, he was taken prisoner of war
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 POW in England
Awards and Decorations:
08.03.1940 U-Bootskriegsabzeichen 1939
00.04.1940 Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse
00.09.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.04.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
Rudolf Krüger (4 November 1911 - 28 October 1972) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 October 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 32 / 24.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper excerpt (dated 11 October 1941) describes why Krüger received the Ritterkreuz:
“On 18 August 1941 the Bataillon of Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger was among the units involved in the attack against the enemy bridgehead at Cherkassy. On this day it crossed the Irdyn river/swampland at a point north of the Budki brickyard (located west of Smela) in order to establish a bridgehead. Meanwhile the right neighbouring Bataillon was tasked with carrying out a similar objective 1.5 km to the east.
Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger’s mission for this day was to establish contact with the right neighbouring Bataillon with his Zug. Such an objective was an unenviable one, as fulfilling it required moving through a 1.5 km stretch of forest adjacent to the swamp, all while contending with both an unclear enemy situation and an open left flank.
While advancing through this forest Oberfeldwebel Krüger encountered strong enemy forces that had the support of both heavy weapons and built-up field positions. From these positions they had already successfully prevented the right neighbouring Bataillon from crossing the river/swamp at this location. Oberfeldwebel Krüger swiftly resolved to attack these Bolshevik positions, and he skillfully employed his Zug for a surprise strike into the flank and rear of these defenses. Within a short time he and his troops had eliminated 18 enemy resistance nests in close combat (including 1 anti-tank gun and 1 mortar position).
This bold deed by Oberfeldwebel Krüger spared his Bataillon many potential casualties that would otherwise have been incurred whilst expanding its own bridgehead, and by clearing the way for the right-neighbouring Bataillon it also paved the way for the Regiment to carry on with its general attack.”
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Johannes Kümmel was born in Coswig, Saxony on July 21st of 1909. He
joined the Reichswehr in 1928 and quickly obtained a rank of
Unteroffizer (Junior NCO). Kümmel remained in the military as the
Reichswehr became the new Wehrmacht and in 1938 was transferred to the
newly formed 8th Panzer Regiment of the 10th Panzer Division at
Boblingen near Stuttgart, southwestern Germany. In 1939, he was promoted
to the rank of Oberfeldwebel (First Sergeant) and received the command
of panzer platoon in the 1st Company. He commanded the unit during the
Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on September
27th of 1939. Johannes Kümmel received the award as a recognition for
taking part in numerous operation including knocking out three Polish
light tanks (or probably tankettes). On October 20th of 1939, after the
conclusion of the Polish Campaign, Kümmel was awarded the Iron Cross 1st
Class for knocking out four more enemy tanks during the campaign. Soon
after, he was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant).
On
April 1st of 1940, Johannes Kümmel was promoted to the rank of
Hauptmann (Captain) and received the command of the 1st Company of 8th
Panzer Regiment. During the German offensive in the West of 1940, 10th
Panzer Division was part of Guderian's XIX Panzer Corps, which broke
through at Sedan, fought in the Low Countries and France, finally
reaching the English Channel. Kümmel as the commander of the company
remained at the frontlines and on June 5th of 1940, was slightly wounded
when a mine blew up his tank.
After the defeat of France on June
25th of 1940, Germany was forced to help Italian ally in their
unsuccessful struggle against the British in North Africa. On January
18th of 1941, 8th Panzer Regiment was transferred to the 15th Panzer
Division (formed on February 1st of 1940). The division along with 5th
Leichte (Panzer) Division formed new Deutsches Afrika Korps (German
Africa Corps) commanded by Erwin Rommel, destined for Tripoli. On
February 14th of 1941, leading elements 5th Leichte (Panzer) Division
along with their commander Erwin Rommel landed in Tripoli and were
joined in early May by 15th Panzer Division. Germans found Italians to
be demoralized by the defeats inflicted upon them by British from May of
1940 during fighting in Cyrenaica (Operation Compass). The 8th Panzer
Regiment had 20 Panzerkampfwagen IV, 71 Panzerkampfwagen III and 55
Panzerkampfwagen I, Panzerkampfwagen II and command tanks.
On
June 15th of 1941, British under General Wavell launched Operation
Battleaxe and again fighting took place in Cyrenaica. At Halfaya Pass,
which has been converted to defensive strongpoint, Hauptmann Wilhelm
Bach and his group held his position, while Italian Division Trento held
area Sollum-Capuzzo-Bardia under the command of 15th Panzer Division.
Johannes Kümmel and 8th Panzer Regiment with some 80 tanks were in
reserve between Bardia and Capuzzo. British moved towards Capuzzo and
Sollum, while attacking Bardia with 50 tanks from 7th Armored Division.
The attack was temporarily halted by a single 88mm gun, which destroyed
three leading enemy tanks. The rest of British tanks halted their attack
to regroup and attack again under cover of smoke. This delay allowed
the 8th Panzer Regiment to reach the area of Capuzzo and attack the
enemy with the 1st Panzer Battalion including Kümmel's company with two
short-barrel Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks. They soon knocked-out one
British Matilda II and reinforced by company's Panzerkampfwagen III
tanks continued to fire at the enemy armor. Fierce tank battle resulted
and Johannes Kümmel found himself in the center of it all. During the
battle, panzer commanded by Oberleutnant Peters was hit and he called
Kümmel to ask for covering fire, while leaving their panzer. Johannes
Kümmel soon found himself firing at two enemy tanks, which kept firing
to finish off Peters' panzer. He soon knocked them out and regrouped his
company to attack British anti-tank positions. German panzer destroyed
the enemy positions and the battle soon involved the entire 8th Panzer
Regiment. Then, another group of 20 British Matilda IIs were spotted on
the flank and regiment's commander Hans Cramer ordered Johannes Kümmel
to attack the enemy and protect the flank. With half of his company
including two Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks, Kümmel soon knocked out eight
enemy tanks, putting an end to the British attack. British advance was
halted but both sides suffered heavy losses. Following the action, on
June 18th, Kümmel received his nickname: "Der Löwe von Capuzzo" (The
Lion of Capuzzo) and his tank was decorated with the "roaring lion" by
his fellow soldiers. On July 9th of 1941, Kümmel was awarded the
Knight's Cross following the recommendation by the commander of the 15th
Panzer Division Generalleutnant Neumann-Silkow himself for his heroic
action.
In May of 1942, Johannes Kümmel was given the command of
1st Panzer Battalion in time of the German offensive in Cyrenaica and
into Egypt - Operation Theseus, which was launched on May 26th of 1942.
On June 15th, Kümmel tanks reached the coast and by the evening took
Port Piastrino. On June 21st of 1942, Tobruk garrison surrenders to
Rommel's forces. Following the fall of Tobruk, three more offensive took
place, two launched by the British to drive the Axis out of Egypt and
Cyrenaica and one by the Germans to drive into Egypt. Before the last
British offensive, on October 11th of 1942, Kümmel was awarded the
Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross. In November of 1942, he was given the
command of Panzer Battalion and on December 1st, received a promotion to
the rank of Major. Following his promotion, Kümmel was transferred to
Southern Italy.
Back, in Europe, Kümmel was promoted to the rank
of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) and was assigned at the
Headquarters of XIV Panzer Corps under General Hans Valentin Hube in
Southern Italy. In October of 1943, he received command of 26th Panzer
Regiment of the 26th Panzer Division, which fought at Salerno and
Cassino areas. On January 30th, Kümmel's regiment was part of the
attacking force, which was to destroy the enemy landing at Anzio-Nettuno
but failed. Second attack on the enemy forces was to take place on
February 27th of 1944, but Kümmel didn't take part in as the day earlier
he was killed in a road accident near Cisterna. On May 20th of 1944,
Johannes Kümmel was posthumously promoted to the rank of Oberst
(Colonel). In his memory, there was a plate erected in his hometown of
Boblingen on April 7th of 1943, honoring Johannes Kümmel as the holder
of Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.
Source :
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen13.htm
Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html
Ritterkreuzträger
Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (2 March 1915 - 3 April 2002) chats with the
youth member of Hitlerjugend. Dörfel received the Ritterkreuz des
Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 March 1942 as a Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment
439 / 134.Infanterie-Division, but later transferred to Großdeutschland
Division.
General der Panzertruppe Rudolf Veiel (Kommandierenden General vom
Stellvertretenden Generalkommando V. Armeekorps in Stuttgart und
Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis V) inspecting German exchange POWs in
Stuttgart who just returning from England, summer of 1944. His right
pocket breast star should be the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 1. Class
with War Decoration (which he received on 15 August 1941). Behind him
is SA-Obergruppenführer Dr.jur. Jonathan Schmid (württembergischer
Innenminister). Many of these prisoners are member of the Afrikakorps.
They were exchanged with some British POWs. The picture was taken by
Hugo Jaeger. Other pictures from the same series can be seen HERE.