25 May 2013

Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp with his Fox Terrier dog


Image size: 1232 x 1600 pixel. 381 KB
Date: Thursday, 3 September 1942
Place: Caucasus, Soviet Union
Photographer: Helmut Möbius

SS-Sturmbannführer Johannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp with his Fox Terrier dog (with the name Heide). This is actually a professionally shot propaganda photo. The picture of Mühlenkamp (known as "Hannes" to his comrades, but referred to as "Rudolf" in most official documents into 1943) was taken by SS-PK Mann Helmut Möbius which took the photo in the Caucasus in September 1942, just after Mühlenkamp received his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) as the commander of SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5/5.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking"/LVII.Armee-Korps/1.Panzerarmee/Heeresgruppe A . The photo then appeared in German newspapers. Note the Army eagle (Heeres hoheitszeichen) on his crusher's cap (knautschmütze)! At the eve of the war, Mühlenkamp was the Divisional Adjutant of the SS-Verfügungstruppe Division, until December 1940, when he was given the command of the Reich Division Reconnaissance Battalion. Mühlenkamp was seriously wounded in the head by artillery shrapnel near Jelnja, Russia. Hospitalized between October and February 1942, Mühlenkamp missed the first Russian winter of the war. On his release from hospital, Johannes Mühlenkamp was assigned to the 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking, as Panzer Battalion commander, until March 1943. When the number of soldiers from the battalion have been increased, the battalion was converted into a regiment. On August 1944, Mühlenkamp was given the command of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking. He commanded this unit until October 1944. Then, Mühlenkamp was promoted Inspector of Waffen SS Panzer troops in the SS-Führungshauptamt. His last command was the 32. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division from January 1945 to February 1945.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes-Rudolf_M%C3%BChlenkamp
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=671909

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