Dutch Military Motorcyclists during Parade

Image size: 2500 x 1809 pixel. 924 KB
Date: Tuesday, 30 April 1940
Place: Netherlands
Photographer: Unknown

A line-up of Dutch military motorcyclists led by a three-wheeled motorcycle with timpanist during an inspection, held by Major General Van Nijnatten, Commander of III Army Corps, for the birthday of Princess Juliana on April 30th, 1940. The timpanist belongs to the Hussars Motorcyclists Regiment. The picture was taken during the mobilization of the Dutch army and 10 days prior to the German invasion of The Netherlands. During the mobilization of 1939, both the 'Regiment Wielrijders' (RW) and the 'Eskadrons Wielrijders' formed war units. The number of infantrymen on the bicycle (but also on the motorcycle) was about 5600 men. In May 1940, both regiments of cyclists mainly fought in Dordrecht and the surrounding area. The squadrons of cyclists have distinguished themselves in the fighting around the 'Grebbeline'. The Dutch army confiscated many civilian motorbikes during the mobilisation in 1939. 'Anything goes' applied more or less, although according to the mobilization instructions the following brands were eligible: Indian, Harley-Davidson, Douglas, Gilette, FN, Sarolea, Ariel, BSA, Eysink, Excelsior, Simplex and Triumph. But bikes from other brands were also welcome, such as DKWs and Nortons.”

Source :
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdABVlqLJB3/

Panzer-Regiment 11 Celebrates its First Birthday

Image size: 1600 x 1068 pixel. 396 KB
Date: Wednesday, 12 October 1938
Place: Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia
Photographer: Unknown

Panzer-Regiment 11 celebrates its first birthday, 12 October 1938, in the recently-occupied Sudetenland. Oberst Dipl.-Ing. Wilhelm Philipps (Regimentskommandeur) stands in his m.gl.Pkw. (mittlerer geländegängiger Personenkraftwagen) a.k.a. Kfz.12, flanked by Panzerkampfwagen II tanks, behind the two battalion's standards. Philipps (29 July 1894 - 13 February 1971) was the first Commandeur of the regiment (12 October 1937 - 1 January 1940), and the two Abteilung (Detachment) commander at the time are Major Friedrich Stephan (I.Abteilung) and Major Richard Koll (II.Abteilung). Panzer-regiment 11 Formed on 12 October 1937 with two Abteilung of three Kompanie each as independent Heerestruppen. The regiment was expanded to eight Kompanie on 10 November 1938. Mobilized with two Abteilung each with two light and one medical Kompanie and assigned to 1. leichte-Division on 1 August 1939. Assigned to 6. Panzer-Division on 18 October 1939. 4. And 8. Kompanie formed from elements of the disbanded Panzer-Abteilung 65 on 3 June 1942. I. Abteilung converted to Panther Abteilung with four Kompanie on 5 May 1943. I. Abteilung was sent to Eastern Front as an independent unit in 1944 and initially attached to 8. Panzer-Division. I. Abteilung returned to the regiment on 15 December 1944.

Source:

Helmut Ritgen photo collection

Book "The 6th Panzer Division: 1937-45" by Oberst a.D. Helmut Ritgen

Officers of Hitlerjugend Division Posing Together at Fritz Witt's Birthday Party

Image size: 1600 x 1038 pixel. 424 KB
Date: Saturday, 27 May 1944
Place: Tillierès-sur-Avre, Haute-Normandie, France
Photographer: Wilfried Woscidlo

Officers of 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" posing together for the camera after birthday ceremony (36th) of their beloved commander, SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Fritz Witt (born in 27 May 1908), held in Tillierès-sur-Avre, France, 27 May 1944. First/front row, from left to right: unknown, unknown, SS-Sturmbannführer Horst Schürer (Ordonanz-Offizier), SS-Sturmbannführer Heinrich "Hein" Springer (Divisions-adjutant), SS-Standartenführer Kurt "Panzermeyer" Meyer (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25), SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Witt (Divisions-Kommandeur), SS-Obersturmbannführer Wilhelm Mohnke (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-regiment 26), SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Schroeder (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 12), and SS-Hauptsturmführer Siegfried Rothemund (IIa Generalstabsoffizier). Second row: SS-Hauptsturmführer Gerd von Reitzenstein (Chef 5.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 12),  SS-Sturmbannführer Artur Manthey (Abteilung V Divisions-Ingenieur), SS-Sturmbannführer Erich Pandel (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 12), SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 12), SS-Hauptsturmführer Hubert Meyer (Ia 1. Generalstabsoffizier einer höheren Dienststelle - Leiter der Führungsabteilung), SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Buchsein (IIa Generalstabsoffizier), and SS-Hauptsturmführer Albert "Papa" Schuch (Kommandeur Stabquartier Adjudantur-Abteilung). Third row: SS-Sturmbannführer Hermann Weiser (Korps-Adjutant), SS-Sturmbannführer Bernhard Krause (Kommandeur I.Bataillon/ SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26), SS-Sturmbannführer Gerhard "Gerd" Bremer (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 12), SS-Sturmbannführer Siegfried Müller (Kommandeur SS Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 12), SS-Sturmbannführer Bernhard Siebken (Kommandeur II.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26), SS-Sturmbannführer Jakob Hanreich (Kommandeur SS Panzerjäger-Abteilung 12), and SS-Obersturmführer Heinz Ritzert (Chef 15.Kompanie/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25). Fourth row: SS-Hauptsturmführer Georg Urabl (Kommandeur SS Feldersatz-Bataillon 12), SS-Sturmbannführer Dr. Wilhelm Kos (IVa Divisions-Intendant), SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Waldmüller (Kommandeur I.Bataillon/ SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25), and SS-Sturmbannführer Rolf Kolitz (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Nachschubtruppen 12). This also become the last birthday for Witt, for he would then killed in action less than one month after it, in 14 June 1944!

 Source:

 http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/10/album-foto-12ss-panzer-division.html