Wiking Officers Strolling at Nurzec rail station

 

Image size: 1600 x 1246 pixel. 684 KB
Date: Saturday, 22 July 1944
Place: Nurzec-Stacja, Poland
Photographer: SS-Kriegsberichter Ernst Baumann

Three officers of the III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 “Germania” / 5.SS-Panzer-Regiment "Wiking" stroll along a road near the Nurzec rail station on 22 July 1944 at the village of Nurzec-Stacja in eastern Poland. The tower shown in the background still stands in modern times. The three Wiking officers are, left to right: SS-Hauptsturmführer Friedrich Hannes (Chef 12.Kompanie), SS-Hauptsturmführer Helmut Schumacher (Chef 9.Kompanie) and SS-Hauptsturmführer Paul Scholven (III.Bataillon executive officer). The village had just been captured by the Germans that day and the fighting is over for now. Due to the presence of Scholven it may perhaps be that these men are on their way to a meeting with III.Bataillon commander SS-Sturmbannführer Paul Kümmel. The barefoot German Heer soldier is an officer of the Grenadier Battaillon z.b.V.("zur besonderen Verwendung" or For Special Employment unit) 560 which was established as a Bewährungs-Battaillon or a probationary battalion created for soldiers who had been convicted of minor crimes or disciplinary offenses. Presumably this officer had earlier been captured by the Soviets and stripped of his boots and uniform insignia. Only several thousand meters to the north of Nurzec-Stacja the Gren.Btl.z.b.V. 560 had been surrounded by Soviet forces in the small village of Zerczyce for three days and was the objective for Kümmel’s III.Bataillon ”Germania” and their attack that day, successfully relieving the trapped and battered penal battalion which had suffered heavy losses.

 

The tower near the Nurzec rail station in present time

Source :
"Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp: 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", Eastern Poland, July 1944" by Douglas E. Nash and Remy Spezzano
https://www.facebook.com/2ssPanzerPionierBtl5Wiking/posts/three-officers-of-the-iiibataillon-ss-panzergrenadier-regiment-9-germania-stroll/657866484397502/
http://www.wieze.geotor.pl/wieze_cisn/nurzec_stac_1/nurzec_stac_1.htm?fbclid=IwAR0060NkbNJUXfdvzuVJSXyUu9SZ2NnaGZ0MtlD5pR-i9O8-1TDoExSVM7Q

A Change of Command Ceremony of SS Division Wiking

Image size: 1600 x 1072 pixel. 450 KB
Date: Saturday, 20 May 1944
Place: Lublin, Poland
Photographer: Unknown

A change of command ceremony for the III.Bataillon of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" on 20 May 1944. The entire battalion is present in a U-shaped formation, only partially visible in this photograph taken on the football field at the Lublin army barracks in Poland. The ceremony is seconds away from starting, and waiting in the wings at stage right to begin the transfer before their men are three commanding officers: The center officer is SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania"). On the left is SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack, the out-going battalion commander who was moving up to take command of Wiking’s Westland Regiment. On the right is SS-Sturmbannführer Paul Kümmel, the new commander of the III. Bataillon, who was a commander of I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" before. Starting with Dorr, each of the officers in turn addressed the men of the III.Bataillon, who were fresh off from participating in the battles for the relief of the surrounded city of Kovel. The two halftracks is Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D.

Source :
https://reibert.info/threads/5-ja-tankovaja-divizija-ss-viking-ss-division-wiking-5-ss-panzer-division-wiking.24489/page-31

SS Division Wiking Award Ceremony for Panzertruppen

Image size: 1600 x 1009 pixel. 350 KB
Date: Friday, 19 May 1944
Place: Kholm, Kholmsky District, Novgorod Oblast, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

The photo is taken on May 19, 1944 at Cholm from an awards ceremony for the SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 of 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking". From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Paul Kümmel (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), SS-Standartenführer Johannes Mühlenkamp (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), SS-Obersturmführer Kurt Schumacher (Führer 3.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve Paul Senghas (Zugführer in 1.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), and unidentified SS-Oberscharführer (possibly also from I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"). The 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking´s Panzer Commander Johannes "Hannes" Rudolf Mühlenkamp (1910 – 1986) was promoted SS-Standartenführer on April 20 1944. On August the same year, he was given the command of the division. He always led from the front and commanded Wiking until October 1944. Then, Mühlenkamp was promoted Inspector of Waffen-SS Panzer troops in the SS-Führungshauptamt. Johannes Mühlenkamp held the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves that reflected not only his achievements but also those of his men. To the European volunteers under his command he was a figurehead who was often to be found standing over his panzer, his face covered in dust, leading them into battle.


Source:

http://stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com/2011/05/copyright-and-license-all-text-articles_29.html

Panther from Wiking Bogged Down in Thick Mud

Image size: 1600 x 986 pixel. 319 KB
Date: May 1944
Place: SS-Truppenübungsplatz Heidelager, Pustków, Dębica, Poland
Photographer: Unknown

The photograph on this page show Panzerkampfwagen V Panther '613' from 6. Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" - note the number '3' just visible on the turret rear access hatch - bogged in thick mud almost to the top of its wheels, being dragged free by Panther 612. The picture above offers the reader a good view of the exhaust system and the vertically mounted jack. Note that the field modified bracket used to hold the unditching beam, which became an identifying feature of this division's tanks, is not yet present although the beam is clearly visible, strapped to the spare tracks. It is possible - or even likely - that the last of these metal brackets were added before the division left Heidelager, although some 8.Kompanie tanks had them as early as April. The flat, marshy terrain, bordered by woods, is typical of Eastern Poland and what is today Western Ukraine and Belarus.

Source:

Book "Viking Summer; 5.SS-Panzer-Division in Poland 1944" by Dennis Oliver

Panther of Wiking Division at SS-Truppenübungsplatz Heidelager

Image size: 1284 x 1600 pixel. 212 KB
Date: Sunday, 14 May 1944
Place: SS-Truppenübungsplatz Heidelager, Pustków, Dębica, Poland
Photographer: Unknown

This photograph depict the vehicles and men of the Wiking Division and was taken at the SS-Truppenübungsplatz Heidelager located between Dębica and Sandomierz in Poland in early May 1944. We are able to date when this picture was taken with some certainty as several other photos taken from the same time show Muttertag (Mother's Day) cards being printing and made ready for issue to the troops. Here men of the 1.Zug (first platoon) of 6.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-regiment 5 / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" train on their Panzerkampfwagen V Panther tanks. Both are later model Ausf.A vehicles and carry the hurried, rather scrappy camouflage common to many tanks of this company! The tank in the foreground bearing the turret number (turmnmmer) 611, while in the background 615 which indicates that this platoon at least had its full complement of tanks.

Source:

Book "Viking Summer; 5.SS-Panzer-Division in Poland 1944" by Dennis Oliver

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

Panthers of Wiking Division in Maciejewo

Image size: 1600 x 890 pixel. 335 KB
Date: May-June 1944
Place: Maciejewo, Gmina Maszewo District, Goleniów County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Photographer: Unknown

A soldier from SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" speaking through feldfernsprecher 33 (field telephone), while behind him the Panthers hit the dusts. The Panthers in the background are "II 011" (SS-Untersturmführer Manfred Renz, Zugführer/platoon leader) and "II 014" belonging to the Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking". The photo was most probably taken near Maciejewo (South-East of Warsaw) in May/June 1944. according to the book "Viking Summer: 5.SS-Panzer-Division in Poland" by Dennis Oliver, Panthers II011, II012, II013 and II014 were 2nd Battalion's reconnaissance platoon, commanded by Manfred Renz. Remaining Stab Panthers were numbered R01, R02, R03 and II00, II01, II02 and II03. BTW, very interesting camo on the Panther!

Source:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=567556169935524&set=o.303273499761263&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1060539872/Interesting+Photo

Karl Nicolussi-Leck on the Cupola of his Panther #801

Image size: 1600 x 1178 pixel. 402 KB
Date: October 1944
Place: West of Wieliszew, Powiat Legionowski, Poland
Photographer: Unknown

SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (left) on the cupola of his Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf.A (turmnummer 801), while at right standing SS-Hauptsturmführer Friedrich Hannes, chef 12.Kompanie/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania". The man in the middle, based on Charles Trang identification, was possibly SS-Obersturmführer Fritz Hanke (Nachrichten-Offizier from SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"). Nicolussi-Leck was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes during the Battle of Kovel, in the Pripet Marshes while in command of a Kampfgruppe of the II.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5/5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", newly equipped with Panther tanks, along with the III.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania", newly equipped and up to strength, which had just arrived at the front from Germany. Nicolussi-Leck immediately launched an attack with five Panthers. Soon after beginning the attack, he received a radio message from the besieged commander to halt his attack and withdraw. He ordered his radio operator to ignore the call, and continued his attack. Risking court-martial, he then proceeded to fight his way though the Soviet encirclement, destroying several Soviet tanks in the process. His Panther was the first vehicle to break the encirclement. After the relief force established a corridor to the encircled force, the withdrawal began. Unlike the previous encirclement at Korsun, the trapped force managed to escape with most of its equipment intact, and the division was ready for action immediately. For this action, he won the Ritterkreuz on 9 April 1944. Nicolussi-Leck continued fighting until the very end and was taken prisoner on 22 April 1945 in Hannover. The full story of Nicolussi-Leck action can be seen HERE.

Source:

http://www.hcmodelling.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1239&sid=b9604479106b88a616f5719299a0a53a

Fritz Vogt and Fritz Darges in Front of Hegykastely Castle, January 1945

Image size: 1600 x 957 pixel. 260 KB
Date: Between Sunday, 7 January 1945, to Friday, 12 January 1945
Place: Hegykastely Castle, Bicske, Hungary
Photographer: Ernst Baumann

Officers from I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" and I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge" posed together for the camera in front of the doorway of Hegykastely Castle, Hungary. Front row, from left to right: SS-Untersturmführer Werner Liebald (Chef Maschinengewehr-Kompanie/I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge"); and SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Vogt (Kommandeur I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge"/11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland). Back row, from left to right:  SS-Obersturmführer Ernst Kiefer (Chef 4.Kompanie/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge"); SS-Obersturmführer Helmut Bauer (Chef 3.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-regiment 5); SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve Willi Hein (Kommandeur I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5); SS-Obersturmbannführer Fritz Darges (the "giant" standing in the middle, Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5/5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"); unidentified Panzerkommandant from II.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5; SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Lichte (wearing leather jacket with cigarette in the lips, Chef 5.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5); and SS-Obersturmführer Hans Weerts (Chef 4.Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5). This picture was taken between 7-12 January 1945 where the I./SS-Pz.Rgt 5 and I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt 23 "Norge" was trapped together near the castle Hegykastely on the road between Many and Biscke in Hungary. I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge" was the Spitzenbataillon in IV. SS-Panzer-Korps push against Budapest during operation Konrad I and became the unit who came closest to the city. They tried a night attack to enter Biscke with elements of I.Abteilung/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" who failed in 7 January 1945, then they fortified themselves within the castle Heggy on three sides fighting off the Russian onslaught.

Source:

Doug Nash photo collection

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=158911