I've seen pictures of pilots receiving similar celebratory awards
I've seen pictures of pilots receiving similar celebratory awards
What has been said above:
If a new Knight's Cross recipient had just been notified of his award (but not yet received it), the men of his unit would make a ridiculously oversized Knight's Cross to hang around his neck for the celebration party. I've seen a number of photographs showing this practice.
I can't completely rule out that the readily-available grave marker crosses would be used for this, but I strongly doubt it. Personally, I just can't imagine that anybody would find it funny to hang a graver marker around the neck of his buddy or commanding officer, much less that the recipients would find it funny.
Here's something similar
I am unsure if this is actually is Heinz Harmel. From photos his features do not match.
Here are two images, the one on the right is a known photo of Heinz Harmel, and the one on the left is a crop of the image I supplied , a few pounds lighter i would guess and the smile makes it hard
The reason he has lost a few punds is because it isn't SS Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel !!
It is in fact Heinz Hämel who was awarded the RK on 16th June 1944 during the Narwa fighting , Hämel was SS Hauptsturmführer and Commander of the II / SS Panzer Gren Regt 24 , Danmark part of the Nordland Division. His unit carried out a counterattack in the southern sector of the Narwa Bridgehead around outpost Sonnenschein pushing the sviets back from the surrounded German positions !
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
Thanks Paul, knew something was off.
Here is a photo of Heinz Hämel for reference
The awarding of some type of outsized wooden RK such as this , or a real one lent by another RKT for photographs or the wearing of an EK II as a RK were all common once a recipient was informed that they had been officially been awarded the RK and prior to the actual ceremony.
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
Thanks for the replies , I wonder who this man is ?
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