Award Documents

[kegan32]

I know this is a long shot, but I'm looking for award documents for the following two German Third Reich Army officers:
Major Georg Briel, AfrikaCorps officer.
Lt Col Wilhelm Walther, Brandenburg officer.
Also, if anyone would have pictures of these two officers. I have both of these officers Army daggers in my collection and each of them were Knight's Cross winners.

[zwerge]

I don`t have pictures or documents for Briel,but I do have info on what units he commanded and the date of his award of the Ritterkreuz.But maybe you already have this info.

[kegan32]

I don`t have pictures or documents for Briel,but I do have info on what units he commanded and the date of his award of the Ritterkreuz.But maybe you already have this info.

Hi. thanks for your reply to my thread. I do have dates of all his awards, but I would appreciate from you the list of units he commanded for which I do not have much info. Also, do you have any pictures of him? thanks.

[zwerge]

I have two descriptions of units he commanded,Gruppe Briel,which was Flak-Abteilung 606 at which time he is ranked as Hauptmann Briel..Also Kampfgruppe 200 composed of 2 companys of Panzer-Grenadier -Regiment 155,Stab/Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 200,
1/Panzerjager-Abteilung 190
7./Flak-Regiment 25 (luftwaffe)
Commanded by now Major Briel.
His award description reads,Briel,Major Georg..Btl.Kdr.(Fla.-Afrika) July 23 1942.

[kegan32]

Hello. Thank you for your input on Major Briel. I wrote to his son a couple of months ago with no reply received. I was hoping for a picture at least of his gravesite.

[BoMir]

Hello Kegan

Here is some information regarding Wilhelm Walther.
First of all a link to a picture but without a doubt you already have this.

Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 - 1945

I don't know if you speak german but when you go to page 58 of the book of Helmuth Spaeter - Die Brandenburger zbV 800 (2nd print, 1982), you'll find the facts how he received his RK.

In short:
He earned it for capturing a bridge over the river Meuse near the town / village of Gennep, Holland on the morning of the 10th of May. They were with 9 soldiers. 3 of them were dressed as Dutch soldiers and they acted as if they had captured the german soldiers. In close combat they overmastered a few guards but 4 soldiers got captured in the battle following this action, including him. Wilhelm used a trick to get free. He yelled "Fliegerdeckung" and in the panic that followed they all could flee. They reunited and attacked again. In conclusion they defeated 3 bunkers and captured +/- 40 soldiers. The bridge at Gennep remained intact and was used by the 7th Pz. Div. to push through to the hinterland. He was the first soldier of this unit to receive a RK.


On page 61 there is the text of the congratulations telegram of General Wodrig adressed to Oberleutnant Walther.

Hope this is info is usefull.

KR

[kegan32]

Hello KR. Thanks for the info. Yes, I did have that picture, in fact I have an autographed photo. I'll see what I can find in those references you gave me. Regards.