SS Wiking photos and Feldpost group

[Woolgar]

Just securing the deal on this set, some interesting photos and the red SS stamp is something I have not seen before

Any feedback will be most appreciated

Many thanks

Nick

[HPL2008]

Here's what I have on him:


Name: Silberleitner Karl
Date and place of birth: 23rd February 1912, Weyregg
Date and place of death: 20th Oct. 1944, Michałów-Grabina northeast of Warsaw (KIA in the fighting for Hill 97 sector; buried at the military cemetery at Modlin)
SS no.: 139 450
NSDAP no.: 784 986
Officer training: Class of 1937/1938 at Junkerschule Tölz
Promotions:
- 9th Nov. 1938 - Untersturmführer
- by Dec. 1941 - Obersturmführer
- 20th April 1943 - Hauptsturmführer
Duty assignments:
- from ? to ? with SS-Standarte "Der Führer" (at the time of getting his commission)
- from ? Dec. 1941 to ? acting commander of 7./SS-Regiment "Der Führer"
- from ? July 1943 to ? commander of 4./SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon "Narwa"
- from 2nd Sept. 1943 to ? March 1944 (acting?) commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon "Narwa"
- from ? to 20th Oct. 1944 commander of 8./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6
Awards and decorations:
- Ehrenblattspange (posthumous award on 15th Dec. 1944)
- Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
- Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
- Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
- Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (wounded in Nov. 1941)
- SA-Wehrabzeichen
- Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen
- SS-Ehrendegen


Sources:
Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP of 1st Dec. 1938
Dienstaltersliste der Waffen-SS of 1st July 1944
Award proposal for the Ehrenblatt
Photographic evidence
Online database of the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge
Soldaten im 2. Weltkrieg
Axis History Forum

[BOB COLEMAN]

His ribbon bar also appears to have the Ostmedal and Austrian Annexation medals.

[Woolgar]

Thank you very much guys and Andreas a huge thank you for that translation
Nick

[harryamb2]

will be a nice pickup Nick.

[Woolgar]

Thanks Harry I have bagged it

Nick

[HPL2008]

By the way, I think the picture with the SS men wearing tracksuits was taken during Silberleitner's time at the Junkerschule Tölz.

Jay Hatheway's book "In Perfect Formation" has two photographs of cadet rooms at the Tölz school and the style of the lamps, chairs, windows and parquet all match.

[Woolgar]

By the way, I think the picture with the SS men wearing tracksuits was taken during Silberleitner's time at the Junkerschule Tölz.

Jay Hatheway's book "In Perfect Formation" has two photographs of cadet rooms at the Tölz school and the style of the lamps, chairs, windows and parquet all match.

That is great information Andreas thank you !

The book sounds like a must read !

Nick

[Paul D]

Nick a very nice group , many of the photos are from his time with SS Btl Narwa during the training period at Heidelager and initial deployment into Southern Russian where they joined Wiking became the Third Bn of the Westland Regiment replacing the Finns ! They come from an Estonian wartime magazine publication

Here is some info from his time with 3 and 4/ Narwa at the time of their first Battles at Izjum in July 1943!!

The majority of the battalion's car park was left to Heidelager, they took only the special machines: weapons' workshops, ammunition and equipment machines, kitchen and food cars. But quite soon the men received the full series. The Division Wiking left the Finnish battalion, whose time set in the contract ended. So the men received this battalion's weapons and technology. A group of drivers was sent to Germany, who brought brand new cars with diesel motor to carry the group. The 3rd Company received a Zündap motorcycle from the Finns, which had a beautiful girl's name on the gas tank – Lotte. But this was not favored by company leader Karl Silberleitner. It turned out that his girlfriend was also named Lotte. He didn't order the men to scrape it off and so the motorcycle messenger got to ride on the company leader's girlfriend around the Ukrainian steppe for a long time.

The Battalion Narva, which rested after the Izium battles and was reorganized, arrived to Olshana district with the main forces of the Division Wiking. The reorganizing of the Narva board and junior leaders took place there. The battalion leader was SS-Hauptsturmführer Grafhorst, the 1st Company leader SS-Obersturmführer Schmidt, the 2nd Company leader Eberhard Heder, the 3rd Company leader SS-Obersturmführer Leicht, the 4th Company leader SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Silberleitner

Regards

Paul

[Woolgar]

Paul this is great information, many thanks

I like the 'Lotte' and motorcycle anecdote

Nick