Hello again every one. The two post cards I have are identical, same person,same everything. As to the awards or badges on the uniform,as best as can be determined are as followsn his cap,I beleive is the SS eagle and the Totenkopf death's head pin, on the uniform collar is the Totenkopf death's head for an enlisted man on the right side and SS Sturmbannfuhrer on the left side, on the uniform right breast pocket is a German cross,i beleive,on the left side, above the pocket,could be a close combat bar then below that is a single ribbon,unknown as to what it's for. Then to the right of that pocket is, I beleive, an Infantry assault badge, there is something else below this pocket, but I can't tell from the photograph, it is too dark in this area.Then again he has the knight's cross around his neck and the iron cross on the left pocket. From what I have been able to find by searching from just the last name, I beleive this to be Hermann Buchner. If I'm right,I would be interested in finding out more about him. I've decided to try and find out as much as I can about this person since this is the first true German piece that I have been lucky enough to acquire. Again thank you for all your help, look forward to hearing from you.
OK--here is what I get from your descriptions: OK--he cannot be an SS Sturmbannfuhrer and have enlisted mans insignia on his collar. SS Sturmbannfuhrer means he is equal to a Major. Do you think maybe you mean SS Sturmann, or SS Scharfuhrer? These are Waffen SS ranks that are for Enlisted and NCO respectively. The name sounds familiar and i'll be checking through my notes etc. If he is Hermann Buchner--I think he was written about by Franz Kurowski in the excellent book: "Infantry Aces." OK, he is not only an RKT but also had the DKiG (the award on the right pocket) The Buchner I am thinking of also had the CCC I think in Silver--does his close combad clasp look like it could be silver? or Bronze? He had the Iron Cross 1st Class and Inf Assault badge. Chances are--the other badge he has is a Black Wound Badge. Also could be a Sports badge--but I don't think so--most likely its the BWB. I have been doing research on Knights Cross Recipients for about 4 years now and in the last 18 or so months--I have done a listing of well over 4,000 RKT names. Unfortunately I don't have a Buchner who served in the W-SS Infantry--as I had not been able to finish researching the Inf RKTs from any branch yet. I had started on them but only had time to complete 34 Inf RKTs--and that is only the tip of the Iceberg. I'll do some checking around and see if I can find something this weekend. [ 10. May 2003, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
Hermann Buchner, Sturmbannführer last rank. RK u. DK, inf assault badge, EK I and II, infantry assault clasp . born January 16, 1917 in Nürnberg. died November 17, 1944 east of Warsaw, Poland. RK on June 16, 1944 as SS-Hastuf.u.Btls-führer of III./SS-Pz.Grenadier Regiment 5 'Totenkopf', Heeresgruppe Südukraine. His pic as a Sturmbannführer shows a death's head collar patch facing to the right towards his Ritterkreuz. ~E
Thank you C. Evans & Erich so much. this gives me a good starting point to finding more about Heer Buchner. I hope to concentrate my collecting around him & the groups & battles he was involved with. Again thank you.
Maxwell : May I suggest you find Karl Ullrich's massive book on the Totenkopf divsion found at John Fedorwicz publishing in Canada. They have a web-site, and I think the book has been translated into English...... < Erich >
Ok Erich, I'll give that a try. Thank you. Like a Cliff in the Ocean: A History of the 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, is this the book you are thinking of? If so amazon has them. [ 11. May 2003, 06:15 AM: Message edited by: maxwell ]
Quite welcome Maxwell-sorry for the incorrect info. Erich--which book did you get this Sturmbannfuhrers info from? was it that Federwicz book? I'm only more familiar with the more Sr W-SS officers and I do lack in the more Jr officers.
Meine Ehre ist Treue // Verleihung Genehmigt ! an illustrated and documentary history of the KC holders of the W-SS u. Police, 1940-45 Jost Schneider's first edition published through Roger James Bender Publishing 1977. The classic, which has been revised with new added materials and photos. Geez, I priced this thing out 7 years agao and it was selling for over $150.00 ! Great book Carl. Save your bucks and buy the newer edition from Bender.... yf (E)
Ah by Jost Eh? I would love his book and some Bender books as well. These though are after I can get that RKT book the Fellgiebel had and also the DKiG book that Patzwall put out. Thems me priorities. After that, the DKiS book, Uniforme of the Reichssheer book (soon to come out--it is a companion to the excellent Freikorps book on uniforms and insignia that I have) and the only other books I can think of that I want to really get into to are Rangelistes, but all of these are VERY expensive and hard to get
well I do hope that the Patzwell book is complete. I forget is it going to cover all the German services for the DK in gold and silver ? Veit Scherzers book on the DK winners on the Luftwaffe has some big problems for 1945. Many are not listed....... E
Thank you all for the great info, I hope I can order some of these from my local book store. If you can think of anything else please le me know.
The Patzwall book is only for the DKiG, but i'm not sure who did the DKiS book--I think it might be from Schiffer--not sure. Anyway, the DKiG book has over 27,000 mens names listed and i'm not sure on an exact figure of DKiG awardees--could be up to 30,000?? just not sure.
wow, quite a few gents upon receival. I do hope the Patzwell book is more than a pic and then one sentance.....listing the date and that is it. Maxwell yes that is the title. Hope you can find one I think you will enjoy it. EB
I can't say if Patzwall shows any pics or not. I have a nice DKiG Cavalry Officers pic that I would like to look up--see if i'm lucky to get a hit or not.
