Heroes of DAK

Something many remember fron North Africa battles are the mines, especially the booby-traps late in the war there.

The man to bring these things to Africa was:
" ..help arrives for Rommel in the form of Lt. Gen. Karl Buelowius on 7th November 1942, the Chief Engineer of the Panzerarmee, an indefatigable expert on booby-traps, demolitions, and mines. Undeterred by the situation, he jumps into the task of planting mines and booby-traps with relish."

By the end of the year 1942, 170 British engineers had lost their lives dealing with booby-traps..

 

Sons of Monty and Rommel at Abbey ceremony

The sons of General Bernard Montgomery and Field Marshall Erwin Rommel have stood side by side today at a service of remembrance.

The service marked the 60th anniversary of a desert battle which changed the course of history.

More than 1,000 veterans of the Battle of El Alamein paid their respects to those who died during the 12-day conflict in the autumn of 1942.

Members of the Eighth Army were at the ceremony held in Westminster Abbey.

Members of the Royal Family, including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal, joined Viscount Montgomery of Alamein and Dr Manfred Rommel at the hour-long service during which the men each read a lesson.

Addressing the congregation, the Very Reverend Dr Wesley Carr, Dean of Westminster, said: "I am standing where my predecessor stood on the 50th anniversary of the remembrance of the Battle of El Alamein - between the memorial to Sir Winston Churchill and the grave of the Unknown Warrior.

"Because that battle proved a turning point in the Second World War, it embodies for us today the role of the Allied Ground forces in ending the Nazi tyranny. We remember all who died fighting during the war, among them over 4,000 Eighth Army casualties at El Alamein. Because of their sacrifice, we live in freedom."

After a short pause for reflection an officer from the Scots Guards played a Lament from the Triforium which echoed throughout the historical Norman abbey. Viscount Montgomery, then read from Isaiah 35.

On October 23, 1942, Montgomery gave the order for the artillery to begin their 900-plus gun barrage of the Axis positions which lasted for two days without a break and laid the foundations for victory.

On November 4 Rommel realised there was no way his forces could overcome the superiority of the Eighth Army and ordered his diminished, exhausted, troops to retreat. The victory at El Alamein marked the beginning of the end for the Afrika Korps, leading to the destruction of German forces in Tunisia in the spring of 1943.

Story filed: 14:32 Wednesday 23rd October 2002

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_695354.html?menu=

 

Phenomena of Africa...

Fata Morgana
The fata morgana is a mirage produced by reflections of light from strong, low level temperature inversions in the atmosphere. An inversion is the interface between two layers of air differing in temperature, with the cooler layer lying beneath the warmer one. Under conditions of weak winds and clear skies, fata morgana producing inversions tend to form over Arctic oceans. Rays of light approaching the inversion from below at small angles are reflected back down, thus to an observer several miles away objects on the surface seem to float in the air.
The fata morgana is continually changing as you watch it.

http://jackstephensimages.com/Merchant/photographicgallery/fatamorgana/fatamorganapage.html



GHIBLI

Africa, Mediterranean coast mainly Libya

A hot, dry wind , derived for the desert of Sahara mainly hundreds of mile further south, carrying much sand. Prominent in the spring.

When a low pressure system above the Mediterranean moves towards the East a Southerly wind comes from Africa. This hot, dry and dusty wind comes from the Sahara desert, where hot air rises and flows North. When the wind blows over the Mediterranean it picks up moisture. When it comes to Southern Europe it causes headaches and insomnia to the people it blows upon because of the high temperature and the humidity of the wind. During a sirocco nights are warmer than 30°Celsius (86°F). During the day the temperature rises to 40-45°C (about 110F).

The sirocco has a lot of names for each area:
Chergui: Algeria
Chili: Tunesia
Ghibli: Libya
Chamsin: Egypt
Sharkiye: Jordan
Sharav: Israel, sharav is Hebrew for burning heat or heatwave
Leveche: Spain, also called Leveccio or Solano
Levanto: Canary Islands, where the wind is SouthEast
----------

For instance a phenomenan known to the Italians as the "Ghibli" would sometimes occur. One could often see this this coming due to the darkend skies and in no time it would be upon you. It was in effect a ferocius sandstorm which lasted for 1-3 days and prvented all movement of vehicles and men and obliged everyone to basically take cover and protect themselves as best they could. The fine dust and sand would work itself into the tiniest of openings and proved a real problem when it occured. As well as this, massive downpours would cause flash floods, especially in the deep wadis in which vehicles were often situated as they offered a good source of cover. They would fill up very quickly and it was not unheard of for vehicles to be swept hundereds of yards if they did not vacate the wadi quick enough.

 

Ramcke and his men!

Originally intended for the invasion of Malta, the Luftwaffe Paratroop formation, brigade Ramcke, was sent to Africa in response to Rommel's call for reinforcements in summer 1942, being flown in during August. Commanded by Generalmajor Bernhardt Ramcke, it comprised four rifle battalions, an artillery battalion, an antitank and a pioneer company. The unit airlifted from Europe and took up positions between the Italian 'Bologna' and 'Brescia' Divisions facing the southern sector of the EI Alamein line. After bitter resistance to the British offensive in late October the brigade was forced to withdraw from the collapsing front of the Italian X Corps; it had already been written off as destroyed by Rommel's staff. In fact some 600 men of the brigade carried out an epic 200-mile retreat across open desert dominated by the enemy, capturing British transport and supplies on the way, and rejoining the German forces near Fuka. The brigade later fought with distinction in Tunisia.

The remnant of his unit were reformed into part of the new 2nd Parachute division in 1943 after the DAK had surrendered in may 1943.

All in all the units of the Brigade:

UNITS:

Battalion Kroh - formed from the 1st Battalion of Fallschirmjaeger Regiment 2, just returned from Russia
Battalion Huebner - formed from the 2nd Battalion of the newly formed Fallschirmjaeger
Regiment 5
Battalion Burkhardt - formed from a demonstration/training (Lehr) Battalion
Battalion von der Heydte - a newly raised unit
Artillery Battalion - formed from the 2nd Battalion of 7th Flieger Division's parachute
Artillery Regiment, commander was Fenski
Anti-tank Company, commander was Hasender
Signal Company
Pioneer Company, commander was Captain Cord Tietjen

http://plinks.pt-quorum.com/dak/dak/fallschirmjager.htm

 

Erich,

Got a book by Franz Kurowski:Knight´s Cross holders of the Afrika Korps.Need still info on the Fallschirmjäger?
It´s easy to check the guys´names here.

Oberfeldwebel Peter Arent
Major Eduard Kiefer, Hermann Göring armored reconnaissance battalion (?)
Hauptmann Gerd Mischke
General Bernhard Hermann Ramcke
Major Ernst Willi Rapräger
Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Schäfer ( Hermann Göring )

 

Kai, I know im forgetful and glad you have Kurowskis book on the DAK RKTs--I also have his book on the Fallschirmjager RKTs.

If I dont forget--ill get to work on posting those. Right now--my attn had been on the Malmedy Massacre and I had forgotton about my previous committmants for you for the DAK RKTs.

Im about halfway finished with the Malmedy postings--so after that I can get back on track on the RKTs.

 

Hi Everyone,

Can anyone tell me which Officers of General Rank in the Afrika Korps were captured by the Americans in North Afrika.Knights Cross Winners only please!!

The reason i ask is that i have come by some original negatives from an American War Photographer with the US Strategic Bombing Survey,which show captured German Generals and Ritterkreuztrager one of whom is of Von Arnim but the other one i have not yet identified.He is the holder of the RK and DKiG and is accompanied by a Luftwaffe Officer who is also a DKiG Winner.

Hope someone can help,

Paul

 

Hi Mate--here is a list of DAK RKT Generals and or men who eventually became Generals because i'm unclear as to exactly when they became Generals is why i'm including them.

Hans Jurgen von Arnim. Generaloberst. & DAK general.

Ernst-Gunther Baade. Generalleutnant. (Unclear if he was a General while in the DAK) Also had the DKiG.

Fritz Bayerlein. DAK General. DKiG.

George von Bismarck. Genlt DAK General killed in front of El Alamein.

Karl Heinrich Bottcher. (Generalleutnant. Not sure if he was a General while in the DAK.)

Dipl. Ing. Dr. Ernst Bolbrinker. (Generalmajor) unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK.

Willibald Borowietz. Genlt and was a Gen in the DAK. DKiG.

Hans Cramer. (Gen der Panzertruppe. I do not know if he was a General in the DAK--he was at least a DAK Oberst) DKiG.

Eduard Crasemann. Generalleutnant--unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK. DKiG.

Ludwig Cruwell. Gen der Panzertruppen. & DAK General. Scarfaced general.

Wolfgang Fischer. Gen der Pztruppe. Unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK--pretty sure he was. DKiG.

Gotthard Frantz. (Generalleutnant ((Luftwaffe Flak)) Was a DAK General. DKiG.

Stefan Frohlich. (Gen der Flieger and DAK General.

Fritz Fullriede. Genmaj. Im not clear if was a Gen while in the DAK.

Alfred Gause. DAK Generalleutnant.

Erich Geissler. (Generalmajor--im not clear if he was a Gen while in the DAK--I don't think so but--he did make the rank of Genmaj--so I included him--just in case.

Maximilian von Herff. (Last rank was as an SS Obergruppenfuhrer--but i don't know if he had been a Gen while in DAK--don't know when he transferred to the Waffen SS either.


Otto Hoffmann von Waldau. ((General der Flieger and DAK Gen.

Heinrich Kirchbaum. (Genlt and DAK Gen. PLM.

Ulrich Kleemann. ( General der Panzertruppe and was at least a Genmaj in the DAK.

Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein. (Genmaj. Unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK. ((Looks like the American actor Dabney Coleman00mustache face and all. DKiG.

Werner Marcks. (Generalleutnant unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK. DKiG.

Erwin Menny. Generalleutnant and DAK General.

Johann Mickl. (Generalleutnant but unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK.

Gerhard Muller. (Genmaj but unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK--I don't think so but he is included anyway.

Gottlob Muller. (General der Luftwaffe) DAK Gen.

Walther K. Nehring. (Gen der PzTruppen, DAK GEn and looks a bit like Rommel to me.

George Neuffer. (Generalleutnant) ((Luftwaffe)) unclear if was a Gen while he was in the DAK--I think he was.

Bernhard Hermann Ramcke. Gen der Fchjgr and DAK Gen.

Hans von Ravenstein. (Genlt, unclear if was a Gen while in the DAK. PLM.

Artur Schmitt. (Genlt & DAK Gen.

Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus. ((Not sure if he managed to become a General while w/ the DAK.)

Hans Seidemann. (Generalleutnant. Luftwaffe)

Theodor Graf von Sponeck. (Genlt and DAK Gen.

Johannes Streich. )I'm not clear if he became a General while in the DAK--he was a Generalleutnant)

Heinrich Voigtsberger. (Not sure if he became a Generalmajor in the DAK or not--last rank-Genmaj.)

Siegfried Westphal. Gen der Kavallerie. (Was a DAK General.) DKiG.

Alwin Wolz. (Generalmajor. Luftwaffe--not sure if he was a Gen in Afrika) DKiG.

Hans Ziegler. General der Artillerie-DAK General. DKiG.

Hope this helps you mate.

PS--I came back and added the ones I know who had the DKiG. And a few w/ the PLM--just for the heck of it.

[ 21. July 2003, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

Thanks Carl,

This is a good starting point for me.Do you happen to know which one's were captured by your Countrymen ?

Paul

 

Glad it sort of helps you my friend.

I know that Ramcke was captured by Amis at Brest, but--there was another General on this list that I had read was in a POW camp I think in Arkansas. I forget which one he is and I left my DAK book at home today but--i'll look it up tonight and get you the name.

I can try to guess but--it will probably be wrong.

My guesses:

It should be one of these but?

Willibald Borowietz.

Ludwig Cruwell.

Alfred Gause.

Ulrich Kleemann.

Erwin Menny.

Theodor Graf von Sponeck. Tho he has no DKiG.

The only thing I seem to remember was that he was a very wellknown DAK General. I feel that it could be gause or Kleemann but i'm most likely wrong.

Anyway--i'll have the correct answer for tomorrow. Geeze--I wish the library had a copy of the book I need.

 

Paul--sorry I misread the post--here is clearer info for you.

Willibald Borowietz/DKiG/ DAK General. He died in an accident on July 1/ 19145 while he was a POW in a camp in Clinton, Mississippi. He surrendered on May 13/ 1943 to the Amis.

I think this is the chap your looking for.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Other DAK Generals who surrendered or were captured are:

Hans Cramer--Captured by the British May 16/43. DKiG & DAK Gen.

Eduard Crasemann DAK Gen captured by the British. I don't yet know the date.

One man I didn't list anywere above who was also in the DAK and became a General sometime before the end og the war was Curt Ehle. He was captured by the Russians at wars end.

Gotthard Frantz/DKiG/Luft/DAK Gen/ Surrendered on my birthday in 1943. May 11th.

Kurt Frhr. von. Liebenstein (Dabney Colemans look-alike)DKiG/DAK Gen/Captured by the British on the day after my birthday in 1943.

 

Many Thanks Carl.

I'm not sure it would be Borowietz as i see he was an Eichenlaubtrager and the General in my photos wears the Ritterkreuz only !!

Possiblt one of the others i will have to try and get photos of them to compere,

Paul

 

Quite welcome and no problem. If you can kinds describe this General--what badges he is wearing--whether he is younger looking--middleaged--if he has a monocle--glasses etc--I might be able to help you better.

 

Carl,

He looks about 40ish-mid 40's is wearing a combat uniform with Generals collar tabs, an ordinary leather belt and has the RK around his neck,DKiG and possibly a General Assault badge and bar to the EKI,

Paul

 

Thanks--I think He is Boroweitz. Does he wear a mustache or is he clean shaven?

 

Clean shaven,do you know of a photo of him anywhere ?

Paul

 

Theres a pic of him in Kurowskis book on DAK RKTs.

Sounds like Wolfgang Fischer (if it's not Willibald Borowietz)--tho I have no clue when he was captured-or by whom.

~~~OR~~~

Could be

Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein (Dabney Colemans lookalike) tho the pic of him in the book shows him wearing a mustache.

I can't think of any others who look in that age range and with the requirements needed.

 

Carl,

I don't have a copy of Kurowski's book but my friend has so i'll borrow his copy,

Paul

 

Good then. I'd thought I had brought my copy with me today but-- I forgot to pack it with all the other stuff I normally bring with me.

 

Thanks for this thread Kai, and I too, prefer the original version,..WW2 Lili Marleen (1939 Version) - YouTube