German Generals and Heroes Cards

W. Willrich Paratrooper Lieutenant Fulda, Knights Cross Winner in the battle for Crete, color PPC. Card reads, "ein mit dem Ritterkreuz ausgezeichnneter Kretakampfer.

1941 Major General Eugen Meindl, Airborne Commander, color picture postcard. "Born in 1892, Eugen Meindl enlisted in the army in 1912 and served during World War I. Meindl served with various artillery units in the Reichswehr, the post-war armed forces of the Weimar Republic, and subsequently in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. In November 1938, Meindl was named commander of the 112th Mountain Artillery Regiment in Graz. Promoted to Oberst, he led the "Meindl Group" and made his very first parachute jump at Narvik. He transferred to the Luftwaffe in November 1940. During the airborne invasion of Crete, Meindl jumped near the Platanias Bridge, where he was shot in the chest and seriously wounded. In February 1942, Meindl, now a Generalmajor, became commander of the newly formed Luftwaffe Division Meindl in the Soviet Union. In September he took over the 13th Air Corps (later I Luftwaffe Field Corps). In 1943, he was promoted to commanding general of the 2nd Parachute Corps, which he led in the west on the invasion front and later at Cleves and in the Reichswald. His unit participated in the Battle of Nijmegen during Operation Market Garden (September 1944), but was halted on the Groesbeek Heights by dug-in American paratroopers, and thus unable to stop the Allies from taking the city and the strategically important bridges across the river Waal.[1] Meindl’s corps fought at Goch and in the Wesel bridgehead, where he was made commander on 5 March 1945. Meindl immediately advised High Command that the bridgehead ought to be evacuated, but was unable to secure Hitler's agreement to this until the evening of 9 March. In the intervening four days Meindl had already organized the evacuation of the bridgehead, and was therefore able to bring away the remains of seven divisions and two panzer units with most of their equipment; in his words,'all that would float came back again'. Meindl continued to command the 2nd Parachute Corps until its eventual surrender at Grossbrekendorf near Schleswig in early May.[2] He died in 1951." Credit Wikipedia.

1940 W. Willrich color PPC Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstadt. "Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (12 December 1875 – 24 February 1953) was a German field marshal in the Heer (Army) of Nazi Germany during World War II. Born into a Prussian family with a long military tradition, Rundstedt entered the Prussian Army in 1892. During World War I, he served mainly as a staff officer. In the inter-war years, he continued his military career, reaching the rank of Colonel General (Generaloberst) before retiring in 1938. He was recalled at the beginning of World War II as commander of Army Group South in the invasion of Poland. He commanded Army Group A during the Battle of France, and requested the Halt Order during the Battle of Dunkirk. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1940. In the invasion of the Soviet Union, he commanded Army Group South, responsible for the largest encirclement in history, the Battle of Kiev. He was relieved of command in December 1941 after authorizing the withdrawal from Rostov, but was recalled in 1942 and appointed Commander-in-Chief in the West. He was dismissed after the German defeat in Normandy in July 1944, but was again recalled as Commander-in-Chief in the West in September, holding this post until his final dismissal by Adolf Hitler in March 1945. Though aware of the various plots to depose Hitler, Rundstedt neither supported nor reported them. After the war, he was charged with war crimes, but did not face trial due to his age and poor health. He was released in 1949, and died in 1953."

W. Willrich PPC Major Walter Koch, paratrooper commander. "Walter Koch (10 September 1910 – 23 October 1943) was a commander of the Fallschirmjäger during World War II who died in mysterious circumstances after openly criticising Adolf Hitler. Koch, who was the recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions during the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael in May 1940, had publicly denounced the Führer's infamous Commando Order, which ordered that all captured enemy commandos were to be executed. Shortly afterwards the Oberstleutnant and commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 died in Berlin from injuries allegedly resulting from a motor vehicle collision." Credit Wikipedia.

W. Willrich color PPC of a Luftwaffe Squadron Commander Captain Falct. Card reads, "Hauptmann Fald, Staffeltapitain einer erfolgreichen Jagdstaffel."

1940 W. Willrich color PPC of a Luftwaffe squadron commander. Card translates to: Our Luftwaffe. Leader of a succsssful hunter (fighter) squadron.

1940 W. Willrich color PPC Luftwaffe squadron commander Oberstlutnant Schumacher.

W. Willrich color PPC Luftwaffe squadron commander Oberleutnant Steinhoff.

1941 W. Willrich color PPC Regimental Commander. Card Reads, Manner der Westfront.

W. Willrich Iron Cross Winner Eric Schmolzer, Iron Cross Winner for his actions as part of a Mountain BattalionP. Card reads, "Ritterkreuztrager Oberwachmeister Schmolzer in einem Gebirgsjager-Battlion."

1940 W. Willrich Scout Trooper Portrait in Snow Uniform, color PPC. Small ink spot near margin.

1940 W. Willrich Tank Crewmember. Card reads, "Der Panzerfahrer ist das geispiel felbftlofer Pfichttreue." ...an example of a loyal soldier.

Early WWII W. Willrich color PPC showing drawing of a U-boat watch commander.

Early W. Willrich PPC of Major Hans von Rochow, Knights Cross of the Iron Cross recipint. "The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) was the highest amilitary award of the Third Reich during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of extreme gallantry. 7,321 awards were made between 30 September 1939 and 17 June 1945.Presentations were made to members of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich." Credit Wikipedia.

1938 Portrait PPC of Count von Zeppelin in full military uniform. Card issued for the 1938 Zeppelin exhibit and show in Konstanz Germany. Portrait is from a painting by von Emerich. Card reads, Zeppelinpost Ausstellung. Anlasslich des 100 geburtstages des Grafen Zeppelin vom 8 bis 12 Juli 1937 in seinem geburtsort. Konstanz a. Bodensee. Excellent quality card. Special cancel for exhibit and visit of the trial-flight visit of the new Graf Zeppelin II built to replace the Hindenburg. Various cancels issued for event. Cancel and stamp may vary. Top Quality!<br>

1940 W. Willrich drawing of a student youth leader from Romania. Used.