SS Tanker / Self propelled guns

Ernst-Johann Tetsch

Ernst-Johann Tetsch (28 October 1916 – 11 November 1993) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Ernst Johann Tetsch was born 28 October 1916, in Karlsruhe, Baden. After he finished elementary school he volunteered to join the SS-VT and was assigned to SS-Standarte Germania (SS number 199 968), he also joined the NSDAP (party number 5 262 862). He was then selected to become an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig, being in the Class of 35.

Tetsch started World War II in the SS Germania Regiment which at the time was part of the SS-VT. On the reformation of the SS-VT after the Battle of France he was part of the SS Division Das Reich and given command of the 8th (Heavy) Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment. He then went on to command the III. Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment between July and October 1943. This unit had been formed with captured T-34 tanks crewed by the 2nd SS Panzerjager Battalion.

In 1944 Tetsch was posted to the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg to command the I. Battalion, 10th SS Panzer Regiment, a Panther tank battalion. It was while in command of this battalion that he was awarded the Knight's Cross serving on the Eastern Front in March 1945. Shortly after, he assumed command of the 10th SS Panzer Regiment until the end of the war.

Commands

• 8th (Heavy) Panzer Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment
• III. Panzer Battalion (T-34), 2nd SS Panzer Regiment July 1943 - October 1943
• I. Panzer Battalion, 10th SS Panzer Regiment 1944 - March 1945
• 10th SS Panzer Regiment March 1945 - May 1945

After the war Tetsch served with the rank of Major with the 3936th Labor Service Center of the United States Army in Becelaere Kaserne in Esslingen am Neckar until around 1958. He died on 11 November 1993.

Karl-Heinz Worthmann.
He wears a Officer M38 (Whermacht) and the SS-tunic.

Karl Heinz Worthmann was a Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Karl Heinz Worthman was born in Hagen, Germany on the 18 January 1911. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the SS-VT. He took part in the Battle of France as an Infantry platoon commander and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class.

During the invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) in 1941 he was severely wounded and after recovering from his wounds trained as a Panzer crewman.

He was promoted to Hauptscharführer (Master Sergeant) and made a platoon commander in the 6th Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, Das Reich, (2nd SS Division Das Reich). In the Battle of Kharkov Worthman, was in command of 4 tanks supporting the infantry in an attack near Wossyschtschewo on height 209.3 during which they destroyed 27 anti tank guns and 2 infantry guns without loss. For his actions during this battle, he was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1943.

Worthman was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and given command of the 6th company, when he was killed in action during Operation Citadel on the 6 July 1943, in the Belgorod sector.

Günther, Alfred. SS-Untersturmführer (here SS-hauptscharführer)

SS-Unterscharfürer. 3rd SS Division Totenkopf

SS officers with tanker uniform wearing pink piping. Perhaps was a Heer tunic with SS-skulls?

Kurt Meyer ("Panzermeyer) wearing a winter suit. Cap with a WH-eagle and skull from WH panzer.