Photo of an air crew in Iraklion/Crete

[byron-]

Hello friends,

On the following pic one can see some airmen of the Luftwaffe in the town of Iraklion. Can anyone recognize the guy with the "Ritterkreuz"?

regards to all

[Brian Bines]

Are they aircrew or paras the one on the left looks like he is wearing camouflage gear and lace up boots ?

[Chris Goss]

Good point Brian-no signs of aircrew insignia and the chap far left is wearing a para smock

[Brian]

Hi Byron

A wonderful atmospheric picture - looks like they've had a hard fight!

Cheers
Brian

[byron-]

Hi Brian,

You have a sharp eye. I think you are right and the guy i ment looks very much like Oberst Bruno-Oswald Bräuer, the commander of Fallschirmjäger-Rgt. 1. Thanks.
Ι think i can recognize now the other three, first on the left Hptm. Walter, the second looks like Hptm. Gerhard Schirmer, third Oberst Bräuer and the fourth Hptm. Wolf-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg

Byron

[Brian Bines]

Hi Byron. glad to be of help and that it helped you identify the RK holder. I first looked at the unshaven faces and thought a Seenotdienst pick-up, then thought all them officers in one crew, then the camo. on the man on the left led to Fallschirmjager. As Brian says a great photo,

Regards
Brian Bines

[byron-]

Hi Brian,

the first guy was the CO of the I. Btl. Para Rgt.1 Major Erich Walter. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He died at a soviet camp on 26 December 1947.

regards
Byron

[Brian Bines]

Hi Byron, thanks for that I have now found him as Erich Walther.So of the four men Brauer was executed for war crimes (some sources say he was blamed for atrocities commited in Crete under Gen.Friedrich Muller), von Schulenberg was killed in action in Normandy while Schirmer survived to serve in the Bundeswehr. That photo has a lot of history behind it,

Regards
Brian bines

[byron-]

this is also an interesting document