GENERAL DER PANZERTRUPPE HANS CRAMER
the last commandant of the Afrika Korps
16.05.1943 captured in Tunisia
23.05.1944 exchanged, returned to Germany, placed in reserve
20.07.1944 honorably discharged from the Army

General Cramer was released for ill reason in May 1944 by british. Cramer was appointed to the staff of the Oberbefelshaber West in Paris for special duties. He was relief of duty after the events of 20th July, 1944 under suspicion of beeing involved in the plot. Cramer was kept under house arrest but later found unguilty. He was transfered in the Führer-Reserve.

MAJOR ROLAND-RICHARD VON HOSSLIN
23 July 1942: Awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for extreme gallantry in action during the First Battle of El Alamein. The award citation reads in part:

Through his bold independent action on July 6 and 7, 1942, Captain von Hosslin, commander of Reconnaissance Battalion 33, forced strong enemy forces in the deep southern flank of the army to withdraw to the east. On July 15, fighting in the front lines with extreme personal bravery, he led a skillful counterattack which recovered a fort (Deir el Shein) which had been taken from the Italians. The loss of this fort would have made the position of the panzer army in this sector untenable. Captain von Hosslin was wounded in this action.
20 July 1944: Participated in the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime. His planned role in the coup was to surround and isolate Army High Command Headquarters (OKH) with three companies of armored reconnaissance troops. An active member of the German Resistance, von Hosslin was recruited by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg through a mutual friend from Cavalry Regiment 17 (Peter Sauerbruch).
23 August 1944: Arrested by the Secret State Police (Gestapo).
13 October 1944: Executed by hanging for his involvement in the failed coup attempt.

GENERAL DER PANZERTRUPPEN GEORG STUMME
When the battle of El Alamein begins, on October 23, 1942, Rommel is sick in Germany since the end of September and it is temporary substituted by the General George Stumme. At dawn the English artillery enters in action and unloads on the Italian and German lines an incessant fire; the artillery of the axis doesn't answer,has orders of saving ammunitions as well the allied fire caused big losses. On October 25, in the second day of the battle, at the first hours of the day the General Stumme is given as missing and only many hours later find him dead.
(dropped dead from a heart attack.)

GENERAL DER PANZERTRUPPEN
HASSO-ECKARD VON MANTEUFFEL
Interesting fact is that he wore both cuff titles of "DAK" and "Grossdeutschland" on his uniform.

Horst von Oppenfeld, Oberleutnant
Would you be willing to relate any interesting stories from your service in the DAK?

Rommel was quoted instructing commanders of various Kampfgruppen. When the leader would say "Jawohl Herr Feldmarschall", according to my estimates that proposed behind the lines encirclement would require a drive of 150 km. Our fuel supply is barely enough for 50 km." Rommel would reply in his Schwaebisch dialect, "drive, drive fast, then you will not need any fuel." (Fahren Sie, fahren Sie, dann brauchen Sie keinen Betriebstoff), meaning to get there quickly, fill your tanks from the enemy's vehicles.

Another unforgettable experience were the comments made by My commanding general (von Broich) upon his return from the last "Kommandeurbesprechung" with the top commanding officer (Gen.v. Arnim). He quoted Gen. v. Arnim as having said "I just had my last phone call from the Fuehrer. He ordered under no circumstances was I allowed to surrender the Africa Korps. But he did not forbid you to do so on behalf of the units you command". Then Gen. V. Broich said to me, "Oppenfeld, grab a motor bike while I attach a white shirt to a carbine". We drove towards the enemy line and he surrendered to a commanding officer of the 8th British Army. The "Limies" received us with the utmost dignity and gave us two options. To reach the designated PoW camp we would either have to walk there (some 50 km), or surrender our arms immediately and be allowed to drive there with our vehicles. As we chose the latter option, we drove through the main avenue of Tunis, a grandiose layout comparable to the Champs Elysee in Paris. We had mixed feelings about this. As the losers and captives we felt depressed, but for us the war was over. To our surprise, the Tunisians lined the streets, waved from the windows, shouting "Vivent les Allemands". Their sympathies were on our side!

GENERAL DER FALLSCHIRMTRUPPEN
HERMANN-BERNHARD RAMCKE

On july 19th 1940, Ramcke was transferred to the 7th Flieger-Division and on july 31st joined the Fallschirmtruppen and was awarded the Fallschirmjäger qualification badge at the age of 51
The only Knight´s Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds to a member of Fallschirmtruppen was to General Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke. Not for his airbone actions, but whilst in command of Festung Brest on the french coast after the D-Day landings, when it came under siege from allied troops. Finally the Fortress surrendered on 20 th september 1944.

Hans-Joachim Marseille
On 30th of September 1942 Marseille was died, and his body was brought to headquaters of JG27, "Rumba a zul" played in Marseille's tent all the day. Again and again... It was his favourite song...

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