I am sure that a cropped version of this 'photo from the Berghof must be on this site already - so I suppose may count as a "partial repost".  I had often wondered who Sepp was communing with over the top of his newspaper.  Only recently, I came across this uncropped (or perhaps less-cropped) version - which reveals that his companion is Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler's court photographer.  Best regards, JR.

Sepp uncropped.

Waffen-SS Standartenfuhrer Hermann Fegelein and Waffen-SS BrigadefuhrerWilhelm Bittrich, Summer 1942.  Bittrich is wearing the "pre-1942" pattern Brigadefuhrer collar patches.  Fegelein, one of the most prominent Waffen-SS cavalry commanders and a favourite of Himmler, rose to the (unusual) rank combination of Gruppenfuhrer (Allgemeine) SS and Obergruppenfuhrer und General der Waffen-SS.  He was executed in the Fuhrerbunker in 1945 for attempting to flee Berlin without leave (he was the recently-disgraced Himmler's representative at Fuhrer's Headquarters at the time).  The exact circumstances of the execution remain somewhat unclear.  Bittrich, a very capable commander, is mainly remembered now as the defender of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden (as commander, II SS-Panzerkorps).  Possessed of a sharp and wounding wit, Bittrich appears nevertheless to have been a civilised and honourable officer.  Also, it appears, a tolerant, generous one.  He delivered an oration at the funeral of Sepp Dietrich - notwithstanding the fact that he appears to have found the Oberstgruppenfuhrer exasperating as a work colleague.  Best regards, JR.

Fegelein and Bittrich

German soldiers observing enemy movement Normandy,1944(ruderude)