Original color photo of Ritterkreuz holder Rudolf Schlee.  (Wehrmacht39)

Rudolf Schlee

Christian Tychsen , having been awarded his Knights Cross , Otto Kumm and Vincent Kaiser.This photo taken after the post Kharkov award ceremony.Tychsen later received a serious and disfiguring wound between his lip and chin.
Kaiser cuts an impressive figure , Dk in Gold , Knight's Cross , Iron Cross first Class, infantry assault badge and four tank destruction badges.

Das Reich was deployed North of Coutances and St.Lo and along the Villers Caen Road in attempts to contain the British and American forces pressing in these sectors, at this time SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Christian Tychsen the Divisional Commander was killed , American soldiers stripped his uniform and body for souvenirs - not having seen such a high ranking officer before - as a result his body when it was buried was unidentified.In the early 1970's his body was exhumed and identified.(rudeerude)