ϟϟ-Division „Wiking“ Award Ceremony for „Germania“ Volunteers

SS-Sturmbannführer August Dieckmann

SS-Infanterie-Regiment Germania

The German advance south towards the oilfields of the Caucasus was making good progress. On August 8 1942 the Wiking reached the first of the oil towns, Maykop. If they could continue this progress and seize the bulk of the oilfields they would deprive Soviet Union of the life blood needed to continue the war. Images: European Volunteers of SS-Infanterie-Regiment Germania of the Wiking Division being congratulated on the award of the Iron Cross Second Class by Knight's Cross Holder SS-Sturmbannführer August Dieckmann, Commander of Germania; SS-Sturmmann Harry Langjahr of SS-Artillerie-Regiment 5 of the Wiking was presented the Iron Cross Second Class. He went to the forward observation post as a wire troubleshooter and discovered the Assistant forward Observer and his radio operator dead. Alone, with only a rudimentary knowledge of artillery firing and under enemy pressure, he immediately started directing fire for the battery. Through this courageous decision, which was made on his own initiative, an enemy attack was halted. Photos by August Dieckmann's war correspondent Willi Altstadt in August 1942. SS-Kriegsberichter Altstadt himself was awarded the Iron Cross First Class the very same month. Commons: Bundesarchiv.