Measuring 119x89mm, better than very fine condition with minimal scuffing and some moisture induced warping. The picture shows a troop inspection of Panzer Regiment 35. The officer on the right is General of the Artillery Christian Hansen. The man saluting him is Major General Meinrad von Lauchert.
Footnote 1:
Meinrad von Lauchert was born on August 29th, 1905 in Potsdam near Berlin. He joined the army in 1924 as an Officer Cadet in the 5th (Prussian) Cavalry Regiment. Von Lauchert was promoted to Lieutenant in 1931 and to Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) in 1933. On October 15, 1935 he became Chief of a Company in an Anti-tank Battalion. Between November 1938 and October 1939 he lead the 2nd Company of Panzer Regiment 35 in the 4th Panzer Division. Von Lauchert received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on September 22, 1939 in the rank of Hauptmann (Captain), and the Iron Cross 1st Class on October 23. He then became Commander of the 1st Battalion of his regiment. On April 1, 1941 he was promoted to Major. Von Lauchert took part in the attack on Russia. For his accomplishments he was awarded the Honour Roll Clasp on August 8 and the Knight’s Cross on September 8, 1941. On August 1, 1943 his promotion to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) followed, and he received the German Cross in Gold on September 5. Between August 1943 and August 1944 von Lauchert commanded the Panzer Regiment 15 in the 11th Panzer Division. During this time, on February 1 he was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) and received the Oak Leaves on February 12, 1944. Von Lauchert took command of the 2nd Panzer Division in December of 1944 and led it in the Battle of the Bulge, making the most headway of all German troops in this ultimately failed attempt to repel the Allied push on Germany. On March 1, 1945 he received his final promotion to Major General. Shortly afterwards, on March 19, von Lauchert was captured by the French. He was a POW until 1947. In 1965 he was hired as a technical advisor for the movie “Battle of the Bulge”, starring Henry Fonda and Robert Shaw. Von Lauchert died on December 4, 1987.
Footnote 2:
Christian Hansen was born on April 10, 1885 in Schleswig (northern Germany). He joined the army in 1903. At the beginning of the First War Hansen was in the rank of Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant), being promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) shortly afterwards. He served as a Staff Officer in several units, eventually in the German General Staff. He was taken over into the Reichswehr. At the beginning of the Second War Hansen was in the rank of Lieutenant General. He commanded the 10th Army Corps and was promoted to General der Artillerie on June 1, 1940. In late 1943 he became Commander-in-Chief of the 16th Army. Due to an illness he gave up command in July of 1944, retiring at the end of the year. Among his decoration were the Iron Cross 1st Class (1914) and the Clasp to the Iron Cross 1st Class, the German Cross in Gold, and the Knight’s Cross. Hansen died on August 7, 1972.