  
Gustav-Georg Knabe
Oberstleutnant Gustav-Georg Knabe, KC: 15./Kradshützen Bataillon of 15./Panzer Division (July 8, 1897-December 13, 1979)
Oberstleutnant Gustav-Georg Knabe was born in Wichmannsdorf (near Templin) on the 8th of July, 1897. He joined the 8th Brandenburg Infantry at age 17 and saw action on the Western Front being eventually promoted to the rank of Leutnant.
Knabe remained in the Reichswehr after WWI attending the Kriegschule and served in the 1st Panzer Division. He had intermediary duties in the 66th Infantry Regiment (after a term of leave for illness) and eventually was promoted to the rank of Major. His duties as CO of the 2nd Battalion of the 93rd Motorized Infantry Regiment on the Western Front in 1940 were a learning experience for his duties to come with the DAK.
Many reader/colleagues may not realize that unlike the 5/le. (later 21./PD) the 15./PD had a complete Motorcycle unit element to OKH specifications. Knabe, promoted at movement to DAK service to the rank of Oberstleutnant, as such he commanded the Kradschützen-Btl 15 (15th Motorcycle Battalion) of the 15./P.D.
Knabe's exploits include the taking of Fort Capuzzo on April 11, 1941 for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross. (Oberstleutnant Wechmar had taken Sollum & Bardia... Note: Chris Ellis (incorrectly) credits Knabe with taking Sollum in his book on the 21./PD)
Knabe was given command of 104 Panzer Grenadier Regiment and later actually was placed in charge of the 21./PD but had to return to Germany nearly immediately (at the point of this promotion) due to ill health.
Following Knabe's recovery from "African service" health issues, he was promoted to Oberst while serving with Panzergruppe West. Knabe's military career ended abruptly when he was severely injured in an automobile accident whilst working as a Staff and training officer for Romanian forces.
Knabe was invalided out of Heeres service and never returned to active service duties during WWII.
Knabe and Oberst Schraepler (Rommel Adj.)
This is a photo of Knabe on November 7, 1941 at a joint training exercise of 15./Panzer Division and Italian units... Note the very rare Opel 1T Propaganda Van which was used to broadcast reports and orders... plus play radio & music for the troops! 
This is a low-res. version of an unpublished photo that '13emeDBLE' and I are going to share (as a part of a book that we will compile together) of Knabe and a group of his KB15 Stab Officers at Bardia in late April of 1941... but there is a lot to share on this subject! Far left in low-resolution photo below... 
15./Kradshützen Bataillon of 15./PD
The 15./Kradshützen Bataillon of 15./PD was complete per the KStN for Kradshützen Bataillon A few photos from the hundreds collected 
The album above and another collected by AANA 'Founding Seven' Author Member '13emeDBLE' outline the exploits of this unit.
Bibliography
Knights Cross Holders of the AFRIKAKORPS by Franz Kurowski, Schiffer François de Lannoy also has a list of the NA Knights Cross winners in his book AFRIKAKORPS from Heimdal
AANA Members Comments and Additions
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