Death of Eicke (1 Viewer)

[GJB22]

Does anyone have any in-depth facts about the recovery of Theodor Eicke's body by SSTK in 1943? All I've been able to find is that his Storch was shot down behind enemy lines and SSTK made a determined effort to recover the body. Is there exact info on what vehicles and man power were used? Are there first hand accounts somewhere?

 

[GJB22]

I found this on one site, but can't be sure how true it all is:

"On 26th February his plane was shot down as it attempted to land near a company of his new panzer regiment, not realising how close the Russians were to the village(3). Repeated attempts to reach the wreckage during the day failed, and in a stunning tribute to the esteem in which his men held him, it was only when two Sturmgeschutz, three panzers and a company of motorcyclists, together with artillery support, attacked the next day and the Russians were pushed back far enough for them to recover the bodies."

 

[GJB22]

Apparently this info come from Segev's "Soldiers of Evil". I have not read the book, but I cannot find this exact info anywhere else. You would think the Germans would have documented this incident seeing as Eicke was held in very high regard.