Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Sturmbannfuhrer | Years of service 1939–43 Name Erwin Reichel Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Eastern Front Medal 1941/42
Anschluss Medal
Sudetenland Medal with Prague castle bar
Wound Badge Died February 28, 1943, Kharkiv, Ukraine Unit SS-Verfugungstruppe, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking | ||
Erwin H. Reichel (11 March 1911 — 28 February 1943) was a Sturmbannfuhrer (Major) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
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Early life
Erwin Reichel was born on the 11 March 1911 in Vienna, Austria his father was a university professor. In 1929 he joined the Freikorps Oberland (German for Highlands, Thuringia). After serving in the Austrian Army for a few months, he volunteered to join the SS-VT in 1934, one of the early members (SS number 58.074) and the NSDAP (Party number 5.020.865).
As a member of the SS-VT he participated in the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938, and the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939.
World War II
In World War II he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class during the Polish Campaign in October 1939 and the Iron Cross 1st class Battle of France in May 1940.
Reichel was awarded the Knights Cross for his actions during the Third Battle of Kharkov in February 1943. He was injured and died in a field hospital on 28 February 1943.