Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Name Franz Staudegger Service/branch Waffen-SS | Years of service 1939–45 Relations died childless Battles and wars World War II | |
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossIron Cross 1st ClassIron Cross 2nd ClassEastern Front Medal Other work railway officialinsurance clerk Died May 16, 1995, Frankfurt, Germany Unit 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion | ||
Franz Staudegger (12 February 1921 – 16 May 1995) was an Oberscharfuhrer (sergeant) in the Waffen-SS and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Contents
As an Unterscharfuhrer, (equivalent to corporal) Franz Staudegger was the first 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) Tiger tank commander to win the Knight's Cross.
War experience
For his actions in the Battle of Kursk, Staudegger was awarded the Knight's Cross. He was summoned to the Fuhrer Headquarters to give Adolf Hitler a detailed account of the tank battle.
Staudegger ended the war in the 501st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion which fought in the Battle of Normandy in 1944 under the command of Michael Wittmann, and was later involved in the Battle of the Bulge.
Awards
References
Franz Staudegger Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA