Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Oberscharfuhrer | Years of service 1938–1945 Name Johann Thaler Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
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Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Wound Badge in Gold
Panzer Badge in Silver Died April 7, 1945, Vienna, Austria Unit 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich | ||
Johann Thaler (6 February 1920 – 7 April 1945) was an Oberscharfuhrer, in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Johann Thaler participated in the Battle of Moscow, the capturing of Sevastopol, Rostov-on-Don, Case Blue, the Kharkov Counteroffensives, The Battle of Kursk near Prokhorovka, The Battle of Normandy, The Battle of the Bulge, and the Defense of Vienna. During his years of service he was credited with 22 tank kills and seventeen anti-tank gun kills. His company accompanied Guderian's leading tanks to within fifteen kilometers of Moscow. He was awarded the Iron Cross First Class when he destroyed ten enemy tanks and four anti-tank guns in two days at the Battle of Kursk. In 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross when he pulled two of his crew members out of his burning tank, while he suffered moderate burn injuries, earning him the Wound Badge in Gold. In the Battle of the Bulge he led one of the leading formations in Kampfgruppen Peiper. Johann Thaler was killed in Vienna whilst battling Russian units as a tank commander on 7 April 1945.
Personal life
He married in 1940 to Amalia Brumme in the Catholic faith, and had one daughter, Nancy, born 1941, who immigrated to America in 1948.