Nickname(s) Sepp Years of service 1938–44 Name Josef Armberger Service/branch Waffen-SS | Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Obersturmfuhrer | |
Commands held 5th Flak Company, 1st SS Anti Aircraft Battalion LSSAH
8th Company, 1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH Died August 20, 1944, Evreux, France Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Unit 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler | ||
Josef Armberger (26 June 1920 – 20 August 1944) was an Obersturmfuhrer (Senior Assault (or Storm) Leader) in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II, the highest award for bravery of Nazi Germany.
Contents
Early life
He was born in Gugging Austria on the 26 June 1920. He spent his early life working in a Vineyard and joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) on 1 May 1938 with membership number 372,349. He was sent to the SS disposal unit to receive officer training.
World War II
He was then posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) attached to the Anti Aircraft Battalion and took part in the Battle of France and the Balkans Campaign. During Operation Barbarossa, he was wounded three times in the timeframe 11–14 March 1943 but remained with his troops and a short time later took over command of the 5th Flak Company. He was wounded again on the 10 April 1944 and this time sent to the SS hospital in Vienna to recover from his wounds. After recovering he returned to the LSSAH and took over command of the 8th Company, SS Panzer Regiment 1 LSSAH and moved to France.
During operations in Normandy the company was active in the areas of Saint-Lambert, Tournai-sur-Dive, and Villedieu-les-Bailleul, during the fighting to break out of the Falaise Gap on 19 August 1944, he showed special bravery. After a fierce fire fight with Allied tanks, Armberger on 20 August as the leader of the 8th Company led them from the trap at Falaise. On the way, he personally knocked out 4 Sherman tanks with Panzerfausts.
Armberger was killed in action in the area northeast of Mossey/Evreux. His grave is located at the military cemetery Champigny in the department of Eure. On 31 October 1944 he received the Knight's Cross posthumously.