Allegiance Nazi Germany Years of service 1933–45 | Service/branch Waffen-SS Name Manfred Schonfelder | |
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Died 4 March 1983(1983-03-04) (aged 70) Rank Obersturmbannfuhrer (lieutenant colonel) Unit 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking | ||
Manfred Schonfelder (18 March 1912 — 4 March 1983) was an Obersturmbannfuhrer (lieutenant colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He 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.
Biography
Manfred Schonfelder was born on 18 March 1912 at Hellerau near Dresden. After completing his high school education, he joined the SS and was one of the first members to attend the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz.
After graduation he was promoted to Untersturmfuhrer (second lieutenant) and posted to the SS Standarte Deutschland. He eventually became the Adjutant of the III. Battalion Deutschland Regiment and commander of the 12th Machine Gun Company, during the Polish Campaign and the Battle of France.
In February 1941 he was given command of the Germania Regiment for the invasion of Russia, (Operation Barbarossa). From September 1942 to January 1943 he was on the staff of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking.
For his actions in the Cherkassy pocket, on 23 February 1944 Schonfelder was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Schonfelder died on 4 March 1983.