Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Untersturmfuhrer | Years of service 1938–44 Name Rudolf Roy Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
Panzer Badge
Eastern Front Medal Died December 17, 1944, Ardennes Unit 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend |
Rudolf Roy Jr. (15 August 1920 – 17 December 1944) was a Untersturmfuhrer (Second Lieutenant) in the Waffen SS during World War II, 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
Rudolf Roy Jr. was born on 15 August 1920 in Spandau, Berlin and was named after his bricklayer father. He attended the local elementary school and at the age of 13 joined the Hitler Youth. In April 1934, he joined the Landwehr (Militia) and was stationed in East Prussia until December 1934. He was then trained as a machine locksmith and became skilled in his trade. In November 1938, at the age of 18, he volunteered to join the Allgemeine-SS.
World War II
In 1940, Roy was assigned to 1st Company, Training and Reserve Battalion, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler for basic military training and then assigned to the 3rd Battery, 1st SS Panzerjager (Tank Hunter) Battalion. He took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, in 1941 and was awarded the Iron Cross (2nd class).
Roy was promoted to Unterscharfuhrer (Sergeant) in January 1943 and transferred to the 1st Battery, then under the command of Karl Heinz Prinz. He was awarded the Iron Cross (1st class) in September.
In April 1944, the entire Panzerjager Battalion was transferred to the newly formed 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. It was classed as unfit for combat when the Allies landed in Normandy on 6 June as it was still forming, so it did not reach the front until July at which time Roy was promoted to Oberscharfuhrer (Technical Sergeant).
For his actions on 8 to 10 August, Roy was awarded of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Roy was killed during the Battle of the Bulge. On 17 December 1944, while attacking the lines of the US 99th Infantry Divisions, he was killed by a sniper while looking out of his tank's hatch.
Roy was posthumously promoted to Untersturmfuhrer and is buried in the war cemetery in Bonn - Bad Godesberg Germany, grave number 756.