Anton Donnhauser

Anton Donnhauser
Born	8 April 1913 Vienna, Austria
Died	30 October 1984 (aged 71) Wehrheim, Germany
Allegiance	First Austrian Republic (to 1938)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1933–45 1956–70
Rank	Major im Generalstab (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	11. Panzer-Division
Commands held	Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Anton Donnhauser (8 April 1913 – 30 October 1984) was a highly decorated Major im Generalstab in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold one of only 631 awards.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (29 September 1939) & 1st Class (29 April 1941)
• Panzer Badge (12 September 1941)
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (20 September 1943)^[1]
  • in Silver (20 September 1943)^[1]
  • in Gold (10 February 1944)^[1]
• German Cross in Gold (13 May 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 July 1943 as Hauptmann and commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111^[2]

References

Citations

1. Berger 2004, p. 74.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 138.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold [Knight's Cross Bearers with the Close Combat Clasp in Gold] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.