List of Knight's Cross recipients 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division Reichsführer SS
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | |
---|---|
Awarded by Nazi Germany | |
Type | Neck order |
Eligibility | Military personnel |
Awarded for | Awarded to holders of the Iron Cross to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership |
Campaign | World War II |
Status | Obsolete |
Statistics | |
Established | 1 September 1939 |
First awarded | 30 September 1939 |
Last awarded | 11 May 1945 / 17 June 1945[a] |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Grand Cross of the Iron Cross |
Next (lower) | Iron Cross 1st Class |
Insignia of 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer SS |
16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer SS. was a formation of the Waffen-SS during World War II.
It was formed in November 1943 when Volksdeutsche recruits were added to the Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS, which was then upgraded to divisional status. The majority of the recruits were from Norway.
A Kampfgruppe ("combat group") from the division fought at the Anzio beachhead, while the rest of the division took part in the occupation of Hungary. It fought in Italy as a unit from May 1944 until being transferred to Hungary in February 1945. In late summer 1944, while retreating towards the Gothic Line positions in the Appennini mountains, some units of this division committed several major atrocities against civilians in Sant'Anna di Stazzema and Marzabotto.
The division surrendered to British forces near Klagenfurt, Austria at the end of the war.[1][2]
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
- Max Simon, 28.10.1944 SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der W-SS Commander 16th SS Panzer Gren Div RFSS
Knight's Cross
- Karl Gesele, 04.07.1944 SS-Obersturmbannführer Commander SS-Sturm-Brigade RFSS[3]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Marcus Wendel. "Waffen SS units (16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS)". Axis History Factbook. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica
- 1 2 "axishistory".
References
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.
- 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.
- Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.