| Franz Staudegger | |
|---|---|
| File:Staudegger.jpg | |
| Born | February 12, 1921 |
| Died | 16 May 1995 (aged 74) |
| Place of birth | Kärnten, Austria |
| Place of death | Frankfurt, Germany |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant) |
| Unit |
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Eastern Front Medal |
| Relations | died childless |
| Other work |
railway official insurance clerk |
Franz Staudegger (1921–1995) was an Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant) in the Waffen-SS and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
As a Unterscharführer (Corporal/Sergeant) Franz Staudegger was the first member of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Tiger tank commanders to win the Knight's Cross [1]
On 7 July 1943, a single Tiger I tank commanded by SS Oberscharfuehrer Franz Staudegger from the 2nd Platoon, 13th Panzer Company, 1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH engaged a Soviet group of some 50 T-34 tanks around Psyolknee in the southern sector of the Battle of Kursk. Staudegger used up his entire ammunition supply and destroyed 22 Soviet tanks, while the rest retreated. For his achievement, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross,[2] the first Tiger tank crewman to be so rewarded.[3]
He was also summoned to the Führer Headquarters to give Adolf Hitler a detailed account of the tank battle.[4] Staudegger ended the war in the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion which was present at the Battle of Normandy in 1944 under the command of Michael Wittmann and was later involved in the Battle of the Bulge.
See also[]
- Waffen-SS
- 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- List of Knight's Cross holders 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
References[]
- ↑ "SS.501.panzer". http://www.ss501panzer.com/menandunit.htm.
- ↑ "achtung.panzer". http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-vi-tiger-ausf-e-sd-kfz-181.htm.
- ↑ "axis.history". http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2026.
- ↑ Michael Wittmann and the Waffen SS Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte in ... By Patrick Agte p.123
External links[]
- Photo of Franz Staudegger
- http://news.webshots.com/photo/2676823300096466526McBUpT