Erwin Reichel
Erwin Reichel | |
---|---|
Born |
11 March 1911 Vienna, Austria |
Died |
28 February 1943 31) Kharkov, Soviet Union | (aged
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/branch | Waffen-SS |
Years of service | 1939–43 |
Rank | Sturmbannführer |
Unit |
SS-VT 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 Anschluss Medal Sudetenland Medal with Prague castle bar Wound Badge |
Erwin H. Reichel (11 March 1911 – 28 February 1943) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen SS during World War II who 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.
Early life
Erwin Reichel was born on the 11 March 1911 in Vienna, Austria his father was a university professor. In 1929 he joined the Freikorps Oberland (German for Highlands, Thuringia). After serving in the Austrian Army for a few months, he volunteered to join the SS-VT in 1934, one of the early members (SS number 58.074) and the NSDAP (Party number 5.020.865).
As a member of the SS-VT he participated in the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938, and the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939.
World War II
In World War II he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class during the Polish Campaign in October 1939 and the Iron Cross 1st class Battle of France in May 1940.
Reichel was awarded the Knights Cross for his actions during the Third Battle of Kharkov in February 1943. He was injured and died in a field hospital on 28 February 1943.
References
Further reading
- 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.
- Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.