Hans Eckert
Encyclopedia
Hans Eckert was a Hauptsturmführer
(Captain), 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.
Hans Eckert was born at Zailach
in Middle Franconia
on the 1 June 1916.
He joined the SS-VT in 1934, he was selected to become an officer and was promoted to Untersturmführer
(Second Lieutenant) in July 1941, and commanded the 14th Company, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland
and on the 9 November 1942, he was promoted to Obersturmführer
(First Lieutenant).
In February 1943 he was given command of the 8th Company, Deutschland Regiment and was awarded the German Cross in Gold
.
In March 1944 he was given command of a Battalion in the Kampfgruppe
, Das Reich.
On the 5 April his Kampfgruppe started a dawn attack in the Stratkowze, Wysuzka, Olexinze and Skypowce sector which by 7 April had reached Tluste
- Miasto, capturing a number of Red Army men and equipment.
For these actions Eckert was awarded the Knight's Cross, the Close Combat Clasp in Gold
and promoted to Hauptsturmführer
(Captain), and given command of the I. Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland.
Eckert survived the war and died on the 11 July 1974.
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain), in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Hans Eckert was born at Zailach
Lehrberg
Lehrberg is a market town in the district of Ansbach, Mittelfranken, Bavaria, Germany.-Villages:There are districts mentioned below:-External links:...
in Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg...
on the 1 June 1916.
He joined the SS-VT in 1934, he was selected to become an officer and was promoted to Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
(Second Lieutenant) in July 1941, and commanded the 14th Company, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland
Deutschland
Deutschland is the German language word for Germany.Deutschland may also refer to:, a blockade-breaking German cargo submarine used during World War I, first of the 1930s Panzerschiffe , later renamed Lützow; involved in the 1937 Deutschland incident, a steamship wrecked in 1875 and commemorated in...
and on the 9 November 1942, he was promoted to Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
(First Lieutenant).
In February 1943 he was given command of the 8th Company, Deutschland Regiment and was awarded the German Cross in Gold
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
.
In March 1944 he was given command of a Battalion in the Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
, Das Reich.
On the 5 April his Kampfgruppe started a dawn attack in the Stratkowze, Wysuzka, Olexinze and Skypowce sector which by 7 April had reached Tluste
Tluste
Tłuste is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Grodzisk Mazowiecki, within Grodzisk Mazowiecki County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately north of Grodzisk Mazowiecki and west of Warsaw.-References:...
- Miasto, capturing a number of Red Army men and equipment.
For these actions Eckert was awarded the Knight's Cross, the Close Combat Clasp in Gold
Close Combat Clasp
The Close Combat Clasp is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand to hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket...
and promoted to Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain), and given command of the I. Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland.
Eckert survived the war and died on the 11 July 1974.