Hans Flügel
Encyclopedia
Hans Flügel 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.
.
After he finished school at the age of 16 he volunteered to join the SS in August 1935.
He was posted to the 1st SS Totenkopf
Standarte Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria) and was then transferred to the 12th Company Deutschland.
He missed the Polish Campaign as he had been selected to become an officer and was posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz
, when he graduated he was given command in the 4th (MG) Company, SS Deutschland for the Battle of France
.
In the spring of 1942 he transferred to the 5th SS Panzer Battalion, SS Division Wiking as commander of the 2nd Company, which was engaged in the offensive at Rostov
in the Caucasus
.
In 1943 he was selected to be the Ordonnanzoffizier
(aide-de-camp), to Obergruppenführer
(General), Felix Steiner
and helped form the 103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
, where he was in command of the 1st Company.
In mid 1944 he returned to the SS Wiking as the Adjutant
of the 5th SS Panzer Regiment, until August 1944 when he took over command of the II.Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Regiment.
It was while in Command of the II.Battalion that he was awarded the Knight's Cross
on the 16 October 1944.
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) 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
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II.
Early life
Hans Flügel was born on the 13 February 1919, in ArzbergArzberg, Bavaria
Arzberg is a town in the district of Wunsiedel, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 13 km west of Cheb and 10 km northeast of Marktredwitz.-Sister city:-19th century:...
.
After he finished school at the age of 16 he volunteered to join the SS in August 1935.
He was posted to the 1st SS Totenkopf
Totenkopf
The Totenkopf is the German word for the death's head and an old symbol for death or the dead. It consists usually of the skull and the mandible of the human skeleton...
Standarte Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria) and was then transferred to the 12th Company Deutschland.
He missed the Polish Campaign as he had been selected to become an officer and was posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and administrative center of the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.- History :Since the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz...
, when he graduated he was given command in the 4th (MG) Company, SS Deutschland for the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
.
World War II
After the Battle of France, Flügel was given command of the 8th Company, SS Deutschland, and later transferred to the Reconnaissance Battalion, of Das Reich.In the spring of 1942 he transferred to the 5th SS Panzer Battalion, SS Division Wiking as commander of the 2nd Company, which was engaged in the offensive at Rostov
Rostov
Rostov is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, one of the oldest in the country and a tourist center of the Golden Ring. It is located on the shores of Lake Nero, northeast of Moscow. Population:...
in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
In 1943 he was selected to be the Ordonnanzoffizier
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
(aide-de-camp), to Obergruppenführer
Obergruppenführer
Obergruppenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1932 as a rank of the SA and until 1942 it was the highest SS rank inferior only to Reichsführer-SS...
(General), Felix Steiner
Felix Steiner
Felix Martin Julius Steiner was a German Reichswehr and Waffen-SS officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
and helped form the 103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 103 or s.SS-Panzer Abteilung 103 was originally formed on 1 July 1943 as the II.Battalion, 11 SS Panzer Regiment and sent to Yugoslavia to fight as infantry, however, at the end of November, the battalion was converted back to the Tanks.The Battalion was then issued six...
, where he was in command of the 1st Company.
In mid 1944 he returned to the SS Wiking as the Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the 5th SS Panzer Regiment, until August 1944 when he took over command of the II.Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Regiment.
It was while in Command of the II.Battalion that he was awarded the Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
on the 16 October 1944.
Commands
- 4th (MG) Company, SS Deutschland Regiment
- 8th Company, SS Deutschland Regiment
- 2nd Company, 5th SS Panzer Regiment
- 1st Company, 103rd SS Panzer Battalion
- II.Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Regiment
Awards
- Knight's Cross (16-10 '44)
- German Cross in Gold (13-12 '42)
- EK I (5-8 '41)
- EK II (19-6 '40)
- Panzer Badge in Silver "75" ('44)
- Panzer Badge in Silver "25" (11 '43)
- Panzer Badge in Silver (8 '42)
- Infantry Badge in Silver
- Eastern Front Medal 1941/42
- Wound Badge (Gold) (3 '43)
- Wound Badge (Silver) (10 '41)
- Wound Badge (Black) (1-7 '40)
- SS Long Service Medal (4.Grade)
- German Sports Badge (Bronze)
- SA-Sports Badge (Bronze)
- Sudeten Medal with Prague Castle Bar
Further reading
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Hamilton Charles Leaders and Personalities of the Third Reich, R James Bender Pub 1997, ISBN 0912138270
- Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
- Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052
- Mitcham Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45,Stackpole Books, 2007. ISBN 0811733718