Helmuth Schreiber
Encyclopedia
Helmuth Schreiber 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. He was also one of only 631 members of the German Armed forces to be awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold
Helmuth Schreiber was born in Giessen, Hessen on the 25 March 1917.
He joined the Waffen SS and as part of the SS Standarte Deutschland participated in the Anschluss
of Austria
and the occupation of the Sudetenland
in 1938.
He was awarded the Iron Cross
1st and 2nd class in December 1941. When serving as the Company commander of the 10th Company, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland, 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Division Das Reich
. He was also awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1943, while in command of the 10th Company. He was promoted to Sturmbannführer and assumed command of the Deutschland Regiment when he was awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold, in May 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 during World War II. He was also one of only 631 members of the German Armed forces to be awarded 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...
Helmuth Schreiber was born in Giessen, Hessen on the 25 March 1917.
He joined the Waffen SS and as part of the SS Standarte Deutschland participated in the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and the occupation of the Sudetenland
Sudetenland
Sudetenland is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the northern, southwest and western regions of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans, specifically the border areas of Bohemia, Moravia, and those parts of Silesia being within Czechoslovakia.The...
in 1938.
He was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
1st and 2nd class in December 1941. When serving as the Company commander of the 10th Company, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland, 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Division Das Reich
Das Reich
Das Reich is the name of:* a German SS-division, see 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich* a national socialist newspaper, see Das Reich * the main work of German right-wing intellectual Friedrich Hielscher...
. He was also awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1943, while in command of the 10th Company. He was promoted to Sturmbannführer and assumed command of the Deutschland Regiment when he was awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold, in May 1944.