Hermann Weiser
Encyclopedia
Hermann Bibl Weiser was a Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) in the Waffen-SS
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
Weiser was born on 22 November 1918 in Ottenau, Baden
. He joined the Hitler Youth
in 1932 and was awarded the Hitler Youth Honour Medal.
At the end of 1937 he joined the SS, service number 351 242 and was assigned to the Deutschland Regiment
. He was later transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
and given command of the 2nd Motor Cycle Company in the Reconnaissance Battalion. Hauptsturmführer Weiser distinguished himself as the leader in the Third Battle of Kharkov
and for his personal bravery and decisive leadership which led to the capture of the Russian forces defending the town of Valki, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
Weiser eventually became the adjutant of the 1st SS Panzer Corps.
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
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
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...
.
Weiser was born on 22 November 1918 in Ottenau, Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
. He joined the Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
in 1932 and was awarded the Hitler Youth Honour Medal.
At the end of 1937 he joined the SS, service number 351 242 and was assigned to the Deutschland Regiment
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 later transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard. Initially the size of a regiment, the LSSAH eventually grew into a divisional-sized unit...
and given command of the 2nd Motor Cycle Company in the Reconnaissance Battalion. Hauptsturmführer Weiser distinguished himself as the leader in the Third Battle of Kharkov
Third Battle of Kharkov
The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of offensive operations on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov , between 19 February and 15 March 1943...
and for his personal bravery and decisive leadership which led to the capture of the Russian forces defending the town of Valki, he 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...
.
Weiser eventually became the adjutant of the 1st SS Panzer Corps.