Markus Faulhaber
Encyclopedia
Markus Faulhaber was a Sturmbannführer
(Major) in the Waffen SS during World War II
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. It was given to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II.
, Württemberg
. He volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS number 113,916) and was selected to become an officer. After he had graduated from the SS-Junkerschule, he was assigned to SS-Regiment (Standarte) "Germania"
in 1938.
He was taking part in the Polish Campaign, where he was awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class; and, as commander of 3./SS-InfRgt "Germania" (part of SS-Division Verfügungstruppe) in the Battle of France
.
Still commander of 3./SS-InfRgt "Germania" (SS-Division "Wiking"
), he also took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union
, Operation Barbarossa
where he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class and the Eastern Front Medal
1941/42 awarded to all who suffered the first Russian winter of the war. He was awarded the Knight's Cross
in December 1942 while in command of the 3rd Company.
He was next involved in the formation of the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49
which he commanded from June to August 1944. He was part of the teaching staff at the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz
and given command of the 95th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 38th SS Division Nibelungen when it was formed from the staff and cadets at the college and eventually surrendered to the Americans (The name Nibelungen comes from German mythology, which was the name of a lineage of dwarves, who were defeated by Siegfried).
Faulhaber died on 9 May 1945. He had been ordered by the Americans to persuade other German soldiers hiding in the mountains to come out and surrender. Although already wounded, and with one arm bandaged, Faulhaber drove into the mountains with his adjutant, Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) Christen Dall. Their vehicle crashed and tumbled into the swollen Salzach River. While Dall managed to save himself, Faulhaber drowned. His body was transferred to Radolfzell
, to be buried there.
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...
. It was given 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.
Life
Markus Faulhaber was born on 22 July 1914 in BalingenBalingen
Balingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, capital of the district of Zollernalbkreis. It is located nearby the Swabian Alb, approx. 35 km to the south of Tübingen, 35 km northeast of Villingen-Schwenningen, and 60 km southwest of Stuttgart.It is home to the Bizerba and Ideal...
, Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. He volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS number 113,916) and was selected to become an officer. After he had graduated from the SS-Junkerschule, he was assigned to SS-Regiment (Standarte) "Germania"
SS-Verfügungstruppe
The SS-Verfügungstruppe was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the NSDAP. By 1940 these military SS units had become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS....
in 1938.
He was taking part in the Polish Campaign, where 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....
2nd class; and, as commander of 3./SS-InfRgt "Germania" (part of SS-Division Verfügungstruppe) in 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...
.
Still commander of 3./SS-InfRgt "Germania" (SS-Division "Wiking"
5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
The 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking was one of the elite Panzer divisions of the thirty eight Waffen SS divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers, from Scandinavia, Finland, Estonia, The Netherlands, and Belgium under the command of German officers...
), he also took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
where he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class and the Eastern Front Medal
Eastern Front Medal
The Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
1941/42 awarded to all who suffered the first Russian winter of the war. 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....
in December 1942 while in command of the 3rd Company.
He was next involved in the formation of the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49
SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49
SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 was a formation of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was created in June 1944, from units stationed at the NCO's and replacement units...
which he commanded from June to August 1944. He was part of the teaching staff at the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz
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...
and given command of the 95th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 38th SS Division Nibelungen when it was formed from the staff and cadets at the college and eventually surrendered to the Americans (The name Nibelungen comes from German mythology, which was the name of a lineage of dwarves, who were defeated by Siegfried).
Faulhaber died on 9 May 1945. He had been ordered by the Americans to persuade other German soldiers hiding in the mountains to come out and surrender. Although already wounded, and with one arm bandaged, Faulhaber drove into the mountains with his adjutant, Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) Christen Dall. Their vehicle crashed and tumbled into the swollen Salzach River. While Dall managed to save himself, Faulhaber drowned. His body was transferred to Radolfzell
Radolfzell
Radolfzell am Bodensee is a town in Germany at the western end of Lake Constance approximately 18 km northwest of Konstanz. It is the third largest town, after Constance and Singen, in the district of Konstanz, in Baden-Württemberg....
, to be buried there.
Commands
- 3rd Company SS Infantry Regiment Germania / 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
- SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 was a formation of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was created in June 1944, from units stationed at the NCO's and replacement units...
June 1944 - August 1944 - 95th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, Division Nibelungen January 1945 - May 1945