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Egger, Paul (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
November 26th, 1916 (Mautern/Styria, Austria)
Date of death:
July 12th, 2007 (Überlingen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
Austrian

Biography

Paul Egger was a POW to the United States from 1945 until November 1947.

01.06.1938: Freiwilliger, Luftwaffe, Kampfgeschwader 51
00.09.1939: campaign in Poland
00.11.1939: transferred to the Jagdgeschwader 27
00.06.1940: 112th air mission, severely WIA after being shot down for the 3rd time
01.05.1941: transferred to the Waffen SS, Pak-Geschützführer, SS-Kradschützen-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Division 'Das Reich'
00.00.1942: 8. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'
00.00.1942: destroyed 28 tanks, 14 anti-tank guns, 40 other vehicles and 8 artillery batteries during the battle of Kiev
00.02.1943: 65th tank destroyed
00.00.1943: promoted to SS-Oberscharführer
22.10.1943: Zugführer, Tiger-Zug, 1. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 102
00.06.1944: battle for Hill 112, destroyed a further 14 tanks and 4 anti tank guns
00.09.1944: refit in Sennelager and renamed schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502
00.10.1944: fighting around Stettin, destroyed 19 tanks
00.01.1945: SS-Oberscharführer, Reserveoffizier-Lehrgang der Panzertruppe, promoted to SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
00.02.1945: 19 tanks destroyed region Stettin
00.04.1945: Halbe pocket
28.04.1945: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer, Führer, 1. Kompanie, schw. SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502
03.05.1945: recorded 113th tank destroyed in Halbe pocket
04.05.1945: WIA for the 9th time, captured by the US troops on the Elbe River
00.11.1947: released

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Segelflieger-Abzeichen, C-Stufe
DRL Sportabzeichen in Silber
Awarded on:
1938
Flugzeugführerabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1940
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Frontflugspange für Jäger in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1944
in silver
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1944
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 1. Schwadron, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502
Awarded on:
December 30th, 1944
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 1. Schwadron, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 502
Awarded on:
April 28th, 1945
Egger’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 14.07.1944 the English captured the heavily contested Hill 112 following hours of artillery drumfire and the liberal use of artificial smokescreens. In response SS-Oberscharführer Egger (a Zugführer in the 1./s.SS-Panzer-Abteiling 102) immediately initiated a counterthrust through the thick smoke on his own initiative with 4 Panzer VI’s. Despite the dense smoke Egger skillfully led his Zug into the flank of the enemy, and in the combat which followed a total of 14 enemy tanks and 7 heavy anti-tank guns were destroyed. A pursuit thrust after this gave friendly infantry the opportunity to once again attain the old frontline. SS-Oberscharführer Egger thus had a decisive share in the immediate recapture of the tactically vital Hill 112 through his independently conducted actions.

During this action SS-Oberscharführer Egger and his crew personally destroyed 7 enemy tanks, and in doing so raised Egger’s total of tanks destroyed to 68.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photos