Date of birth:

June 2nd, 1916 (Markertshofen/Württemberg, Germany)

Date of death:

August 25th, 1944 (Radzymin, Poland)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

17.01.1934: entered the SS
00.03.1938: campaign in Austria, SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.10.1938: campaign in the Sudetes, SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.09.1939: campaign in Poland, SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.05.1940: campaign in the West, SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.06.1941: Panzerjäger, Barbarossa, destroyed 25 tanks
25.08.1944: SS-Hauptscharführer, KIA in Radzymin, Warsaw, Poland

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Awarded on:

1938

Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 27th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)

Unit:

Zugführer, 3. Kompanie, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

June 19th, 1943

Willi Esslinger was a Zugführer in Wiking’s tank destroyer battalion during the first half of 1943. At sometime during this fighting, while en-route to refuel his Marder tank destroyer, he heard about a Soviet tank assault supported by infantry. He rushed to the scene and prepared to face the enemy. He destroyed 3 Soviet tanks, after which the Russians switched their main effort to their infantry and artillery. By constantly repositioning his gun, Esslinger was able to knock out important targets and eventually brought the Soviet attack to a halt. For this action he would receive the Knight’s Cross. By the time of his death in 1944, he was credited with over 25 Russian tanks destroyed.

• Photo 1:
• Photo 2:
• Photo: - Willi Esslinger
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2010.