Date of birth:

October 25th, 1914 (Obervellmar/Kassel, Germany)

Date of death:

December 4th, 1977

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 276.603 // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

00.12.1933: joined the Heer, Infanterie-Regiment 13, Ulm
00.00.1933-00.03.1935: trainer, Sturm-Abteilung, SA-Sportschule Friedberg
00.03.1935: joined the SS-VT as Scharführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Germania'
00.00.1938: campaign in Austria and the Sudetes
00.03.1939: occupation of Bohemia and Moravia
00.09.1939: SS-Oberscharführer, Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Germania' - campaign in Poland and France
00.08.1940: Holland
00.11.1940: SS-Oberscharführer, Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking', München
00.06.1941: SS-Hauptscharführer, Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking' - Operation Barbarossa
00.04.1942: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve for bravery
00.10.1942: severely WIA during the fighting at Terekabschnitt and sent to a Lazarett
00.11.1942: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
00.11.1942: SS-Ostuf, SS-Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon Arnhem
00.12.1942: SS-Ostuf, Führer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 'Danmark', 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
00.11.1943: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
00.12.1943: Leningrad
00.04.1944-27.07.1944: SS-Hstuf, Kdr, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 'Danmark', 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland' - Battle for Narva Bridgehead
00.10.1944: battle of the Kurland pocket
00.11.1944: WIA to the forearm and evacuated to a Lazarett
00.01.1945: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve in hospital at Attendorn
00.02.1945: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, SS-Ausbildungs-Bataillon, III. SS-Panzer-Korps - Pomerania
19.03.1945-29.03.1945: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 34 (lett. Nr. 5)
00.03.1945: SS-Stubaf, Führer, Kampfgruppe - Dievenow
00.05.1945: surrendered in Austria

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Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Regiment "Germania", SS-Verfügungs-Division

Awarded on:

May 30th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 20th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)

Unit:

Zugführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Regiment "Germania", SS-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

June 11th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 "Danmark", 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland", III. SS-Panzer-Korps

Awarded on:

June 16th, 1944

Hämel’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“During the midday hours of the 28.01.1944 the fiercely pursuing enemy managed to interdict the road near Gurlewo. In doing so they cut off a friendly motorized column located on a road further to the east. (see the attached combat report of the commander of the III./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 11).

In the afternoon of that day the 7., 8. and parts of the 5./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 24 Danmark (dänisch Nr.1) under the command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Hämel were assembled for combat in Kerstowo and thereafter brought to Ljalicy. There 4 Sturmgeschütze were attached to the Kampfgruppe.

After arriving in Ljalicy Kampfgruppe Hämel received the mission of capturing Gurlewo and guiding the trapped column east of the town to safety. Gurlewo itself was occupied by a battalion-sized force augmented by heavy weapons (see sketch for enemy situation!). The friendly operation had no artillery support available.

At 00:30 on the 29.01.1944 Kampfgruppe Hämel thrusted ahead towards Gurlewo along both sides of the road. In the night fighting conditions the attack initially made good progress, and it reached Gurlewo itself. With the support of the Sturmgeschütze the western part of the village was taken. However as a result of the losses sustained thus far, as well as the arrival of enemy reinforcements from the south, the attack threatened to fall short of its target.

In order to fulfill his task and ensure the attack could continue, Hauptsturmführer Hamel decided to remove the forces that had been deployed for flank security to the north and use them for the major thrust of the attack. In doing so he accepted the risk of exposing his flank to expected enemy activity from the north, but resolved to put the completion of his mission first and foremost.

The continued attack, which saw Hämel personally leading the key assault units, managed to reach the village edge of Gurlewo and restore contact with the cut-off friendly units. This was made possible thanks to the commander’s model example and his bravery.

With Gurlewo now firmly in friendly hands, the Kampfgruppe then covered the passage of the column that had been trapped east of Gurlewo back to safety. The column elements included the divisional staff of the 10. LW.Feld-Div., the II./A.R. 10 and the 7./SS-Pz.A.R. 11.”

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• - Ritterkreuz Vorschlag supporting sketch.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.