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Häußler, Ernst (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
March 31st, 1914 (Tullau/Schwäbisch Hall, Germany)
Date of death:
July 14th, 1979 (Öhringen, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 217.862 // NSDAP-Nr.: 1.150.866
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
07.10.1931: SA-Mann
20.04.1935: SS-Unterscharführer
20.04.1936: SS-Untersturmführer
11.09.1938: SS-Obersturmführer
20.04.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer
21.06.1943: SS-Sturmbannführer
01.09.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer
20.04.1945: SS-Standartenführer

Career:
01.05.1933: joined the NSDAP
18.06.1933: joined the SS - Polizei-Bereitschaft Württemberg in Ellwangen which merged in the SS Standarte 'Deutschland'
20.04.1935: promoted to SS-Unterscharführer
00.04.1935-00.04.1936: SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
00.00.1936-00.00.1939: Zugführer, 11. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Verbande 'Oberbayern' - Dachau
00.10.1936: SS-Ustuf, Adjutant, I. Bataillon / SS-Totenkopf-Verbande 'Oberbayern'
0010.1938: SS-Ostuf, Hundertschaft-Führer / SS-TV 'Oberbayern'
00.09.1939: Kompanieführer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
00.04.1940: SS-Hstuf, Führer, 5. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
00.06.1940: WIA in France
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia
25.02.1942: WIA in Demjansk and evacuated
00.04.1942: posted to the SS-Totenkopf-Ersatz-Bataillon I
00.08.1942: Aufstellungstab of the renewed SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
00.00.1942: replaced SS-Stubaf Kleffner as Kdr, I. Bataillon, SS-Kradschützen-Regiment 'Thule' - Donets
00.06.1943: SS-Stubaf, Führer, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 1 'Totenkopf'
00.09.1943: WIA
20.09.1943-06.11.1943: Führer-Reserve / SS-FHA
06.11.1943: Führer, Bataillon / 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Götz von Berlichingen'
05.05.1944-00.10.1944: Kdr., SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 - 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
00.10.1944: WIA and evacuated and declared unfit for combat until the end of the war
14.07.1979: died of a heart attack in Öhringen

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Awarded on:
February 1934
Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
Awarded on:
December 1935
Julleuchter der SS
Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
SS-Ehrenring
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 3.Stufe (8 Jahre)
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1939
Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 10 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
June 20th, 1940
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
June 20th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
July 14th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
November 10th, 1941
in bronze
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
May 18th, 1942
WIA 00.06.1940 + 25.02.1942 + 00.09.1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
September 20th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:
Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-T-Kradschützen-Regiment "Thule", 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
Awarded on:
April 9th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Kommandeur, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Thule", 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
Awarded on:
August 15th, 1943
Häußler’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 05.07.1943 the attack of the left neighbouring division near Beresoff threatened to bog down due to the presence of a strong, enfilading Pakfront. The reinforced SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Totenkopf’ was deployed to dispatch of this enemy resistance. Its mission was to break through the enemy positions at the southern part of Beresoff (which were well fortified, protected by deep minefields and covered by heavy enemy artillery, mortar and tank fire) and eliminate the strong enemy Pakfront.

SS-Sturmbannführer Häussler, commander of the reinforced battalion that formed the spearhead of this operation, broke through the strong positions at the head of his men. He then crushed the enfilading enemy Pakfront, which enabled the left neighbour to once more gain freedom of movement. Even after this though he continued to thrust ahead without any forces on the left or right to cover him, pushing ahead to the northeast. Advancing past the Jerik stream and Hill 216.5, he captured the strong enemy positions at Redin and Gluschinskiy, and in doing so he blocked the main enemy retreat route. Throughout this attack numerous heavy Russian and American tanks were destroyed, along with a great number of anti-tank guns and artillery pieces.

The regimental commander had already fallen out due to injuries sustained during the attack against the southern part of Beresoff. SS-Sturmbannführer Häussler, now on his own, took the independent decision to fight on without waiting for additional elements of his Regiment. Despite the gathering twilight, and the weak security to the north and northeast, he thrusted to the south with the bulk of his reinforced Bataillon in order to encircle the enemy forces near Gremutschiy and Jerik. Thanks to this the strong enemy elements located here were eliminated the next morning.

Through his decisive actions here SS-Sturmbannführer Häussler cut off the enemy from his main road. And due to his independent decision to push on to the south he created the groundwork for the encirclement of strong Russian forces and their eventual annihilation.

In light of his heroic deed and its associated success I ask that SS-Sturmbannführer Häussler be awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1944
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 2.Stufe (12 Jahre)

Sources

Photos