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Jürgensen, Arnold Bernhard (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
May 17th, 1910 (Tellingstedt/Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:
December 23rd, 1944 (Büttgenbach, Ardennes, Belgium)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Recogne
Plot: 13. Grave: 38.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 25.884 // NSDAP-Nr.: 585.285
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

00.03.1938: 12. Kompanie, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, campaign in Austria
00.11.1938: 12. Kompanie, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, campaign in the Sudetes
00.04.1941: Chef, 11. Kompanie, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, campaign in the Balkans - Operation Marita
00.06.1941: Chef, 11. Kompanie, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, campaign in Russia - Operation Barbarossa
00.00.1942: Chef, 1. Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH
00.00.1943: Kdr, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH
00.06.1944: Kdr, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend' - Normandy
00.08.1944: Kdr, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend'
23.12.1944: Kdr, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend', KIA at Büttgenbach, Ardennes

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Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
SS-Ehrenring
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 16th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 22nd, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Voenen Orden
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:
SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
May 6th, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1944
Panzerkampfabzeichen II Stufe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hitlerjugend’
Awarded on:
October 16th, 1944
Jürgensen’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen has participated in all the campaigns of this war. He is the commander of the I.(Panther)-Abteilung of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 (12. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hitlerjugend’), and in this capacity he has especially distinguished himself in the fighting on the Invasion front through his great bravery and prudent leadership. In the battles on the Invasion front his Abteilung destroyed 321 enemy tanks under his command.

With this in mind SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen conducted himself particularly well during the fighting on the 08.08.1944. On the previous day (the 07.08.1944) the enemy succeeded in breaking through the positions of the 89. Infanterie-Division in the sector Garcelles—Laize Mündung (in the area south of Caen). In response SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen was dispatched from the sector of the left neighbouring Division on the 08.08.1944 in order to prepare for a counterattack in the area north of Rouvres. However here he was surprised by the sudden appearance of about 60 enemy tanks.

SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen went over to the attack with his Panzers without delay, retook the commanding Hill 140 and brought the enemy assault to a halt. By this it was possible for us to once again occupy the ordered positions that were best suited for the terrain. An enemy breakthrough towards Falaise was also rendered impossible by this action. The Panzers led by SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen were able to destroy 32 enemy tanks during this fighting. SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen was himself wounded in the battle, however he continued to lead his unit until the conclusion of the fighting.

The energetic and brave leadership of SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen is to be credited for the fact that the enemy was unable to break through to Falaise on the 08.08.1944. His exemplary leadership is also responsible for the long-term success of his Panther-Abteilung, which destroyed over 300 enemy tanks during the 10 weeks of combat on the Invasion front.

I hold SS-Sturmbannführer Jürgensen as being worthy of the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

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