Date of birth:

November 18th, 1916 (Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

August 7th, 2015 (Iffeldorf/Bavaria, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 277.917 // NSDAP-Nr.: 5.194.611

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

00.00.1932-00.00.1934: Hitlerjugend
15.06.1935: joined the SS
03.04.1937: RAD
03.04.1938: SS-Pionier-Sturmbann, SS-VT
01.09.1939: SS-Pionier-Sturmbann, SS-VT, 10. Armee - campaign in Poland
28.03.1940-12.06.1940: SS-Oscha, SS-Junker, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
13.06.1940: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer-Lehrgang in Dachau
00.07.1940: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Division "Reich"
00.12.1940: SS-Standartenoberjunker, Zugführer, II. Zug, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment „Germania", SS-Division „Wiking"
20.04.1941: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
09.11.1942: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
09.11.1943: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
00.02.1944: WIA at Narva
00.06.1944: SS-Hstuf, Kommandeur, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 23, 23. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division „Nederland" (niederländische Nr. 1) - Kurland
00.08.1944: SS-Hstuf, Kdr, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 11, 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division „Nordland"
09.11.1944: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer

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Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

July 14th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

November 4th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

November 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania', SS-Division 'Wiking'

Awarded on:

August 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"

Awarded on:

March 11th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)

Unit:

Kdr, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 54, 4. SS-Freiwillige-Panzergrenadier-Brigade “Nederland”, III. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1944

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

“After a preparation time of only 2 days, the planned evacuation of the Narva bridgehead was carried out on the night of the 24.-25.07.1944. The commander of Pionier-Bataillon 54, SS-Hauptsturmführer Wanhöfer, contributed significantly to the success of this very difficult operation.

Showing exceptional devotion to duty, he oversaw the evacuation of all the ferries, Pionier equipment and Sturmboote. After this his task was to render all militarily important facilities in Narva useless to the enemy. Above all he was to do this with the four Narva bridges, the heavily fortified Iwangorod and the major facilities of the cloth factory.

As the detonation wires had been smashed by the enemy artillery, this mission presented the greatest of difficulties. Hauptsturmführer Wanhöfer would, however, in one case especially distinguish himself in a display of heroic military excellence.

After the suspension bridge in the south of Narva and the high towers of the cloth factory had been prepared for demolition, the planned detonation failed. In order to give the hotly pursuing Soviets no opportunity to take the bridge undamaged, Hauptsturmführer Wanhöfer personally rushed forwards to fix the smashed detonation chords. At the same moment the massive, several metre thick pillars of the cloth factory collapsed on top of him.

Through his exemplary and ruthless devotion to duty, the bridge was blown up at the last minute.

By this brave deed Wanhöfer prevented the enemy seizure of the bridge and contributed decisively to the planned withdrawal of the Brigade.”

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Deathnotice
  - Ritterkreuz Archiv III 2015, September 2915, Verlag Veit Scherzer, ISSN 1866-4709
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.