Date of birth:

January 18th, 1919 (Ettal/Garmisch/Oberbayern, Germany)

Date of death:

May 23rd, 2003 (Garmisch/Partenkirchen, Germany)

Nationality:

German

01.10.1937: Jäger, 6. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98
01.04.1939: promoted to Unteroffizier, Zugführer, Panzerjägerzug, 16. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98
00.09.1939: campaign in Poland
00.05.1940, Leutnant, Zugführer, Panzerjägerzug, 16. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 - campaign in France
01.10.1940: promoted to Oberleutnant
00.03.1941: campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941:Olt., Kompanieführer, Ski-Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 - campaign in Russia
00.07.1942: Chef, 6. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98, severaly WIA in the Caucasus
10.07.1943: I. Bataillon, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 responsible for a massacre of 21 civilians at Kefalovryso, Greece
01.10.1943: promoted to Hautpmann, Bataillonsführer, I. Bataillon, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 - Balkans
01.10.1944: promoted to Major and Führer, II. Bataillon; Grenadier-Regiment 1123, 558. Volksgrenadier-Division - campaign in Eastern Prussia, Allenstein / Olsztyn
00.03.1945: WIA and evacuated to Lazarett Garmisch-Partenkirchen - surrendered and US POW
12.05.1945: released
00.09.1956: joined the Bundeswehr as Major, Kommandeur, Gebirgsjägerbataillon 8
00.00.1958: promoted to Oberstleutnant
00.00.1961: Lehrgruppenkommandeur, stellvertretender Schulkommandeur, Gebirgs- und Winterkampfschule, Mittenwald
00.00.1965: Kommandeur, Verteidigungskreiskommando (VKK) 653, Murnau am Staffelsee
00.00.1975: retired

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Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 16th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, 16. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98, 1. Gebirgs-Division, XXXXIV. Armee-Korps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

July 19th, 1940

The following wartime excerpt describes why Pössinger received the Knight’s Cross…r…

“On the 06.06.1940, following the attack of the 1. Gebirgs-Division over the Oise Canal at Coucy le Chateau and its own crossing of the canal, the Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 98 received the mission of securing the open left flank in anticipation of the main German attack the next day.

The Panzerabwehr-Zug under Pössinger was responsible for tank defense along the left wing of this security detail. On this day an enemy tank attack was met by Pössinger’s Zug alone and was thrown back here, with Leutnant Pössinger personally manning the first gun. Showing brave and exemplary behaviour, he alone continued to serve the gun in the strongest of enemy tank fire. He can be credited with both the leadership of the defense here as well as the destruction of 6 enemy tanks.”

Note: The attacking enemy force consisted of 11 tanks.

142nd Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 6th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Chef, 6. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98, 1. Gebirgs-Division

Awarded on:

February 16th, 1943

for his action at Kulchor pass, Kodori Valley)

Award 319/1.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 21st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 18th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 1123, 558. Volks-Grenadier-Division, XX. Armee-Korps, Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1945

Here follows a Führer HQ telex (dated 07.03.1945) that describes why Major Pössinger received the Oakleaves to his Knight’s Cross…

“Battalion Pössinger had already thrown back an enemy battlegroup consisting of two companies in the area around Landsberg (East Prussia). Following this they continued to push north towards Hanshagen, from which they began to receive strong flanking fire.

In response to this Major Pössinger personally stormed into the heavily defended town at the head of his Grenadiers. In doing so he seized a cornerstone of the enemy break-in area here, and his Grenadiers managed to capture (among other things) 13 enemy anti-tank and infantry guns.

Major Pössinger was born on 18.01.1919 in Ettal (Upper Bavaria) as the son of a farmer. He has already been awarded the Knight’s Cross on 19.07.1940.”

759th Award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 1123, 558. Volks-Grenadier-Division, XX. Armee-Korps, Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

May 1st, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1997

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1993.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - 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
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945
  - Axis History Biographical Research via Axis History Forum