Date of birth:

June 24th, 1906 (Castrop/Westphalia, Germany)

Date of death:

August 12th, 1973 (Waltrop/North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

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Awarded on:

January 26th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 19th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 3rd, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 19th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 27th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 2nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kommandeur II. / Grenadier-Regiment 1146 / 562.Volks-Grenadier-Division / XX.Armee-Korps/ 4.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

February 10th, 1945

Awarded for his actions near Scharfenweise (Ostrolenka) at the end of January 1945. In this time the Soviets attempted to interrupt the Germans’ ordered withdrawal movement via a regimental-sized thrust that had the support of 16 tanks. Major Austermann and his Bataillon were able to contain it with a counterattack of their own, and by doing so they held open an important road and shielded the Division from a potential flank threat. Austermann would be recognized appropriately for his ruthless and inspiring leadership during this time.

498th Award.

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1987.
  - 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