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Ax, Adolf (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
June 23rd, 1906 (Mouseron/Flanders, Belgium)
Date of death:
February 6th, 1983 (Wiesbaden/Hesse, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 3.848 // NSDAP-Nr.: 378.043
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

29.10.1930: entered the SS as SS-Anwärter
01.12.1930: entered the NSDAP
01.02.1931: SS-Mann
20.11.1931: SS-Truppführer
27.01.1932: SS-Sturmführer
00.00.1932: Zugführer, I. Sturm, SS-Standarten 2
09.11.1933: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
25.04.1934: Führer, SS-Standarten 2
09.11.1936: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
00.00.1938: Führer, 2. Kompanie, SS-"N", SS-Bataillon 'Nürnberg'
20.10.1939: Führer, Panzerabwehr-Abteilung, SS-Verfügunstruppe
25.05.1940: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer
00.12.1940-27.10.1941: SS-Stubaf, Führer, III. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 11
11.03.1942: Führer, SS-Panzerjäger-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung, Hilversum, Holland
09.11.1942: promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer
22.11.1943: promoted to SS-Standartenführer
00.00.1944: SS-Staf, Ia, Stab, Befehlshaber der Waffen-SS Niederlande
21.12.1944: promoted to SS-Oberführer
00.01.1945: Chef des Stabes, XVI. SS-Armee-Korps
26.01.1945-15.02.1945: Kdr., 15. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr. 1)
16.02.1945-15.03.1945: Führer, 32. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division '30. Januar'
05.04.1945-05.05.1945: 18. Divisionsführerlehrgang, Neustadt / Saale and moved to Bad Wiessee
00.05.1945: captured at Hochfilzen/Tirol - US POW
08.05.1948: released

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Awarded on:
1931
Abzeichen des SA - Treffens Braunschweig 1931
Nr. 2.152
SS-Zivilabzeichen
Awarded on:
February 1934
Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
Awarded on:
1935
Julleuchter der SS
DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
SS-Ehrenring
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1939
Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 10 Jahre
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1939
Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 15 Jahre
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 27th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 24th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 17th, 1942
according to letter dated 17.01.1944 from SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei August Heissmeyer; award not indicated in his SS file, nor in the SS-Dienstalterliste of 09.11.1944
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 15th, 1943
according to letter dated 17.01.1944 from SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei August Heissmeyer; award not indicated in his SS file, nor in the SS-Dienstalterliste of 09.11.1944
Nahkampfspange in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1944
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)
Unit:
Chef des Generalstabes, Führungsstab Ostküste, Führer, 15. SS-Freiwilligen-Division (Lettische No. 1), XVIII. Gebirgs-Korps, 2. Armee, Heeresgruppe Weichsel
Awarded on:
May 9th, 1945
Ax’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 25.01.1945 SS-Oberführer Ax, chief of staff for the XIV. SS-Armee-Korps, was assigned command of the 15. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lett. Nr. 1) following the loss of its previous divisional commander. SS-Oberführer went on to achieve the following in the course of the Division’s many subsequent offensive and defensive actions:

1. Breaking through the encirclement ring around his Division near Flederborn on the 03.02.1945. The Division had been encircled here due to its own steadfastness, but by holding its ground in this way it tied down strong elements of two tank-reinforced Soviet divisions and prevented the enemy from continuing their swift breakthrough towards the northwest.

2. Directing this breakthrough in the face of strong Soviet forces whilst serving with the rest of the divisional staff in the foremost line.

3. Dispersing and destroying the bulk of a Soviet division before the bridgehead and cornerstone at Landeck during the process of this breakthrough.”

Unofficial award based on a recommendation dated 28.03.1945 and signed by Korps Kom. Gen. Karl-Maria Demelhuber
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

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