Date of birth:

April 2nd, 1911 (Blankenhain/Saxony, Germany)

Date of death:

November 18th, 2000 (Bonn/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
00.00.1936: Gefreiter der Reserve
00.00.1937: Unteroffizier d. R.
00.00.1938: Feldwebel d. R.
00.00.1939: Leutnant d. R.
00.00.1939: Leutnant (aktiv)
00.00.1939: Oberleutnant
00.00.1942: Hauptmann
01.11.1943: Major

Career:
00.00.1934-00.00.1935: Arbeitsdienst
00.00.1935: joined the Wehrmacht
Zugführer, Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 4, 1. Panzer-Division
Chef, 6. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. Panzer-Division
Kommandeur, Panzer-Abteilung 21, 20. Panzer-Division
Kommandeur, Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4, 1. Panzer-Division
Kommandeur, Panzer-Regiment „Feldherrnhalle"

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 22nd, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

in silver

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur, Panzer-Abteilung 21, 20. Panzer-Division

Awarded on:

August 22nd, 1943

The following press excerpt describes why Darius would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“During the fighting north of Orel Hauptmann Wolfgang Darius recognized the attack of a fresh enemy tank brigade into the flank of the German defensive front just in the nick of time. He threw himself against the Soviets in a bold counterthrust and destroyed 48 enemy tanks with his Abteilung.”

Submitted on August 17th 1943.
Preliminary document to Armeeoberkommando 9 on August 26th 1943.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Kdr, Panzer-Abteilung 21

Awarded on:

September 8th, 1944

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• Photo: Willi Schumacher Collection - https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5
  
• - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht
  - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer, Elite of the Third Reich - The Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-45: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, England, 2003
  - Federl, C., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, Germany, 2000
  - das-ritterkreuz.de
  - Onderzoek via Panzer-Archiv Forum