Schwarzenbacher, Josef

Date of birth:: March 17th, 1919 (Eisentratten/Carinthia, Austria)
Date of death:: August 16th, 1944 (Birzai, Latvia)
Nationality:: Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Biography

Josef Schwarzenbacher was posthumously promoted to Wachtmeister.

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Unteroffizier der Reserve (Corporal of Reserves)
Unit:: Geschützführer, 1. Kompanie, Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912, Heer
Awarded on:: August 27th, 1944

During the fierce fighting of the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912 north of Birsen in mid-August 1944, the Germans were able to inflict heavy losses on the attacking Soviet forces. One such action involved Unteroffizier Schwarzenbacher. He took on a Soviet attack of 15 tanks entirely on his own, repulsing it and destroying 11 enemy tanks. In doing so he prevented an enemy break-in. However, a few days later, he would be killed in action on 16.08.1944.

He would be awarded the Knight's Cross as a result of his actions just prior to this, in addition to his total of enemy tanks destroyed. By the time of his death he had destroyed about 25 tanks as an assault gun commander, and before that a further 43 as the gunner of the Batterie commander's StuG.

Awarded posthumously.

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)