Date of birth:

March 28th, 1912 (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)

Date of death:

August 20th, 1944 (Livarot l'Aigle, France)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
01.06.1940: SS-Sturmmann
00.07.1941: SS-Rottenführer
01.01.1942: SS-Unterscharführer
00.00.1943: SS-Oberscharführer

Career:
01.03.1933: entered the SS in Kleve
04.01.1940: SS-Pionier, 2. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon, Dresden - campaign in the West
00.07.1941: SS-Rottenführer, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-Division 'Totenkopf' - Barbarossa
09.02.1942: SS-Uscha, WIA in Staraja Russa and evacuated
10.02.1942-00.11.1942: SS-Uscha, Lazarett in Rinteln
00.10.1942: SS-Unterscharführer, Pionier-Ausbilder, Ersatz-Bataillon, Dresden
00.06.1944: SS-Oberscharführer, Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division „Hohenstaufen" - Normandy
00.08.1944: fightings at L’Aigle and Livarot
20.08.1944: SS-Oscha, severely WIA and DOW

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)

Unit:

SS-Pionier-Bataillon Totenkopf, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'

Awarded on:

July 10th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

SS-Pionier-Bataillon Totenkopf, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

SS-Pionier-Bataillon Totenkopf, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'

Awarded on:

February 1942

WIA 09.02.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 2. Schwadron, SS-Panzer-Regiment 9, 9. SS-Panzer-Division 'Hohenstaufen'

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1944

Holte’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 16.08.1944, west of Laigle, SS-Oberscharführer Holte and his force of Panther tanks from the “Hohenstaufen” division engaged a strong enemy battlegroup that had crossed the Laigle-Verneuil road. His initiative and personal intervention here meant that the enemy battlegroup was thrown back with such high losses that the enemy elected not to repeat the same attack on the 17.08.1944. This bought enough time for the arrival of friendly reinforcements and the construction of a defensive line between Laigle-Verneuil.”

Awarded posthumously.

• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives. - Josef Holte | Gräbersuche-Online
  - Josef Holte – Gelsenkirchener Geschichten Wiki