Arnold Stoffers
Encyclopedia
Arnold Stoffers was a Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II
.
II class in October 1939. He was then involved in the Battle of France
where he received the Iron Cross I class in August 1940.
He was posted to the new SS Division Wiking (Viking), and was given command of the II. Battalion, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Nordland".
During Operation Barbarossa
the "Nordland" spent the winter of 1941-42 along the Mius River in the eastern Ukraine
with the German Army Group South
. During July 1942, SS Wiking advanced to the southeast, reaching the Caucasus
. SS Wiking next helped contain the Soviet offensive towards the Dnieper, before taking part in General Erich von Manstein
's counter-offensive. By late March the fighting had subsided and Nordland was rested near Isjum, close to its positions from a year earlier.
In recognition of the "Nordland"' s success Arnold Stoffers was awarded the German Cross
in Gold.
He was then transferred to the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland" upon its formation and given command of the 23rd SS Panzer grenadier Regiment "Norge". He was killed in defensive action against the Soviet Narva Offensive (15–28 February 1944)
on 25 February 1944 and awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross in March 1944.
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War II
During World War II as part of the SS-VT he took part in the Polish Campaign where he was awarded the Iron CrossIron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
II class in October 1939. He was then involved in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
where he received the Iron Cross I class in August 1940.
He was posted to the new SS Division Wiking (Viking), and was given command of the II. Battalion, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Nordland".
During Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
the "Nordland" spent the winter of 1941-42 along the Mius River in the eastern Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
with the German Army Group South
Army Group South
Army Group South was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.- Poland campaign :Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South...
. During July 1942, SS Wiking advanced to the southeast, reaching the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
. SS Wiking next helped contain the Soviet offensive towards the Dnieper, before taking part in General Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein was a field marshal in World War II. He became one of the most prominent commanders of Germany's World War II armed forces...
's counter-offensive. By late March the fighting had subsided and Nordland was rested near Isjum, close to its positions from a year earlier.
In recognition of the "Nordland"
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold.
He was then transferred to the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland" upon its formation and given command of the 23rd SS Panzer grenadier Regiment "Norge". He was killed in defensive action against the Soviet Narva Offensive (15–28 February 1944)
Narva Offensive (15–28 February 1944)
This is a sub-article to Battle of Narva.The Narva Offensive was a campaign fought between the German army detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front for the strategically important Narva Isthmus. At the time of the operation, Stalin was personally interested in taking Estonia, viewing it...
on 25 February 1944 and awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross in March 1944.
Commands
- II.Battalion, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Nordland"
- II.Battalion, 10th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Westland"
- 5th SS Flak Battalion
- 23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Regiment "Norge"