Georg Schönberger
Encyclopedia
Georg Schönberger was a Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen-SS
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
During Operation Marita Schönberger was in command of the Sturmgeschütz
(Assault gun) Battalion LSSAH.
He was later given command of the I/Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 1.
It was during his command of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment that he was killed in action by artillery shrapnel on November 20, 1943 in the Zhitomir fighting. and was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
in December 1943.
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
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
who was awarded 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...
.
During Operation Marita Schönberger was in command of the Sturmgeschütz
Sturmgeschütz
Sturmgeschütz is a German word for "assault gun", usually abbreviated StuG. The vehicle was a leading weapon of the Sturmartillerie, a branch of the German artillery tasked with close fire support of infantry in infantry, panzer, and panzergrenadier units...
(Assault gun) Battalion LSSAH.
He was later given command of the I/Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 1.
It was during his command of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment that he was killed in action by artillery shrapnel on November 20, 1943 in the Zhitomir fighting. and was awarded a posthumous 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...
in December 1943.
Commands
- 1st Battery, Stug Battalion LSSAH 1940 (SS-Hauptsturmführer)
- 1st SS Panzer Battalion LSSAH 1942 (SS-Sturmbannführer)
- 1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH 14 October 1942 - 20 November 1943 (SS-Obersturmbannführer)