Joachim Schubach
Encyclopedia
Joachim Schubach was an Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II
and was awarded 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.
He attended the Hindenburg Upper School and in 1933 he took part in a training program at the Empire Board of Trustees for youth. In 1933 he volunteered for the SS and was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler stationed in Berlin
.
As a Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) and company commander with the SS Totenkopf he took part in the Battle of France
, being awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class fighting in France
.
In July 1941 he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class at Demjansk during the invasion of the Soviet Union
(Operation Barbarossa
) and the German Cross
in Gold in September 1942 at Lake Ilmen
.
In February 1943, the Totenkopf was converted into a Panzer Division
and was part of the SS Panzer Corps then taking part in the Battle of Kharkov
.
Schubach now with the III. Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, destroyed a strong Russian
force, for which he was promoted to Sturmbannführer
(Major) and awarded the Knight's Cross in April 1943, followed by the award of the Close Combat Clasp
in Silver.
Schubach was severely wounded – being blinded in both eyes – in November 1943 and remained in hospital until 1947.
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...
and 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...
, 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.
Early life
Joachim Schubach was born on 17 September 1910 in Hannover.He attended the Hindenburg Upper School and in 1933 he took part in a training program at the Empire Board of Trustees for youth. In 1933 he volunteered for the SS and was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler stationed in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
World War II
Schubach was still part of the SS Leibstandarte during the Polish Campaign. He was then transferred to the newly formed SS Totenkopf in October 1939.As a Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain) and company commander with the SS Totenkopf he took part 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...
, being awarded the Iron Cross
Iron 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....
2nd class fighting in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In July 1941 he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class at Demjansk during the invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(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...
) and the German Cross
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 in September 1942 at Lake Ilmen
Lake Ilmen
Ilmen is a historically important lake in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia, formerly a vital part of the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. The city of Novgorod lies six kilometers below the lake's outflow....
.
In February 1943, the Totenkopf was converted into a Panzer Division
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
and was part of the SS Panzer Corps then taking part in the Battle of Kharkov
Third Battle of Kharkov
The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of offensive operations on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov , between 19 February and 15 March 1943...
.
Schubach now with the III. Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, destroyed a strong Russian
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
force, for which he was promoted to Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major) and awarded the Knight's Cross in April 1943, followed by the award of the Close Combat Clasp
Close Combat Clasp
The Close Combat Clasp is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand to hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket...
in Silver.
Schubach was severely wounded – being blinded in both eyes – in November 1943 and remained in hospital until 1947.