Josef Allerberger
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| Josef Allerberger | |
|---|---|
| September, 1924 – | |
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| Nickname | Sepp |
| Place of birth | Steiermark, Austria |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Obergefreiter |
| Unit | 3rd Mountain Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class Infantry Assault Badge Wound Badge (silver) Sniper's Badge (gold) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Josef 'Sepp' Allerberger was a German (Austrian) sniper in the II Battalion of the 144th Gebirgsjäger Regiment of the 3rd Mountain Division on the Eastern Front of the Second World War, and was credited with 257 kills.
Sent to the Eastern Front in December 1942 as a machine gunner, Allerberger was wounded at Stavropol and experimented with a captured Soviet sniper-rifle while recuperating. Eventually he made 27 kills before being selected for sniper training at Seetaleralpe, and being assigned a K98 with 6x scope.[1] Allerberger states that he used the captured 'Soviet sniper-rifle' (possibly the Mosin-Nagant) for most of his military service but later changed to the Mauser K98k. He also used the Walther Model 43 for some circumstances.
During combat, Allerberger was noted for using the Wehrmacht-taught technique of an umbrella with the cloth removed and foliage woven into the arms which he held to his front in order to camouflage himself.[2]. This camouflage was quickly assembled and lightweight and adaptable to many circumstances.
He was reportedly awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner, the commander of Army Group Centre, on 20 April 1945, although no official documentation ever recorded the award. However, this was not uncommon at this late point in the war.
In 2005, a book titled Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross ISBN 1-84415-317-7 was published, written by Albrecht Wacker based on interviews with Allerberger. The book was noted for suggesting that the Soviets had cannibalized German corpses, and graphic depictions of torture.
[edit] References
- Albrecht Wacker (2005,2006), Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross. ISBN 1844153177 Pen & Sword Military.
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