| Egon Christophersen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 February 1919 Stevns, Denmark |
| Died | 15 January 1988 Køge, Denmark |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Unterscharführer |
| Unit | 5th SS Division Wiking 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Eastern Front Medal Wound Badge in Silver |
Egon Christophersen was a Unterscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was the first of three Dane's to be recipients 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.
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Egon Christophersen was born on the 8 February 1919 in Strøby in Stevns, Denmark. He attended the local school in Strøby from the age of seven and worked on the experimental farm Little Køgegaard from the age of fourteen with his three brothers.[1][2]
During World War II Christophersen joined the DNSAP and became a member of its Storm Section (SA) and he volunteered to join the Waffen SS on the 7 April 1941.[1] He was posted to Graz to complete his basic training with the Training and Reserve Battalion, SS Regiment Der Führer.[1] After completing his training he was posted to the 11th Company, SS Regiment Norland, 5th SS Division Wiking in August 1941, and later moved to the 9th Company.[1]
SS Wiking was by now engaged on the Eastern Front and Christophersen was transferred to the 2nd Company, SS Regiment Norland and in May 1942 promoted to Sturmmann.[1]
He was wounded in the right and left thighs when fighting in the Caucasus and evacuated to a military hospital in September 1942, and posted to the SS Regiment Westland Training and Reserve Battalion in Graz when he had recovered.[1]
He remained in Graz until February 1943, when he returned to the front to the now SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking and was awarded the Iron Cross II class for his bravery in the Caucasus and in May promoted to Unterscharführer.[1][2]
In May 1943 he was also posted into the new SS Division 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland which was formed around the SS Regiment Norland the Division was based in Grafenwohr until formed.[1]
Egon Christophersen was now part of the 7th Company, 24th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Danmark, which was mostly made up of soldiers from Denmark.[1][2] After they had completed formation training they were sent to Croatia to counter Josip Broz Tito'ss, Partisans. Egons brother Viggo who had also joined the Waffen SS was killed during this time.[1]
The 11th SS Norland together with the 5th SS Wiking now formed the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps and moved to the front line in the former Baltic states at Narva.[1]
Christophersen and the 7th Company were dug in south of Narva and east of the Kreenholm beside the borough of Dolgaya Niva. They come under attack on the 20, 22, 25, 26 and 28 May and the 12 June from strong Russian forces. It was for his actions on the 12 June that Chistophersen became the first Danish volunteer to receive the Knight's Cross on 11 July 1944 for his heroic deeds on 12 June 1944. On that day a strong Russian attack force overran outpost Sunshine held by members of the 7th Company on the far southeastern corner of the Narva Front, and began to besiege both the remnants of the 7th and the II.Battalion. Acting upon his own initiative, Unterscharführer Egon Christophersen assembled all of the survivors of the 7th Company that he could find in no man's land and led them in a counterattack to regain the old company positions. In the course of fierce hand-to-hand combat with a powerful enemy force, Egon Christophersen and his men were able to recapture Outpost Sunshine and stabilize the front. Egon Christophersen was immediately awarded the Iron Cross, I Class by the battalion commander Hauptsturmführer Heinz Hämel, and was nominated for the Knight's Cross which he soon received. Only three Danes received the Knight's Cross. The two other Danes were Obersturmführer Soeren Kam and Obersturmführer Johannes Helmers both officers.[1][2][3]
Egon Christophersen survived the war and returned to live in Køge in Denmark. He worked at Ørum Hansen's Machinefactory in over thirty years. He died on the 15 January 1988.[1][2]