| Ernst Häussler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 March 1914 Württemberg |
| Died | 14 July 1979 Öhringen |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1933–1945 |
| Rank | Standartenführer |
| Unit | 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze Wound Badge in Silver Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 |
Ernst Häussler was a Standartenführer (Colonel), in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Ernst Häussler was born on the 31 March 1914 at Württemberg. He volunteered to join the SS in May 1933 and given the SS service number 217.862 and his NSDAP party number was 1.150.866, after being enrolled he was assigned to the SS Standarte Deutschland. He was promoted to Unterscharführer in April 1935 and in 1936 was selected to be an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig.[1] After Graduation he was posted back to the SS-VT in Oberbayern and served at Dachau concentration camp between 1936 and 1939.
In 1940 he was then posted to the newly formed SS Totenkopf Division as the commander of the 5th company and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940 and the Wound Badge in Black for his first wound of the War. He participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) being awarded the Iron Cross 1st class in July 1941 and the Winter War 1941/42 medal.[1]
In April 1943 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and was then promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) in June 1943 which was followed by the award of the Knight's Cross in August 1943.[1]
Ernst Häussler, went on to command the 1st SS Totenkopf Reserve Battalion before a posting to the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen ( The name referred to the 15th century German knight who had, after losing his right hand in battle, wore an iron prosthetic hand. In keeping with this, the division's emblem was a clenched iron fist), as a Battalion Commander before returning to the SS Totenkopf as the commander of the 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Totenkopf.[1][2]
He survived the war and died of heart failure on the 14 July 1979 at Öhringen.[1]