Georg Eberhardt
| Georg Eberhardt | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 February 1914 Bad Frankenhausen, Germany |
| Died |
21 July 1943 (aged 29) Charkow, Russia |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1932–1945 |
| Rank | Sturmbannführer |
| Unit |
SS-VT 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 |
Georg Eberhardt (27 February 1914 — 21 July 1943) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Early life
Georg Eberhardt was born on the 27 February 1914, in Bad Frankenhausen. After he had finished school he volunteeered to join the Allgemeine SS in November 1932 and transferreed to the SS-VT in 1934.
He was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz and after graduation he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in April 1936.
He remained on the staff at the SS-Junkerschule as a platoon commander, later teaching tactics at the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig.
His promotion to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) came in September 1938.
World War II
Eberhardt was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class during Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union in August and September 1941.
In October 1942, he was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and given command of the Estonian SS Panzer Grenadier Battalion Narwa and promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) in May 1943.
From 19 to 21 July 1943, at Charkov Eberhardt and his Battalion defeated several Soviet attacks, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross but Eberhard had been killed in action on 21 July.
References
Further reading
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Hamilton Charles Leaders and Personalities of the Third Reich, R James Bender Pub 1997, ISBN 0-912138-27-0
- Kurowski Franz Panzer Aces II Stackpole Books, 2004, ISBN 0-8117-3175-8
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
- Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0-8117-2905-2
- Mitcham Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45,Stackpole Books, 2007. ISBN 0-8117-3371-8