Josef Armberger

Josef Armberger
Nickname(s) Sepp
Born 26 June 1920
Gugging, Austria
Died 20 August 1944 (aged 24)
Evreux, France
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1938–44
Rank Obersturmführer
Unit 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
Commands held
  • 5th Flak Company, 1st SS Anti Aircraft Battalion LSSAH
  • 8th Company, 1st SS Panzer Regiment LSSAH
Battles/wars World War II
Awards

Josef Armberger (26 June 1920 – 20 August 1944) was an Obersturmführer (Senior Assault (or Storm) Leader) in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II, the highest award for bravery of Nazi Germany.

Early life

He was born in Gugging Austria on the 26 June 1920. He spent his early life working in a Vineyard and joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) on 1 May 1938 with membership number 372,349. He was sent to the SS disposal unit to receive officer training.

World War II

He was then posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) attached to the Anti Aircraft Battalion and took part in the Battle of France and the Balkans Campaign. During Operation Barbarossa, he was wounded three times on the 11,13,14 March 1943 but remained with his troops and a short time later took over command of the 5th Flak Company. He was wounded again on the 10 April 1944 and this time sent to the SS hospital in Vienna to recover from his wounds. After recovering he returned to the LSSAH and took over command of the 8th Company, SS Panzer Regiment 1 LSSAH and moved to France.

During operations in Normandy the company was active in the areas of Saint-Lambert, Tournai-sur-Dive, and Villedieu-lès-Bailleul, during the fighting to break out of the Falaise Gap on 19 August 1944, he showed special bravery. After a fierce fire fight with Allied tanks, Armberger on 20 August as the leader of the 8th Company led them from the trap at Falaise. On the way, he personally knocked out 4 Sherman tanks with Panzerfausts. Afterwards he was killed in the heavy fighting in the area northeast of Mossey/Evreux. On 31 October 1944 he received the Knight's Cross posthumously.

Josef Armberger's grave is located at the military cemetery Champigny in the department of Eure.

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 194.
  2. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 115, 483.
Bibliography
  • Federl, Christian (2000). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939–1945 Die Panzertruppe [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Panzer Divisions 1939–1945 The Panzer Force] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-43-0.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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.
  • Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Waffen-SS]. Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag. ISBN 978-3-920677-43-9.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.7909-0284-5.