Franz Augsberger
| Franz Augsberger | |
|---|---|
|
Franz Augsberger (left), Fritz Klingenberg | |
| Born | 10 October 1905 |
| Died |
19 March 1945 (aged 39) near Neustadt, Oberschlesien |
| Allegiance |
|
| Service/branch | Waffen-SS |
| Rank | SS-Brigadeführer |
| Commands held | 3 Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade; 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
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Franz Xaver Josef Maria Augsberger (10 October 1905 – 19 March 1945) was a high-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was killed in action in March 1945.
Born in Austria in 1905, Franz Augsberger join the Sturmabteilung (SA) on and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1930. He was in charge of the NSDAP's propaganda until June 1933, when the NSDAP was declared illegal in Austria. Augsberger moved to Germany and joined the SS in 1932. In 1934 Augsberger joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS Dispositional Troops; SS-VT). He attended and then taught at an SS training school until March 1939, when he was transferred SS regiment Der Führer.
Augsberger was appointed commander of a regiment in the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord. In April 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. In October 1942 Augsberger was appointed commander of 3 Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade. In 1944 the brigade was enlarged to form the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian), with Augsberger remaining the unit's commander. Augsberger commanded the division during the long retreat of the German forces on the Eastern Front. In early March he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by filed marshal Ferdinand Schörner. On 19 March, he was killed in action during an attempt to break out of a subsequent encirclement at Oppeln.
Awards
- German Cross in Gold on 30 May 1942 as SS-Sturmbannführer in the SS-Infanterie-Regiment 7 (motorized)[1]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (9 March 1944)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 March 1945 as SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS and commander of the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr. 1)[2]
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- 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.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none |
Commander of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland" 22 March 1943 – 1 May 1943 |
Succeeded by SS-Gruppenführer Fritz von Scholz |