Friedrich Herzig

Friedrich Herzig
Nickname(s)	Fritz
Born	18 July 1915 Austria
Died	23 January 1954 (aged 38)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Sturmbannführer
Unit	103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class German Cross in Gold Panzer Badge in Silver Wound Badge

Friedrich Herzig (18 July 1915 — 23 January 1954) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded 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.

Herzig started the war in the 3rd Company, SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 5, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking he was transferred to the Tiger tank company of the SS Panzer Regiment 2, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich in February 1943. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold in January 1945, while serving on the staff of SS Panzer Brigade Gross. The brigade was formed from elements of the SS Panzer Troop Training and Replacement Regiment at Dundaga (German: Dondagen), Latvia, along with SS Panzer Troop Training Regiment "Seelager".

Herzig then took over command of the 503 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion on the Eastern Front during the withdrawal into Berlin. He was one of the last persons to be awarded the Knight's Cross on 29 April 1945, when that afternoon one was awarded to Eugéne Vaulôt who had personally destroyed eight tanks and Herzig received the other. Two others received less prestigious awards for only knocking out five tanks each.^[1]

Herzig survived the war and died on the 23 January 1954.

References

1. Beevor, p.352

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. 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.
• Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.