Günther Degen

Günther Degen
Born	30 August 1917 Hanover, Germany
Died	13 March 1945 (aged 27) Koblenz, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	6th SS Gebirgs Division Nord
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class

Günther Degen (30 August 1917 — 13 March 1945) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS during World War II and 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.

Hauptsturmführer Günther Degen was in command of the I.Battalion, 11th SS Gebirgsjager (Mountain) Regiment Reinhard Heydrich, 6th SS Gebirgs Division Nord when he was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 7 October 1944, when serving in Finland.

Degen did not survive the war but was killed in action on 13 March 1945 near Pfaffenheck where he lies buried in a military cemetery.

References

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