Hans Eckert

Hans Eckert
Born	1 June 1916 Mittelfranken, Germany
Died	11 July 1974 (aged 58) Kitzingen on the Main, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1934–45
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class German Cross in Gold Close Combat Clasp in Gold

Hans Eckert (1 June 1916 — 11 July 1974) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain), 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

Hans Eckert was born at Zailach in Middle Franconia on 1 June 1916. He joined the SS-VT in 1934.

World War II

Eckert was selected to become an officer and was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in July 1941. He commanded 14th Company, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland and on 9 November 1942, was promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant).^[1]

In February 1943 Eckert was given command of 8th Company, Deutschland Regiment and was awarded the German Cross in Gold.^[1][2] In March 1944, he was given command of a Battalion in the Kampfgruppe, Das Reich.

On 5 April his Kampfgruppe started a dawn attack in the Stratkowze, Wysuzka, Olexinze and Skypowce sector which by 7 April had reached Tluste - Miasto, capturing a number of Red Army men and equipment.^[1] For these actions Eckert was awarded the Knight's Cross, the Close Combat Clasp in Gold and promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain), and given command of the I. Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland.^[1][2]

Postwar

Eckert died on 11 July 1974 after suffering a stroke.^[3]

Summary of SS career

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 July 1941)^[4]
  • 1st Class (25 September 1941)^[4]
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Gold (20 April 1944)^[4][5]
• German Cross in Gold on 13 February 1944 as SS-Obersturmführer in the 8./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Das Reich"^[6]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 May 1944 as SS-Obersturmführer of the Reserves and leader of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland" of the SS-Panzer-Kampfgruppe "Das Reich"^{[7][Note 1]}

Dates of rank

26 July 1941:	SS-Untersturmführer of the Reserves[4]
9 November 1942:	SS-Obersturmführer of the Reserves[4]
8 August 1944:	SS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves[4]

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as leader of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland".^[8] According to Krätschmer as SS-Obersturmführer.^[9]

References

Citations

1. "personregister".
2. "frontkjemper".
3. Krätschmer 1999, p. 675.
4. Thomas & Wegmann 2000, p. 152.
5. Berger 2004, p. 75.
6. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 96.
7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 168.
8. Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
9. Krätschmer 1999, p. 674.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold [Knight's Cross Bearers with the Close Combat Clasp in Gold] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-3-7.
• 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.
• 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.
• Mattson, Gregory (2002). SS-The realm. The History of the Second SS division, 1939-45. Staplehurst. ISBN 1-86227-144-5.
• 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.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (2000). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 5: Dr–Em [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 5: Dr–Em] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2575-1.