Harry Phönix

Harry Phönix
Born	3 January 1913 Žagarė, Lithuania
Died	21 December 1999 (aged 86) Nürtingen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Hauptsturmführer
Unit	8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Close Combat Clasp in Gold
Other work	Teacher

Harry Phönix (3 January 1913 – 21 December 1999) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He 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. He was also one of only 631 men to be awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold for 50 days of close combat or hand-to-hand fighting.^[1] Harry Phönix was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 21 February 1945, while in command of the II. Battalion, 8th SS Artillery Regiment, 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer. The Division was fighting on the Hungarian Front at the time and attempting to break out of the encirclement at Budapest (Siege of Budapest).

Commands

• 5th Battery, II. Battalion, 8th SS Artillery Regiment
• II. Battalion, 8th SS Artillery Regiment

Awards

• Close Combat Clasp in Gold on 21 February 1945 for at least 50 days in close combat^[2]
• German Cross in Gold on 16 January 1944 as SS-Obersturmführer in the 5./SS-Artillerie-Regiment^[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 February 1945 as SS-Hauptsturmführer and commander of the II./SS-Artillerie-Regiment^[4]

References

Citations

1. Berger 2004, p. 6.
2. Berger 2004, p. 357.
3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 351.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 593.

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.
• 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.
• 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.