Hermann Alber
| Hermann Alber | |
|---|---|
| Born |
12 October 1925 Neckargerach, Heilbronn |
| Died |
2 August 1944 (aged 18) Montchauvet, Normandy |
| Buried at | La Cambe German war cemetery |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1942–44 |
| Rank | Sturmmann |
| Unit | 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Tank Destruction Badge |
Hermann Karl Alber (12 October 1925 – 2 August 1944) was a Sturmmann in the Waffen SS during World War II, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was awarded in recognition of extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Sturmann Alber was awarded the Knight's Cross for his action on the 2 August 1944. At 0800 hours on the road from Le Bény-Bocage, Catheolles, Montchauvet British infantry supported by five tanks started an attack. They were confronted by three Panzer IV from the 6th Company, 9th SS Panzer Regiment, and a section of the 9th Company, 20th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment which was under the command of Sturmann Alber.
Alber and his nine men attacked the feature height 221 Arcais south and kept the British infantry company and six tanks in the town of La Vaupalière which was at the bottom of heights 221 and 220 and under fire. Alber personally destroyed a Cromwell tank with hand grenades.
Alber was killed at around 1930 hours that evening in the area Le Desert, Montchauvet. Alber was awarded all his decorations posthumously on the 26 December 1944: the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 December 1944 (posthumously) as SS-Sturmmann and company messenger in the 9./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 20 "Hohenstaufen"[2][3]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- 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.
- Huß, Jürgen (2009). Ritterkreuzträger im Mannschaftsstand 1941 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the lower Soldiers Rank 1941 – 1945]. Zweibrücken: VDM Nickel. ISBN 978-3-86619-042-9.
- 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.
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
- 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 (1987). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil III: Infanterie Band 1: A–Be [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part III: Infantry Volume 1: A–Be] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1153-2.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
