Hugo Primozic

Hugo Primozic
Hugo Primozic
Born	16 February 1914 Backnang, Baden-Württemberg
Died	18 March 1996 (aged 82) Fulda, Hesse
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Rank	second lieutenant
Unit	667th Sturmgeschutz battalion
Commands held	assault gun commander
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Battles of Rzhev
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hugo Primozic (16 February 1914 – 18 March 1996) was one of Germany's Sturmgeschütz (assault gun) aces during World War II. In a five-month period of fighting he was awarded the two grades of the Iron Cross, the Knight's Cross and the Oak leaves. Primozic became the first noncommissioned officer in the history of the German Army, and seventh in the Wehrmacht, to be awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. In the late summer of 1942 he was Wachtmeister (Sergeant) and squad leader of the 2nd battery of the Sturmgeschützabteilung 667.

Career

Primozic was born on 16 February 1914 in Backnang, the son of a tanner who was killed in action in World War I.^[1] Primozic joined the Reichswehr and fought in the French campaign as a field artillery gunner. In 1942 he joined the 667th Sturmgeschutz battalion which was sent to the Eastern Front. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1942 and promoted to Staff Sergeant. On 28 January 1943 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, being simultaneously commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant.

On 25 January 1943 Oberwachtmeister Primozic was the first NCO in the Heer to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.^[2] His last Wehrmacht rank was Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant). He died on March 18, 1996 in Fulda.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 August 1942)^{[3][Note 1]}
  • 1st Class (16 September 1942)^{[3][Note 2]}
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black (23 September 1942)^[4]
• General Assault Badge (24 December 1942)^[4]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 19 September 1942 as Wachtmeister and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 667^[5][6]
  • 185th Oak Leaves on 25 January 1943 as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 667^[5][7]

Promotions

1 April 1935:	Gefreiter[4]
1 October 1936:	Obergefreiter[4]
1 October 1937:	Unteroffizier[4]
1 April 1940:	Wachtmeister[4]
1 September 1942:	Oberwachtmeister[4]
1 February 1943:	Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) with rank age dated 1 February 1943[4]

Notes

1. According to Thomas & Wegmann on 1 September 1942.^[4]
2. According to Thomas & Wegmann on 13 September 1942.^[4]

References

Citations

1. Stockert 1997, p. 343.
2. Stockert 1997, p. 344.
3. Thomas 1998, p. 174.
4. Thomas & Wegmann 1985, p. 221.
5. Scherzer 2007, p. 605.
6. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 345, 500.
7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 65.

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.
• 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.
• Stockert, Peter (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-9-7.
• Thomas, Franz; Wegmann, Günter (1985). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil I: Sturmartillerie [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the German Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Part I: Assault Artillery] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-1447-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.