Ludwig Köchle

Ludwig Köchle
Born	28 February 1921 Nofels, Austria
Died	9 June 1942 (aged 21) Lake Ilmen, Russia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1938–42
Rank	Oberscharführer
Unit	3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Eastern Front Medal Infantry Assault Badge in Silver Wound Badge in Black Sudetenland Medal Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung

Ludwig Köchle (also known as "Bunkerknacker"; 28 February 1921 – 9 June 1942) was an Oberscharführer, 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.

Ludwig Köchle was born on the 28 February 1921 in Nofels, Austria. He volunteered to join the SS in 1938 and took part in the occupation of the Sudetenland. During 1941 he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in July and the 1st class award in November. His award of the Knight's Cross was on the 28 February 1942, when an Oberscharführer, in the 1st Company, 1st SS Infantry Regiment, SSTotenkopf. Which was part of Army Group North on the Eastern Front.

Köchle was killed in action on the 9 June 1942 near Polizo southwest of Lake Ilmen when he received a direct hit from an artillery shell.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 February 1942 as SS-Oberscharführer and shock troops leader and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./SS-"Totenkopf"-Infanterie-Regiment 1^[1][2]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 264.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 457.

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.
• Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
• 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.