Willi Eßlinger

Willi Eßlinger
Born	2 June 1916 Württemberg, Germany
Died	25 August 1944 (aged 28) Radzymin, Poland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1939–44
Rank	Hauptscharführer
Unit	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class General Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Willi Eßlinger (2 June 1916 – 25 August 1944) was a Hauptscharführer 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.

Hauptscharführer Willi Eßlinger was awarded the Knight's Cross in June 1943 while a platoon commander in the 3rd Battery, 5th SS Panzerjager Battalion, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking.

Further reading

• 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.