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Gast, Wolfgang (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
February 14th, 1919 (Beelitz-Heilstätten, germany)
Date of death:
May 8th, 1988 (Reutlingen, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 313.183 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

SS-Hauptsturmführer Werner Wolfgang Gast

Promotions:
20.04.1940: SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1941: SS-Obersturmführer
09.11.1943: SS-Hauptsturmführer

Career:
00.00.1940-20.04.1940: SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
01.08.1940: SS-Artillerie-Regiment, SS-VT
01.01.1941: SS-Ustuf, Adjutant, IV. Abteilung, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 2, SS-Division 'Reich'
01.12.1943: SS-Hstuf, SS-Artillerie-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Regiment 2
01.03.1944: SS-Hstuf, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 27th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen (ohne zahlen), I.Stufe
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 4th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Führer, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzerartillerie-Regiment 2 „Das Reich“, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
June 4th, 1944
Gast’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 24.10.1943 the enemy attacked with strong infantry forces from Chodoroff along the road to Tschutschinka. Their aim was to unite their two bridgeheads. After they had forced out our infantry from their positions west of Chodoroff they advanced forwards uncontested to a point about 200-300 meters in front of the firing positions of the 1. & 2./SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ‘Das Reich’.

Here they encountered bitter resistance from these Batterien, the soul of which was SS-Obersturmführer Gast (commander of the I./SS-Pz.A.R. ‘Das Reich’). SS-Obersturmführer Gast realized that this dangerous situation could only be saved by a counterthrust, and so he personally led such a maneuver with his artillerymen. He succeeded in striking the opponent in their flank and pushing them back to the woods at Wesselaja—Dubrowa. In the process the I./SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment ‘Das Reich’ destroyed 3 T-34 tanks. Numerous Russians ended up dead on the battlefield.

SS-Obersturmführer Gast thereby prevented a dangerous Russian thrust into the rear of the weak German forces positioned east of Tschutschinka, and through these actions he also saved valuable materiel in the form of artillery pieces and vehicles. He held this position long enough for elements of the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’ to be brought up, which then swiftly established a new frontline in front of the firing positions of the I./SS-Pz.A.R. ‘Das Reich’.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photos