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Wolff, Werner

Date of birth:
November 28th, 1922 (Memel/Eastprussia, Germany)
Date of death:
March 30th, 1945 (Reserve-Lazerett Götzendorf an der Leitha/Lower Austria, Austria)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 376.943 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
November 1st, 1941: SS-Junker;
April 20th, 1942: SS-Untersturmführer;
November 1943: SS-Obersturmführer.

Career:
November 1st, 1941: SS-Junkerschule;
July 1943: Zugführer, 13. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2;
September 1943: Adjutant, III. (gepanzerte) Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2;
January 1944: Chef, 7. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1;
March 19th, 1945: Chef, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1.

Werner Wolff was seriously wounded on March 19th, 1945 at Inota, Hungary and was transferred to the Reserve-Lazerett Götzendorf where he died on March 30th, 1945 (according to Regimentsarzt Dr. Sickel).

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DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 20th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
SS-Ehrenring
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 28th, 1943
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Adjutant, III. (gep.) Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "LSSAH", SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
August 7th, 1943
Wolff's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows…

"SS-Untersturmführer Wolff is a long-time veteran of the Eastern front, and was awarded the Iron Cross First Class in March 1943. He is the model of the best type of young frontline officer, and has continually distinguished himself through his extraordinary bravery and successes on the battlefield.

He has always shown natural talent and decisiveness as a leader, and he and his Zuge played a major role in the winter battle at Kharkov and the capture of Belgorod. He has personally destroyed 11 guns with his self-propelled 3.7 cm Pak gun in addition to numerous mortars, MGs and anti-tank rifles. He's even succeeded in knocking out 2 T-34 tanks with this weapon from very close range, a clear demonstration of his courage on the battlefield.

Wolff's finest hour would come on the 12.07.1943, when the Russians launched an attack against Hill 252.2 (located south of Prokhorovka) with about 150 tanks together with mounted and follow-up infantry forces. On this day the enemy broke through the security line and suddenly appeared amidst the SPWs of the Bataillon, which was located on the reverse slope of the hill. The attackers fired with all guns blazing, whilst the Panzergrenadiers defended themselves from any available trenches and foxholes.

However Wolff responded with incredible energy, choosing to take over a Kompanie which had been rendered leaderless after its commander had become a casualty. He immediately organized a defensive front, deployed close combat anti-tank teams and saved his burning and exploding SPW from destruction in an exceptional display of duty. All these efforts paved the way for a viable defense to be conducted.

The power of his personality did not merely restore the fighting spirit of the exhausted Grenadiers, but furthermore managed to fill them with a bitter and unshakeable élan which the hostile attack proved unable to overcome.

He stood as the upright rock in the storm at every hotspot of the fighting, whilst also serving as an example for his troops in the ferocious combat. Here he personally knocked out a T-34 in close combat and killed the enemy's commanding general with his own dagger in a bitter man-to-man struggle.

By the evening of this day the entire enemy tank corps was totally destroyed, and the old line had been restored via a friendly counterthrust. Such a success was made possible in no small part because of the efforts of SS-Untersturmführer Wolff. His self-stemming actions here have made him out to be both an inspiring example and a crisis-proof leader of men."
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1943
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 1944
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef, 7. (Tiger) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division LAH
Awarded on:
November 2nd, 1944
other sources give 05.02.1945 (Veit Scherzer)
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS

Sources

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