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Maringgele, Hermann (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
November 29th, 1911 (Tschars/South Tirol, Austria)
Date of death:
July 21st, 2000 (Solingen, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Biography

00.00.1935-00.00.1936: second Italo-Abyssionian War with the Italian Army
28.01.1940: joined the Waffen SS
00.06.1941: SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 1, SS-Kavallerie-Brigade - campaign in Russia - Operation Barbarossa
00.04.1942: Wjasma Rzhev sector in front of Moscow
00.08.1942: severely WIA and evacuated to a Lazarett
00.10.1942: Zugführer, 2. Schwadron, SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 15 after renaming of SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 1, 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division 'Florian Geyer'
00.02.1943: Battle of Kharkov
00.00.1944: campaign in Ukraine, Romania then Hungary
00.12.1944: Battle of Budapest, SS-Hascha, Führer, SS-Kampfgruppe
00.02.1945: ordered to Berlin
21.02.1945: promoted to SS-Ustuf d.R., Führer, SS-Kavallerie-Ersatz-Bataillon
00.05.1945: US POW

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 20th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 1st, 1942
(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 22nd, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 1942
WIA 00.08.1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 1944
awarded for 25 battles of hand to hand combat, leading 47 successful assault operations in ferocious street fighting
Nahkampfspange in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
Unit:
Zugführer, 2. Schwadron, SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 15, 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
January 27th, 1945
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
Unit:
Zugführer, 2. Schwadron, SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 15, 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
February 21st, 1945

Received for 84 confirmed close combat days.
Nahkampfspange in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
Unit:
Zugführer, 2. Schwadron, SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 15, 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
February 21st, 1945
Maringgele’s Knights’ Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Hauptscharführer Maringgele demonstrated extraordinary bravery and prudence as a leader during the fighting for Fortress Budapest. Over the course of 37 assault/patrol operations, some of which were conducted far behind enemy lines, he inflicted significant losses on the enemy and obtained much valuable reconnaissance. Through his bold operations (their success made possible solely due to his leadership and personal example) Maringgele was able to firm up the front of his Regiment time and again, and their success contributed significantly to the ability of the pocket’s frontline in this area to be maintained despite the strong enemy superiority.

During the ordered breakout from the Budapest pocket Maringgele took control of a group of 60 men, and he led them deep through enemy territory in an exemplary manner. With these men he was the first soldier from the pocket to reach the German lines already on the 13.02.1945.

SS-Hauptscharführer Maringgele has been involved in well over 50 days of close combat.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo