Pittschellis, Adolf Hans (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:: October 28th, 1914 (Homberg/Hesse-Nassau, Germany)
Date of death:: January 26th, 1945 (Vereb, Hungary)
Buried on:: German War Graves Veszprém
Plot: 5. Row: 20. Grave: 558.
Service number:: SS-Nr.: 52.819 // NSDAP-Nr.: 1.492.016
Nationality:: German

Biography

Promotions:
November 4th, 1932: SS-Anwärter;
March 18th, 1933: SS-Mann;
July 9th, 1934: SS-Sturmmann;
October 15th, 1934: SS-Rottenführer;
October 1st, 1936: SS-Scharführer;
February 16th, 1937: SS-Hauptscharführer;
April 20th, 1937: SS-Untersturmführer;
November 9th, 1938: SS-Obersturmführer;
November 9th, 1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer (Waffen-SS);
November 9th, 1943: SS-Sturmbannführer (Waffen-SS ).

Career:
November 4th, 1932: Allgemeine SS;
November 4th, 1932: NSDAP;
1936: Junker Schule Brauhnschweig;
1938: SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 3, Thüringen;
May 1940: Chef 1. / SS-Artillerie-Regiment 3;
October 1941: Kommandeur IV.(Schwere) / SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf";
1942 - 1943: 7. / III. / SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf";
January 1944 - 1944: Kommandeur SS-Sturmgeschützabteilung / 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf";
1944 - January 4th, 1945: Kommandeur SS- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3. / 3. SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf";
January 4th, 1945 - January 26th, 1945: Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf".

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer

Awarded on:: February 1934

DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze

Rank:: SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
Awarded on:: December 1st, 1937

Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen

Rank:: SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
Awarded on:: December 1st, 1937

Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS

Rank:: SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)
Awarded on:: December 1st, 1937

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

Rank:: SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:: SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 3
Awarded on:: January 26th, 1939

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

Rank:: SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:: SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 3
Awarded on:: October 26th, 1939

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Batterie, SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment 3
Awarded on:: May 31st, 1940

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:: Chef, 1. Batterie, SS-Artillerie-Regiment 3, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:: July 16th, 1941

(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen (ohne zahlen), I.Stufe

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:: IV.(Schwere) Abteilung, SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:: December 20th, 1941

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:: Chef, 7. Batterie, III. Abteilung, SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
Awarded on:: July 12th, 1942

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:: Chef, 7. Batterie, III. Abteilung, SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment, 3. SS-Division "Totenkopf", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:: October 23rd, 1942

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:: Chef, 7. Batterie, III. Abteilung, SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
Awarded on:: August 31st, 1943

Demjanskschild

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:: Chef, 7. Batterie, III. Abteilung, SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Totenkopf", 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Totenkopf'
Awarded on:: December 31st, 1943

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:: Kommandeur, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3, 3. SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf", Waffen-SS
Awarded on:: August 23rd, 1944

Pittschellis’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“On the 19.07.1944 SS-Sturmbannführer Pittschellis received the order to assemble a force from his 7 available Sturmgeschützen and 2 Infanterie-Kompanien from the assembly area at Kielbaski. With this force he was to block the supply bridges over the Niemen that were supporting the enemy forces on the west side of the river and push the enemy towards the northwest.

Despite heavy enemy pressure and a desperate defense, Sturmbannführer Pittschellis succeeded in fighting his way northwards from the Kielbaski area, and he used an Infanterie-Kompanie to block the supply bridge leading to the enemy forces that had infiltrated onto the west bank of the Niemen. In all this time he showed great battlefield skill.

In spite of the darkness that had by now set in, Pittschellis decided to continue attacking towards the northwest towards Sopockinie on his own initiative with 7 Sturmgeschützen and an Infanterie-Kompanie. In a critical situation, and while operating in extremely difficult terrain conditions, Pittschellis inspired his weary soldiers forwards with his own outstanding example and fearless attacking spirit. He and his troops crushed a strong enemy Pakfront and threw back the enemy from the commanding heights on the eastern village edge southeast of Spockinie. At 00:30 they reported that the village was in friendly hands.

With this the enemy forces that had fought their way to the west (in strength of 3 Guards cavalry divisions and 2 rifle divisions) were cut off from their rearward connections, and a further influx of enemy forces operating in the direction of Augustow was prevented. In the process numerous weapons and other war materiel was captured.

I hold SS-Sturmbannführer Pittschellis as one who is worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross for his heroic devotion to duty and his decisive success.”