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Reiter, Hans (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
April 20th, 1920 (Feldkirchen, Kärnten, Austria)
Date of death:
August 15th, 1944 (St. Clair, France)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Champigny-St.-André
Grave: UNK.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 319.948 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
Austrian

Biography

Promotions:
01.09.1939: SS-Sturmmann
20.04.1941: SS-Unterscharführer der Waffen-SS
01.03.1942: SS-Oberscharführer der Waffen-SS (date per document in his SS-Personalakte; other documents in his SS file indicate 03.04.1942 and 20.03.1942)
24.10.1943: SS-Standartenjunker der Waffen-SS
01.03.1944: SS-Untersturmführer der Waffen-SS

Career:
06.04.1938: joined the SS-VT
00.00.1941-00.00.1943: 3. SS-Panzer-Division 'Totenkopf'
00.00.1943: SS-Ustuf, Führer, Stabskompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 10. SS-Panzer-Division 'Frundsberg'
15.08.1944: SS-Ustuf, KIA at Saint Clair de Halouze, Normandy, France

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
15. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:
June 26th, 1941
his Ritterkreuz recommendation gives 01.07.1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
15. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:
October 11th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
15. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:
November 3rd, 1941
his Ritterkreuz recommendation gives 01.11.1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
15. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:
January 5th, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
15. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:
March 17th, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
15. Kompanie, SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Totenkopf-Division
Awarded on:
May 1st, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Awarded on:
June 23rd, 1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Awarded on:
September 6th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Awarded on:
1943
in bronze
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
June 19th, 1944
Demjanskschild
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Unit:
Führer, StabsKompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg", II. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe B
Awarded on:
August 23rd, 1944
Reiter’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“I ask that the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross be awarded to SS-Untersturmführer Hans Reiter (born on the 20.04.1920 in Feldkirchen) for his deeds during the fighting in Normandy. An enemy attack on the morning of the 16.07.1944, one preceded by strong artillery fire and supported by flamethrowers, led to a penetration in the sector of the Kompanie adjacent to Reiter’s section of frontline. However Reiter held his position, rallied the nearby infantry elements and set up an all-round defensive position. In the midday and afternoon hours of the same day he busted open the enemy encirclement ring on his own initiative and established contact with friendly troops.

During this combat he destroyed the following enemy materiel with his Kompanie:

3 medium tanks (a Churchill and two Shermans)
2 armoured AT gun prime movers
7 ammunition carriers
2 medium trucks
2 heavy anti-tank guns (presumably of the 7.6 cm caliber)

Moreover a force of forward moving Allied infantry (in strength of at least 3 companies) were skillfully engaged with combined HE shell and machine gun fire from the flank that smashed the majority of the Allied force and caused the remainder to flee. Untersturmführer-Reiter's courage, skill, and personal leadership negated the planned regimental counterattack for the relief of Kompanie ‘Reiter’. Instead, the already prepared forces reestablished the main line of battle in the eastern sector of the Bataillon ‘Bastian’. Directly and indirectly, Reiter helped both the Regiment and the Division maintain control of the decisive Hill 112.

Reiter is fully worthy of the high honour of receiving the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

based on a recommendation dated 18.07.1944 and signed by Rgt. Kdr. Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer; endorsed by Div. Kdr. Heinz Harmel, 28.07.1944; approved by Korps Kom. Gen. Willi Bittrich
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

  • Photo 1:
  • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives.

Photo