Date of birth:

April 20th, 1914 (Kittlitz/Löbau, Germany)

Date of death:

April 18th, 1995 (München, Germany)

Buried on:

Nordfriedhof Munich
Plot: 193. Row: A. Grave: 14.

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 153.508 // NSDAP-Nr.: 5.508.247

Nationality:

German

In service from October 1st 1934.
Promotions:
01.11.1934: SS-Junker
00.00.1935: SS-Standartenjunker
25.02.1936: SS-Standartenoberjunker
20.04.1936: SS-Untersturmführer
11.09.1938: SS-Obersturmführer
25.05.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS
01.09.1942: SS-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS
30.01.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer der Waffen-SS
15.08.1944: SS-Standartenführer (unconfirmed)

Career:
00.00.1928: joined the Reichslandbund
00.11.1932: joined the Hitlerjugend
00.07.1933: joined the SS-VT
10.08.1933: 18. SS-Standarte Königsberg
01.06.1934: Geländesportlehrer, SS-Sportschule, Wolfenbüttel
00.00.1934: Führeranwärterlehrgang, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Jüterborg
24.04.1935-20.04.1936: SS-Junker, 2. Friedens-Junker-Lehrgang, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
00.04.1936: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 9. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT, Berlin-Lichterfelde
00.03.1937: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, Panzerspähzug, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT
00.00.1938: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 17. Sturm, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT
01.10.1938: SS-Ostuf, Ordonnanz-Offizier, SS-Begleitkommando des Führers
03.09.1939: SS-Ostuf, Adjutant, Führer Adolf Hitler - campaign in Poland
25.01.1940: SS-Ostuf, Zugführer, II. Zug, 15. Kradschützen-Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT - campaign in the Netherlands then in France - Operation Fall Gelb
10.05.1940: SS-Ostuf, Adjutant, Sepp Dietrich, LAH - Esquelbecq, the Netherlands
00.05.1940: SS-Ostuf, WIA
00.06.1940: SS-Hstuf, Ordonnanz-Offizier, K-Stand, Führerhauptquartier Felsennest
00.12.1940: SS-Hstuf, Adjutant, Stab, SS-Infanterie-Regiment LAH
00.03.1941: SS-Hstuf, Adjutant, Stab, SS-Infanterie-Regiment LAH - campaign in the Balkans - Operation Marita, liaison officer with the Greek Army
00.06.1941: SS-Hstuf, Adjutant, Stab, SS-Infanterie-Division LAH, III. Armee-Korps, Heeresgruppe Süd - campaign in Russia - Operation Barbarossa
31.07.1941: SS-Hstuf, Stab, LAH - capture of Novo-Archelsk, Uman Pocket, Ukraine
00.11.1941: SS-Hstuf, at the disposal of the Ia, Stab, LAH - fightings in Crimea, Perekop, Berdjansk, Mariupol and Taganrog
15.02.1942: SS-Hstuf, Führer, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1, SS-Division LAH
01.06.1942: SS-Hstuf, 6. Generalstabslehrgang, Kriegsakademie Berlin
01.09.1942: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1, 1. SS-Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
22.10.1942: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
00.02.1943: SS-Stubaf, Kdr, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, II. SS-Panzer-Korps - Battle of Kharkov
08.02.1943-09.02.1943: SS-Stubaf, fightings in Merefa
14.02.1943: broke out to Alexejewka
22.02.1943: fightings to recapture Kharkov in Jeremejwka
00.06.1943: SS-Stubaf, Führer, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend'
00.07.1943: Regimentsführerlehrgang, Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf
00.08.1943: training at Mailly-le-Camp, France then in Hasselt, Belgium
00.06.1944: fightings near Authie, Calvados, France
07.06.1944-15.07.1944: SS-Ostubaf, Kdr, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend' - detroyed 219 allied tanks - Normandie, France
09.06.1944: WIA to the head
28.06.1944-29.06.1944: fightings near Amayé-sur-Seulles and Saint-André-sur-Orne along the Orne River, Hill 112
00.08.1944: SS-Staf, proposed for the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwerter
20.08.1944: SS-Staf, WIA when trying to break out of the Falaise Pocket
24.08.1944: SS-Staf, captured near Saint Lambert - British POW in POW camp 165, Caithness, Scotland
00.00.1948: released

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

Awarded on:

February 1934

Awarded on:

December 1935

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

December 1937

Rank:

SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

9. Sturm, I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte LAH

Awarded on:

December 1937

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

17. Sturm, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"

Awarded on:

October 1938

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Ordonnanz-Offizier, Begleitskommando des Führers

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Ordonnanz-Offizier, Begleitskommando des Führers

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Ordonnanz-Offizier, Begleitskommando des Führers

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 15. Kradschützen-Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT

Awarded on:

May 25th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 15. Kradschützen-Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT

Awarded on:

May 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 15. Kradschützen-Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer, II. Zug, 15. Kradschützen-Kompanie, SS-Standarte 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', SS-VT

Awarded on:

October 30th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 6th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 6th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 16th, 1942

with swords on Ribbon of Military Virtue
a document in his SS file gives date of award as 03.09.1942

Royal Decree Nr. 2020

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Führer, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

February 25th, 1943

based on a recommendation dated 14.02.1943 and signed by Rgt. Kdr. Georg Schönberger

Award 317/1

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Abteilung, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, 1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1943

Wünsche's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows…

"On the 25.02.1943 the combat reconnaissance of the reinforced Aufkl.Abt./LSSAH reported that a strong enemy column was marching towards the southern wing of the LSSAH. Without waiting for orders, SS-Sturmbannführer Wünsche (who had been assigned command of the Kampfgruppe) commenced an enveloping armoured thrust on his own initiative. Striking out towards the north from Jeremejewka, he and his force engaged the column and destroyed the following enemy materiel:

24 guns (7.62 cm long)
13 guns (7.62 cm short)
10 anti-tank guns (4.5 cm)
6 guns (12.2 cm)
1 gun (10.5 cm l.F.H., a captured German model)
300-400 sleds with their horses/oxen

Numerous mortars, anti-tank rifles, heavy machine-guns and light machine-guns were likewise destroyed. The enemy also suffered losses of 800-900 dead.

SS-Sturmbannführer Wünsche's determined intervention eliminated strong hostile forces whilst simultaneously bringing significant relief to the southern wing of the LSSAH. The outstanding bravery he displayed here (his Panzer alone destroyed 2 guns of 12.2 cm calibre) combined with his superior leadership (our losses amounted to 5 dead and 14 wounded) clearly prove him as worthy of being awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross."

1567th Award
based on a recommendation approved 26.02.1943 by Div. Kdr. “Sepp” Dietrich

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 11th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Hitlerjugend”, I. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe B

Awarded on:

August 11th, 1944

Wünsche's Oakleaves' recommendation reads as follows…

"Up until this point in time [01.07.1944] SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche's SS-Panzer-Rgt. 12 has destroyed 219 enemy tanks in the fierce offensive and defensive battles west of Caen. Such success is directly attributable to the flexible leadership and decisiveness of the regimental commander, who has mastered even the most difficult of situations through his ruthless devotion to duty.

In particular, the actions of SS-Panzer-Rgt. 12 on the 28./29.06.1944 were invaluable in preventing the enemy from achieving their aim of establishing a bridgehead over the Orne river at Amayé and St. Andrée. Kampfgruppe Wünsche was able to smash the enemy's armoured spearhead via persistent counterattacks and skillfully executed flanking thrusts. The Division would not have been able to destroy the enemy forces southwest of Caen without the aid of SS-Obersturmbannführer Wünsche's SS-Panzer-Rgt. 12.

The achievements of this Regiment are all the more worthy of recognition when one considers that it is a young Regiment with a very young NCO contingent commanding even younger enlisted troops. SS-Panzer-Rgt. 12's own losses are paltry in comparison to those armoured losses it has inflicted on the enemy. SS-Obersturmbannführer Wünsche himself was wounded on the second day of operations in a bout of man-to-man close combat, however he remained with his Regiment and continued to lead it bravely.

I ask that SS-Obersturmbannführer Wünsche's personal bravery and flexible leadership be recognized with the award of the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross."

548th Award
based on a recommendation dated 01.07.1944 and signed by Div. Kdr. Kurt Meyer

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2010.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - wünsche max.JPG1.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPG2.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPG22.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPg33.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPG4.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPG5.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPG6.JPG.
  - wünsche max.JPG8.JPG.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, 2001
  - Federl, C., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, Germany, 2000
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Microfilm Publication A3343. US National Archives

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Nordfriedhof Munich

münchen - Bayern