TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Brandner, Josef Wilhelm "Sepp"

Date of birth:
September 1st, 1915 (Hohenberg/Lower Austria, Austria)
Date of death:
June 6th, 1996 (Vienna, Austria)
Nationality:
Austrian (1938-1945, Reichsgau)

Biography

Promotions:
24th October 1937: Vormeister in het Österreichisches Bundesheer.
1st October 1938: Obergefreiter in de Wehrmacht.
1st December 1938: Unteroffizier.
1st April 1940: Wachtmeister.
4th May 1940: Offizier Anwärter.
1st June 1942: Oberleutnant.
1st June 1943: Hauptmann.
April 1945: Major.
After the Second World War, Brandner served in the Austrian Army and was awarded with the Croix du Combattant de Europe (1st May 1975) and the Silbernes Verdienstabzeichen der Republik Österreich (7th July 1994).

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

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 14th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 16th, 1942
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 23rd, 1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 4th, 1942

Silver version.
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 1st, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 21st, 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202
Awarded on:
September 14th, 1943

Award 442/45.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
2. / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202
Awarded on:
September 7th, 1944

3311th Award.
Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 20th, 1944
(Allgemeines) Sturmabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Kommandeur Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912 / 205.Infanterie-Division/ XXXVIII.Panzer-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Kurland
Awarded on:
March 17th, 1945
Awarded for his actions during the fighting in Courland. On the first day of the Third Battle of Courland (21.12.1944) he and his Brigade smashed a Soviet armoured spearhead aimed against the Tukkum-Frauenburg road, destroying 26 tanks within a short time. At the time the Brigade was attached to the 11. Infanterie-Division. Brandner himself had reconnoitred the terrain on the day before and so was able to position his Sturmgeschütze in ideal positions for the Soviet attack.

He and his unit went on to distinguish themselves in the Fourth and Fifth Battles of Courland. Brandner himself destroyed his 57th tank in the Fourth Battle, and in the Fifth he and his unit closed off a frontline gap near Berlin with the support of the 205. Infanterie-Division.

4761st Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 11th, 1945
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Führer Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912 / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Kurland
Awarded on:
April 26th, 1945
Awarded for distinguishing himself with his Brigade during the Sixth Battle of Courland while operating south of Schrunden and in the vicinity of the Matchstick Factory (near Frauenburg).

The awarding of the Eichenlaub is according his own testimony. Although there are photos known with him wearing the Eichenlaub, no official confirmation is known. Based on the presumed date of awarding this should be the 846th Award, however numbring of the officially known awards had stopped after the 843rd Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 4th, 1945
Ärmelband Kurland

Sources