Dürr, Emil (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:: June 11th, 1920 (Mühlacker/Württemberg, Germany)
Date of death:: June 27th, 1944 (Saint Mauvieu/Normandy, France)
Buried on:: German War Cemetery La Cambe
Plot: 18. Grave: 349.
Service number:: SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:: German

Biography

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 4. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 26, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend'
Awarded on:: June 23rd, 1944

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: 4. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 26, 12. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Hitlerjugend'
Awarded on:: June 24th, 1944

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: Geschützführer, 4.(s) Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26, 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"
Awarded on:: August 23rd, 1944

The following newspaper excerpt describes why Dürr would be awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Blown with the enemy tank into the air - Posthumous Knight’s Cross for an SS NCO:

During the battles along the Invasion Front a force of enemy infantry and tanks succeeded in overrunning the German position in the wake of a multi-hour artillery barrage. This resulted in the encirclement of a Bataillon staff. Several tanks blocked the only retreat route. During the night SS-Unterscharführer Dürr crept up to an enemy tank and destroyed it with a Panzerfaust. In order to destroy a second enemy tank he grabbed a magnetic anti-tank grenade and held it against the enemy tank until detonation. In the process the 24-year old found a hero’s death. His sacrificial deed freed open the retreat route for the Bataillon staff and 40 additional comrades.”

Awarded posthumously.