Date of birth:

February 11th, 1911 (Weilmünster/Hessen, Germany)

Date of death:

May 27th, 1992 (Gedern, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 44.503 // NSDAP-Nr.: 590.774

Nationality:

German

Finally reached the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve.

00.00.1931: joined the NSDAP
00.00.1932: joined the SS, SS-TV 'Brandenburg', KL Sachsenhausen
00.00.1937: joined the SS-VT
06.09.1939: SS-Unterscharführer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 3, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
27.03.1940-31.07.1940: SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz
00.00.1940: SS-Oberjunker, creation of the SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5 for the newly formed SS-Division 'Wiking'
01.08.1940: Zugführer, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1
00.12.1940: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve
31.01.1941: SS-Ustuf, Kompanieführer, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1, Dresden
21.02.1941: SS-Ustuf, Kompanieführer, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, SS-Division „Wiking"
03.03.1941: SS-Ustuf, Bataillons-Adjutant, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, SS-Division „Wiking"
14.09.1941: WIA
00.12.1941: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
09.11.1942: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve
00.02.1943-00.09.1943: SS-Hstuf, Führer, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking'
04.09.1943: severely WIA to the head
24.01.1944-00.05.1945: SS-Hstuf, Führer, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs und-Ersatz-Bataillon, Dresden
00.04.1944: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve and Kommandeur, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1
00.09.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Regiment 1
20.04.1945: promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve

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Awarded on:

February 1934

Awarded on:

1935

Awarded on:

1936

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 20th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)

Unit:

Stab, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Wiking", LVII. Panzerkorps, 4. Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Don

Awarded on:

January 15th, 1943

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

“On the 08.01.1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer Eichhorn first defended Orlowskaja against a regimental-sized attack on his own initiative with 2 weak Kompanien. Then, in a counterthrust of his own, he smashed the enemy’s 550th Regiment.

Through this Eichhorn has exhibited an example of the highest devotion to duty, and through his independent actions he once again brought the important road/railway junction firmly under friendly control. Over 700 enemy dead were counted. 5 artillery pieces, 3 heavy anti-tank guns, 1 heavy AA gun, 8 anti-tank rifles, 22 MGs, numerous small arms and 30 horse-drawn wagons were also captured.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 1943

WIA 14.09.1941 + 04.09.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1944

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo: Willi Schumacher Collection - https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38
  
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2010.
  - SCHERZER, VEIT, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Bissendorf, 2010.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38