Date of birth:

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

Date of death:

May 27th, 1992 (Gedern/Hesse, Germany)

Service number:

44.503 (SS) / 590.774 (NSDAP)

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
?: SS-Unterscharführer;
?: SS-Oberjunker;
December 1940: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve;
December 1941: SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve;
November 1942: SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve;
April 1944: SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve;
April 20th, 1945: SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve.

Career:
1931: NSADP;
1932: SS-Totenkopfverband 'Brandenburg', Konzentrationslager Sachsenhausen;
1937: SS-SS-Verfügungstruppe;
September 6th, 1939: 1. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 3;
March 27th, 1940: SS-Junkerschule, Bad Tölz;
1940: SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5;
August 1st, 1940: Zugführer, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1;
January 31st, 1941: Kompanieführer, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1;
February 21st, 1941: Kompanieführer, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5;
March 1941: Adjutant, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5;
February 1943: Führer, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5;
January 24th, 1944: Führer, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs und-Ersatz-Bataillon;
April 1944: Kommandeur, SS-Pionier-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Bataillon 1.

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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
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - 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.
  - SCHNEIDER, J.W., Their Honor Was Loyalty!, Bender (R.James) Publishing, 1993.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38