Ertel, Karl-Heinz (Waffen SS)
- Date of birth:
- November 26th, 1919 (Brambauer/Lünen/Westphalia, Germany)
- Date of death:
- January 25th, 1993 (Langenberg/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
- Service number:
- SS-Nr.: 357.277 // NSDAP-Nr.:
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
00.00.1938: RAD
00.00.1938: Freiwilliger, SS-Mann, SS-Standarte „Germania", SS-VT
00.09.1939: SS-Unterscharführer d. R., campaign in Poland
01.11.1939-24.02.1940: SS-Junker, 2. Kriegs-Junker-Lehrgang, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
00.03.1940: SS-Standartenjunker d. R., Ersatz-Bataillon 'Germania'
00.04.1940: 3. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania', SS-VD
00.05.1940: 2. Ordonnanz-Offizier, I. Bataillon, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania' - campaign in France
00.08.1940: Zugführer, 10. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 'Germania'
00.00.1941: SS-Untersturmführer d. R., Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Freiwilligen-Bataillon 'Nordost'
00.06.1941: SS-Ustuf, 1. Ordonnanz-Offizier, SS-Freiwilligen-Bataillon 'Nordost'
00.00.1941: SS-Ustuf, Führer, 9. Kompanie, SS-Freiwilligen-Bataillon 'Nordost' during the fightings for the Georgian Military Highway, Caucasus
00.08.1943: SS-Obersturmführer d. R., Regiments-Adjutant, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiments 49 „De Ruyter", 4. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Brigade „Nederland"
20.04.1944: promoted to SS-Hauptsurmführer der Reserve
00.02.1945: SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R., 1. Ordonnanz-Offizier, III. (germ.) Panzerkorps
06.05.1945: captured in the vicinity of Lippstadt - British POW then US POW
00.04.1947: Yugoslavian POW
20.10.1950: released
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DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- September 10th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- October 19th, 1942
Vapaudenristin 4.luokka (VR 4)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- October 21st, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- December 15th, 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- January 7th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- May 7th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve (Captain of Reserves)
- Unit:
- Adjutant, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment.49 "De Ruyter", SS-Freiwillige-Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade "Nederland", III. (Germanische) SS-Panzerkorps
- Awarded on:
- August 23rd, 1944
“Following heavy retreat battles, on the night of the 25./26.07.1944 the Tannenberg Line between Orphanage Hill and the Gulf of Finland was occupied by the Regiment 49 ‘De Ruyter’. The Regiment had the mission of holding this line against all enemy attacks.
The enemy commenced an immediate assault with a much greater number of divisions, which were aided by strong tank, artillery and air support.
In a sacrificial battle, the Regiment succeeded in defeating all enemy attacks with extremely high losses for the foe. In this major struggle the commander of the Regiment, SS-Obersturmbannführer Collani, fell in battle. In this moment of crisis his adjutant, SS-Hauptsturmführer Ertel, took over leadership of the Regiment.
Undeterred by the strong enemy fire from tanks, rocket launchers, artillery and aircraft, he repeatedly went to the hotspots of the fighting. From these points he inspired officers, NCOs and men to offer up their greatest possible resistance via his own exemplary behaviour. Even after being wounded by a shell splinter to the face he remained with the Regiment and maintained a firm grip over its command.
His crisis-proof, exemplary attitude was of immeasurable value to the Brigade in the hours of its greatest test on the battlefield. He significantly contributed to the prevention of the intended enemy breakthrough against Reval.”
Sources
- Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
- Photo 2:
- Photo: Willi Schumacher Collection
- Postwar Signature of Karl-Heinz Ertel - SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 49
- - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Bissendorf, 2003.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
- http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/e/E159Ertel.pdf
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