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Paletta, Harry Horst (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
August 29th, 1922 (Scholastikowo, West Prussia, Poland)
Date of death:
November 17th, 1944 (near Batina, Vinkovci , Baranja, Croatia)
Buried on:
German War Graves Zagreb
Grave: UNK.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 391.948 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
20.04.1941: SS-Untersturmführer
21.06.1943: SS-Obersturmführer

Career:
01.10.1932-24.10.1935: Hitlerjugend
24.10.1939: joined the SS SS-Standarte "Deutschland"
02.09.1940-10.04.1941: SS-Junker, SS-Junkerchule Bad Tölz
20.04.1941-15.02.1943: SS-Ustuf, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"
15.02.1943-22.03.1943: SS-Ustuf, SS-Panzerjager-Ersatz-Abteilung, 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking"
22.03.1943-12.07.1943: SS-Ustuf, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking"
12.07.1943: SS-Ostuf, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie, ,7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen"
00.11.1944: SS-Ostuf, Führer, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 7, 7.SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen"
Tank ace credited with 12 tank kills

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Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
SS-Ehrenring
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
August 29th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
September 5th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
December 15th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
February 22nd, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
April 15th, 1943
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 14. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
May 1st, 1943
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kdr, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie, 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs Division “Prinz Eugen”
Awarded on:
August 21st, 1944
in silver
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 7 "Prinz Eugen", 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Division "Prinz Eugen"
Awarded on:
November 26th, 1944
Paletta’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“SS-Obersturmführer Paletta, commander of the SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie of the SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 7 (SS-Gebirgs-Division “Prinz Eugen”), has overseen the destruction of 31 T-34s in just 4 days. He alone destroyed 10 T-34s with his Sturmgeschütz. The other 21 tanks were knocked out by his subordinate Sturmgeschütz crews.

Throughout this decisive success he repeatedly demonstrated great personal daring and bravery. And by it he permitted the formation of a bridgehead over the Save river according to plan, which was held until the arrival of those divisions fighting south of Belgrade.”

To this was added a note of approval by Generalfeldmarschall Freiherr von Weichs…

“I support this recommendation. As a result of the destruction of 31 enemy tanks by SS-Obersturmführer Paletta and his subordinated Sturmgeschütze the Belgrade bridgehead could be held long enough for the hard pressed troops south of here to retreat over the Save.”

posthumously awarded
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photos