Date of birth:

January 17th, 1907 (Karlsruhe/Baden, Germany)

Date of death:

May 6th, 1987 (Baden-Baden/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 16.362 // NSDAP-Nr.:

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

00.00.1933: joined the SS
00.00.1933-00.00.1934: Infanterie-Lehrgang
00.00.1934: Chef, SS-Ausbildungswesen, Fürth
00.00.1934: Lehrer, SS-Sportschule, Fürth then Reutlingen
01.10.1934: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer and Zugführer, SS-Pionier-Sturmbann Dresden
00.04.1935: SS-Ustuf, SS-Pioniersturmbann, SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.00.1935: promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
00.09.1939: SS-Ostuf, Zugführer, 2. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon, SS-VT- campaign in Poland
00.05.1940: campaign in the West
15.07.1940: promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer
00.09.1940: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 2. Kompanie, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, SS-VT
00.06.1941: Operation Barbarossa
00.10.1941: SS-Hstuf, Kommandeur, SS-Pionier-Bataillon 5, SS-Division 'Wiking' - region Kaukasus, Don
00.00.1942: promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer
00.01.1943: SS-Stubaf, defended Stalinsky Put
30.01.1943: promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer
00.05.1943: SS-Ostubaf, Pionierführer, III. SS-Panzerkorps - Leningrad, Oranienbaum
00.00.1944: Führer of many Kampfgruppen
09.11.1944: promoted to SS-Standartenführer
14.05.1945: surrendered in Schleswig-Holstein - British POW
08.11.1948: released

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Awarded on:

1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 3rd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Panzer-Pionier-Battalion 5, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking", Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

February 12th, 1943

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

"SS-Sturmbannführer Schäfer was with his Battalion on the 19.01.1943 as they were heading southeastwards towards Prolekarskaja on a broad front. In the night, during a bad blizzard, they were attacked by the enemy. His objective was to capture a bridge at Manytsch on the main Prolekarskaja-Ssalsk road. The Division held the bridgehead at Prolekarskaja and they had to prevent the enemy from taking it. SS-Sturmbannführer Schäfer took the decision to become the cornerstone of the defenses here with his battalion. He launched an attack against the enemy that had broken into the bridgehead by advancing around it in their vehicles. Hard fighting followed and the fall of Manytsch was prevented long enough for the Division to pass through and evade heavy losses. Schäfer was at the focal point of this attack during the hard fighting."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

III.(germ.) SS-Panzerkorps, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

November 25th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Unit:

Korpspionierführer, III.(germ.) SS-Panzerkorps, Waffen-SS

Awarded on:

January 25th, 1945

Awarded for his achievements during the fighting near Dorpat in August 1944. He was able to prevent an enemy breakthrough that would have resulted in a friendly regiment becoming encircled. Later, during the retreat movements of German troops, the hard-pressing Soviet forces threatened to capture two bridges. On his own initiative Schäfer and a handful of troops under his command were able to blow up both structures, at a point when the first enemy tanks were only 15 m away from the bridges.

714th Award.

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• Photo 3:
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2010.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Scheibert, Horst. Die Träger der Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und der Waffen-SS/ Die Träger der Ehrentaffelspange der Kriegsmarine/ Die Inhaber des Ehrenpokals für Besondere Leistung im Lukftkrieg. Friedberg, Ger.: Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 1986, ISBN 3-7909-0283-7
  - Axis History Forum via Awardholders / unit
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945
  - Vorschlag für die Verleihung des Eichenlaubs zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes via Bundesarchiv
  - Lexikon der Wehrmacht