Date of birth:

January 16th, 1921 (Wachtel, Skripov, Mährisch-Trübau, Czechoslovakia)

Date of death:

December 11th, 2012 (Herten, Recklinghausen, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Service number:

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

Nationality:

Austrian

03.09.1940: joined the 4. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 2, SS-Division 'Reich', SS-VT
01.12.1940: SS-Flak-Kanonier, 3. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Division „Wiking"
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia - Umana, Rostov, river Mius
00.00.1942: slightly WIA 3 times - Caucasus
00.00.1943: Battles of Stalin and Kanev
00.00.1943: SS-Uscha, Geschützführer, 3. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking' - Battles of Cherkassy and Kovel
00.10.1944: SS-Uscha, Geschützführer, 3. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking' - Poland, Serock bridgehead, North East of Warsaw - credited with the destruction of 9 T-34 tanks within 25 minutes
16.11.1944: awarded the Ritterkreuz
20.04.1945: promoted to SS-Oberscharführer
00.04.1945: SS-Oscha, Zugführer, 3. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division 'Wiking' - Hungary, Balaton, Stuhlweissenburg
00.04.1945: SS-Oscha, Führer, SS-Flak-Abteilung 5, Austria
15.05.1945: surrendered region Salzburg, British then US POW
19.02.1948: released

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Sturmman (Private 1st Class)

Awarded on:

January 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS- Rottenführer (Corporal)

Awarded on:

January 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

successively 3 times lightly wounded

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Awarded on:

September 12th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

Geschützführer, 3. Batterie, SS-Flak-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”, Heeresgruppe Mitte

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1944

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

“On the 20.10.1944 SS-Unterscharführer Schnaubelt, gun commander of an 8.8 cm cannon, distinguished himself through his cold-bloodedness and bravery.

After heavy artillery preparation the Soviets succeeded in breaking through the lines of the neighbouring Division with 15 tanks and a battalion of infantry. Schnaubelt and his gun were attached to a Flak group from the 3./SS-Flak-Abt. 5, and dispatched to the edge of Karolino (4 km west of Serok) to provide security for the area. Despite lacking infantry support, the small Kampfgruppe took up the fight against the enemy group that had broken through. Schnaubelt, who himself took up position as gunner, was able to destroy 9 enemy tanks in 25 minutes and disperse the enemy infantry with high-explosive rounds. As a result the attack of the Russians in this area was halted.”

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1991.
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Schnaubelt, Alois : S