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Seitz, Rudolf "Rudi" (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
October 11th, 1919 (Charlottenthal, Germany)
Date of death:
November 14th, 1994 (Stadlern, Germany)
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 476.141 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German

Biography

01.10.1936-01.08.1939: Hitlerjugend
00.00.1939-01.11.1939: RAD
01.03.1940: joined the Schutzpolizei, Wien
00.00.1940: Polizei-Ersatz-Bataillon Wien-Mödling
00.00.1940; joined the SS-Polizei-Division
01.02.1942: entered the Waffen SS
22.10.1942: SS-Rottenführer, Rottwachtmeister der Schutzpolizei, proposed for the RK
22.10.1942: promoted to SS-Unterscharführer und Wachtmeister der Schutzpolizei
21.06.1943: SS-Junker, 10. Kriegs-Junker-Lehrgang, SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
01.03.1944: promoted to SS-Untersturmführer
00.03.1944: 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division - campaign in Greece
20.08.1944-20.01.1945: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, SS-Panzerjäger-Ausbildungs und-Ersatz-Abteilung 4, 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 23rd, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
1. Kompanie, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 4, 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division, Waffen-SS
Awarded on:
October 24th, 1942
Unterscharführer Seitz received his Knight’s Cross for actions while serving with the SS-Polizei division during its battles around Leningrad. On the 19.08.1942, though he technically belonged to a Sturmgeschütz unit, Seitz was manning a Pak 36 with one other soldier, an SS-Rottenführer. On that day the Soviets attacked the blocking position Seitz and his comrade were holding. Despite being isolated and eventually surrounded by the attackers, Seitz and his comrade held their ground for a total of 8 hours (from 12:00 to 20:00) and inflicted heavy losses on the Soviets. Though their gun was ineffective against heavier tanks, Seitz still used it to good effect against less heavily armoured vehicles and infantry. As they were close to being overrun just before nightfall, they destroyed their gun and were able to exfiltrate back to German lines. It seems that their holding their positions through this difficult day was extremely useful for the rest of the Division, for Seitz would be awarded the Knight’s Cross due to his actions on that day.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1944
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS

Sources

Photos