Svoboda Edler von Asticotal, von, Hubert

Date of birth:: December 29th, 1897 (Lemberg/Galicia, Austrian Empire)
Date of death:: October 1st, 1976 (Cape Town/Western Cape, South Africa)
Nationality:: Austrian

Biography

Promotions:
March 25th, 1916: Kadett d.R.;
October 1st, 1916: Fänhrich d.R.;
February 1st, 1917: Leutnant d.R.;
August x?, 1917: Leutnant mit RDA vom 1-5-1916;
May 1st, 1918: Oberleutnant;
April 30th, 1919: Hauptmann a.D. mit Wirkung vom 1-4-1919;
December 1st, 1937: Hauptmann d.R. (95);
July 19th, 1940: Major d.R.z.b.V. (210a) mit sofortiger Wirkung und Rangdienstalter vom 19-7-1940;
February 9th, 1942: Major d.R. (315c) erhält neues Rangdienstalter vom 1-7-1941;
April 1st, 1943: Oberstleutnant d.R. (478c);
December 1st, 1944: Oberst d.R. (744c).

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:: Kommandeur Flak-Regiment 46 (Motorisiert)
Awarded on:: January 14th, 1945

Svoboda Edler von Asticotal’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“I wish to recommend Oberstleutnant von Svoboda (commander of Flak-Regiment 46) for the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross with the following justification:

Whilst serving as a Hauptmann in the campaign against France von Svoboda already distinguished himself on account of his successes in combating hostile batteries and troop assemblies. For his achievements he was awarded the clasp to the Iron Cross First Class on the 03.06.1940, and was promoted to major at a remarkably early time.

From the 26.11.1942 he was involved in static defensive operations in the western area of the Reich, and in this capacity he and his Regiment achieved notable successes against the terror attacks by the Anglo-American bomber formations.

When Anglo-American troops landed in the Arnhem-Nijmegen area on the 17.09.1944, 2 Kampfgruppen were formed and then subordinated to his command due to his outstanding skills as an artilleryman. These were primarily employed in ground combat (both in attack and close combat), and thanks to his prudent and flexible leadership they were able to give outstanding support for the II. SS-Panzerkorps. In this capacity they eliminated numerous MG nests, observation posts and troop assemblies. They also shot down a total of 154 aircraft (89 tow aircraft, fighter-bombers, fighters and 62 gliders).

Throughout this time his energy never wavered, and he demonstrated heroic actions at the hotspots of the combat. His example as both a leader and soldier inspired his troops to likewise give all they had to the battle.

The leader of the 9. SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hohenstaufen’ has expressed his appreciation to Kampfgruppe Svoboda for its outstanding achievements, which played a big part in the destruction of the 1st English Airlanding Division.

I ask that this brave officer and distinguished unit commander be granted the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in recognition for his outstanding feat-of-arms.”