Date of birth:

March 13th, 1920 (Brixen im Thale, Tirol, Austria)

Date of death:

September 4th, 2002 (Vienna, Austria)

Service number:

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

Nationality:

Austrian

Promotions:
01.10.1936: SA-Mann
00.11.1939: SS-Sturmmann
00.06.1940: SS-Rottenführer der Waffen-SS
00.01.1941: SS-Unterscharführer der Waffen-SS
01.01.1942: SS-Oberscharführer der Waffen-SS
30.01.1944: SS-Hauptscharführer der Waffen-SS

Career:
00.00.1936-00.00.1938: joined the SA
23.05.1938: I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte "Der Führer", SS-VT, Wien - campaign in the Sudetes
00.11.1939: SS-Sturmman, 1. Kompanie, I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte "Der Führer", SS-Division "Reich"
00.06.1940: SS-Rottenführer, MG-Gruppenführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-Division 'Reich' - campaign in the Netherlands and France
00.02.1941: SS-Unterscharführer
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia - battles in Smolensk, Kiev, Gomel and the outskirts of Moscow
08.07.1941: WIA
00.10.1942: severely WIA 3 times in 2 hours, sent to a Lazarett and avoided amputation of his arm
01.12.1942: SS-Oberscharführer
00.02.1943: WIA in the defensive battles at Kiev - stayed with the troops
00.03.1943: SS-Oscha, Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das 'Reich' - Battle of Kharkov
15.08.1943: WIA for the 6th time by shrapnel from a Russian hand grenade during an assault reusing an abandoned Russian tank to counter attack and stopp a Russian attack near Korotich - Battle of Kursk
01.01.1944: SS-Hauptscharführer and sent to Bordeaux, France with 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich' to refit
00.08.1944: captured by US troops near Avranches
00.08.1944: escaped 3 days later and recaptured at the border - US POW
00.00.1946: released by the US and reused by the French for demining operations
00.12.1946: escaped to Austria

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Rank:

SS-Schütze (Private)

Unit:

I. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 'Der Führer'

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-Division 'Reich'

Awarded on:

July 8th, 1941

WIA 08.07.1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-Division 'Reich'

Awarded on:

July 28th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

June 15th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-Division 'Reich'

Awarded on:

August 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

October 1942

WIA 08.07.1941 + 23.09.1941 + 14.10.1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1942

WIA 08.07.1941 + 00.10.1942 + 00.10.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

February 14th, 1943

for the defensive battles at Kiev

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1943

WIA 08.07.1941 + 23.09.1941 +14.10.1941 + 23.02.1943 + 15.08.1943 + 00.09.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 “Der Führer”, 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich”, Armeeoberkommando 8, Heeresgruppe Süd

Awarded on:

October 8th, 1943

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

“SS-Oberscharführer Lainer has served as a Zugführer in the I./SS-Regiment ‘Der Führer’ in all the previous campaigns in Holland, France, Serbia, Russia (1941 & 1943) and is one of our best.

The Russians made a strong tank attack on the 23.08.1943, coming from the north of the main railway line into the northern area of Korotitsch (a suburb of Kharkov) and penetrating into the southern part of the city. In response the 1./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’ was sent to counter this move.

SS Oberscharführer Lainer, commanding the I. Zug, began the counterattack and 3 T-34s were quickly destroyed. Lainer, recognizing the importance of the main railway line, made his own decision to attack into the flank of the enemy with his group despite the overall strength of the enemy. In bitter close combat they were able to get close to the main railway line.

Lainer held and threw back all hostile attacks against the railway line. He went on to push the enemy back towards the north, even extending the main battle line, this being important for the later defensive battle.

In the defense that followed over the next six days and nights, the Russians only temporarily interrupted their continuous artillery fire. Lainer proved his personal bravery again and again as a leader in this close-quarter combat.

Lainer held the left flank of his Bataillon against everything with his few men against the weapons of the enemy again and again. He pushed them back at times with only 3-4 men of his group.

On the evening of the 25.08.1943, a Russian battalion attacked with about 30 tanks. Lainer’s position was held again with only 10 men, and despite the man himself being wounded from a shell splinter he reported himself as ready to fight the next day after being treated by the doctor. In this battle two men from his group destroyed 3 enemy tanks in close combat.

Through these outstanding and brave acts, SS-Oberscharführer Lainer owned a decisive share in preventing the breakthrough of the Russians to the south and the consequent encirclement of several friendly divisions in the area around Kharkov.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Hauptscharführer (Sergeant Major)

Unit:

Zugführer, 1. Kompanie, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 'Der Führer', 2. SS-Panzer-Division 'Das Reich'

Awarded on:

October 15th, 1943

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2012.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht
  - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977
  - Ritterkreuztraeger 1939 - 1945
  - Lexikon der Wehrmacht