Hi everybody, I hope u can help me with this! I'm looking for information and photo's of Max Wünsche.
He was commander of the panzerregiment of the 12. ss panzerdivsion Hitlerjugend.
THnk u.!
best regards, Joel
Max Wünsche
From: http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/SS-PO ... f_U-Z.html
WÜNSCHE, Max (RK m. EL; DKiG)
(1914 - 1995)
SS-Obersturmbannführer:
Born: 20. Apr. 1914 in Kittlitz/Kreis Löbau/Sachsen.
Died: 18. Apr. 1995.
Promotions:
SS-OStubaf.: ; SS-Stubaf.: ; Assignments:
Decorations & Awards:
Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 28. Feb. 1943 as SS-Stubaf. & Kdr. I./SS-Pz.Rgt. 1, 1.SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "LSSAH," Eastern Front;
- Eichenlaub (Nr. 548): 11. Aug. 1944 as SS-OStubaf. & Kdr. SS-Pz.Rgt. 12, 12.SS-Pz.Div. "Hitlerjugend", Normandy Front;
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: 25. Feb. 1943;
1939 EK I: 31. May 1940; 1939 EK II: 26. May 1940; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze; Ostmedaille; Ehrendegen des RF SS/Totenkopfring der SS.
more at: http://home.att.net/~SSPzHJ/MaxWunsche.html
Regards,
FANGIO
WÜNSCHE, Max (RK m. EL; DKiG)
(1914 - 1995)
SS-Obersturmbannführer:
Born: 20. Apr. 1914 in Kittlitz/Kreis Löbau/Sachsen.
Died: 18. Apr. 1995.
Promotions:
SS-OStubaf.: ; SS-Stubaf.: ; Assignments:
Decorations & Awards:
Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 28. Feb. 1943 as SS-Stubaf. & Kdr. I./SS-Pz.Rgt. 1, 1.SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "LSSAH," Eastern Front;
- Eichenlaub (Nr. 548): 11. Aug. 1944 as SS-OStubaf. & Kdr. SS-Pz.Rgt. 12, 12.SS-Pz.Div. "Hitlerjugend", Normandy Front;
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: 25. Feb. 1943;
1939 EK I: 31. May 1940; 1939 EK II: 26. May 1940; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze; Ostmedaille; Ehrendegen des RF SS/Totenkopfring der SS.
more at: http://home.att.net/~SSPzHJ/MaxWunsche.html
Regards,
FANGIO
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Helly Angel
- Member
- Posts: 5139
- Joined: 11 Mar 2002, 21:00
- Location: Florida, USA
Max Wünsche was born on 20 April 1915 in Kittlitz (Löbau/Oberslausitz county) Germany. He attended High School in Bautzen, and in 1928 joined the Reichslandbund (agricultural union) while at the same time attending Mercantile school. Employed for a short wile as a manager working on a manor, Wünsche then became a Department Head at an accounting firm. In November of 32' Wünsche joined the Hitlerjugend, and in July of 33' the SS. After attending a five month NCO training course at Jüterbog, Wünsche decided to become an officer and attended SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz, graduating in the class of 1936. Commissioned and promoted to the rank of SS-Untersturmführer on 20 April 1936, Wünsche was assigned to the Leibstandarte where he served as a Zugführer in 9.Kompanie.
Transfered to 17.Kompanie later that month, this is where Wünsche stayed until 1 October 1938. He was then assigned to the Begleitkommando des Führers (Hitler's personal escort detachament) where he served as a Orderly Officer. Remaining in this post throughout the invasion of Poland, on 24 January 1940 he was transfered back to the Leibstandarte, posted as commander of the 2.Zug in 15.Kradschützenkompanie under the command of Kurt Meyer. Wünsche remained in this post throughout the invasion of France and the low countries, returning back to the BdF on 1 June. After something of a minor scandel in which Hitler's butler complained of their being Orderly Officer's that were "not behaving correctly"1, Wünsche was dismissed and re-assigned to the Leibstandarte, posted as Dietrich's Adjutant on 5 December 1940. It was "Sepp" Dietrich whom Wünsche would recall as most influential after the war.
Even though Wünsche served as "Sepp" Dietrich's Adjutant throughout the Balkan campgain, it wasn't until Operation Barrabossa, the invasion of Russia, that Wünsche would distuingish himself. Attached to Army group South, specificly General Eberhard von Mackensen's III Korps, the Leibstandarte met bitter resitance in the opening days of the invasion. By late July the Leibstandarte punched it's way passed the soviet defenders and a pocket of trapped soviet divisions took formation. Numerous times Wünsche would take to a Fieseler Storch and fly over enemy held teritory on reconnaissence mission's. These mission's particulary proved their worth On 31 July, when the results of his reconnaissence contributed signifigantly to the capture of Novo-Archelsk, which in turn closed the Uman pocket and sealed the fates of the trapped Russian Division's.
As the Leibstandarte pushed deeper into southern Russia and reached the entrance to the Crimea, the Isthmus of Perekop, Wünsche was called upon to deputise for the Divisional Ia, SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Lehmann on two seperate occassion's (At the time Lehmann was deputizing for SS-Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Keilhaus). Later, during the battles at Berdjansk, Mariupol and Taganrog, Wünsche assumed command of various sub-units when their commanders had fallen, time and time again "driving his men to substantial success" 2. All the while he was still considered, officially, Divisional Adjutant.
On 15 February 1942 Wünsche was appointed commander of the Leibstandarte's Sturmgeschützabteilung, repelling all Soviet breakthrough attempts in the following weeks. That March Wünsche's command was placed as Korps reserve, where at the Muis bridgehead his command succeeded in halting all soviet attempt's at penetrating the front lines of the 73. Infanterie and 13. Panzer Divisionen. On 1 June Wünsche left the front and was sent to Kriegschule Berlin, where he successfully completed a three month General Staff training course and was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer. Resuming command of the Leibstandarte's Sturmgeschützabteilung on 1 September, shortly thereafter Wünsche was appointed commander (22 October 1942. Author) of I.Abteilung in the Leibstandarte's newly formed Panzerregiment. The Panzerregiment began forming in early January 1942, formation was completed by mid January 1943. The Panzerregiment left for Kharkov in early Feruary.
Right from detraining, SS-Sturmbannführer Max Wunsche and his troops were thrust into combat. Fighting in Blizzard condition's, with temperatures well below freezing, so began a series of battles that Wünsche would later recall as his most difficult. On 8 and 9 February, utilizing a mobile defense, I.Abteilung halted the up to then unstoppable Russian advance and held Merefa, inflicting heavy losses on the Soviets. On the 10th I.Abteilung went over to the attack with just one goal in mind: smash open the supply and communication lines to Kurt Meyer and the encircled Aufklärungsabteilung. Pushing further into the soviet lines on the 11th, further still on the 12th, I.Abteilung was credited with destroying 16 Anti-Tank guns through the deepest snows and coldest temperatures. On the night of the 13th, despite the extreme climatic and terrain difficulties, SS-Sturmbannführer Max Wünsche's Panzerabteilung succeeded in breaking open the supply and communication lines to Meyer's beleagured troops, saving them from certain anhiliation 3. Wünsche's I.Abteilung, now linked up with Meyer's Aufklärungsabteilung, formed a Kampfgruppe and pressed forward the attack, helping to smash the VI Guards Cavalry Corps on the 15th. That very same day Kharkov was abandonded. By the 22nd, through all of the local successes the Germans had regained the initiative and were focusing on what they had given up just one week earlier; Kharkov. On the 25th, the very same day Wünsche was honored with the German Cross in Gold for actions previously mentioned, he would again distinguish himself, this time worthy of the Knight's Cross.
Reconnaissance by Wünsche's Kampfgruppe revealed a strong enemy column approaching on the Division's southern flank. Wünsche on his own initiative and without waiting for orders, gave the command to his Kampfgruppe to encircle the enemy out of Jeremejwka in a northward thrust. The action was a success, with 54 heavy guns destroyed (two 12,2 cm guns by Wünsche personally) and over 900 casulties for the Russian's. It was for this battle that Wünsche was awarded the Knight's Cross on 28 February 1943. On 15 March the battle for Karkov was over, "Red Square" was renamed "Liebstandarte Square" and the city was firmly in the grasp of II. SS-Panzerkorps. The men of the Leibstandarte recieved a brief respite during the month of April, refitting around Karkov. That June SS-Sturmbannführer Max Wünsche recieved orders to transfer to a new division under going formation: the 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend", of which Wünsche was assigned to command the Panzerregiment.
On 6 June, the Allies commenced with the largest amphibious assault in history. As the Allies hit the beaches and consolidated their beachhead, thoughts turned to pushing inland. As the British and Canadian forces pushed deeper inland on the 7th they then ran smack into the 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend". In the ensuing battle's Wünsche and his Regiment were credited with destroying 219 enemy tanks 4 up to mid July, and for his resolute leadership was awarded Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 11 August 1944. A few days later, as the Allied forces encircled the German division's in what is known as the Falaise pocket, it would come to an end.
On the night of 20 August, Wünsche, along with his adjutant SS-Hauptsturmführer Isecke, SS-Untersturmführer Freitag and a wounded medical officer, all made good their escape. Travelling on foot, they encountered a enemy outpost where the injured Doctor was captured and Wünsche wounded in the calf. On the 24th, Isecke became seperated and was captured. Wünsche's group was now down to two. A short while later, Wünsche and Frietag found a German vehicle in good working order and drove through St Lambert in plain view of the Canadians that occupied the town. As fate would have it, later that day while waiting under the cover of bushes for darkness they where captured5.
Wünsche survived the war, and became a manager of a industrial plant in Wuppertal, Germany. He died in Munich on the 17th of April 1995. He was 80 years old.
http://home.att.net/~SSPzHJ/MaxWunsche.html
Transfered to 17.Kompanie later that month, this is where Wünsche stayed until 1 October 1938. He was then assigned to the Begleitkommando des Führers (Hitler's personal escort detachament) where he served as a Orderly Officer. Remaining in this post throughout the invasion of Poland, on 24 January 1940 he was transfered back to the Leibstandarte, posted as commander of the 2.Zug in 15.Kradschützenkompanie under the command of Kurt Meyer. Wünsche remained in this post throughout the invasion of France and the low countries, returning back to the BdF on 1 June. After something of a minor scandel in which Hitler's butler complained of their being Orderly Officer's that were "not behaving correctly"1, Wünsche was dismissed and re-assigned to the Leibstandarte, posted as Dietrich's Adjutant on 5 December 1940. It was "Sepp" Dietrich whom Wünsche would recall as most influential after the war.
Even though Wünsche served as "Sepp" Dietrich's Adjutant throughout the Balkan campgain, it wasn't until Operation Barrabossa, the invasion of Russia, that Wünsche would distuingish himself. Attached to Army group South, specificly General Eberhard von Mackensen's III Korps, the Leibstandarte met bitter resitance in the opening days of the invasion. By late July the Leibstandarte punched it's way passed the soviet defenders and a pocket of trapped soviet divisions took formation. Numerous times Wünsche would take to a Fieseler Storch and fly over enemy held teritory on reconnaissence mission's. These mission's particulary proved their worth On 31 July, when the results of his reconnaissence contributed signifigantly to the capture of Novo-Archelsk, which in turn closed the Uman pocket and sealed the fates of the trapped Russian Division's.
As the Leibstandarte pushed deeper into southern Russia and reached the entrance to the Crimea, the Isthmus of Perekop, Wünsche was called upon to deputise for the Divisional Ia, SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Lehmann on two seperate occassion's (At the time Lehmann was deputizing for SS-Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Keilhaus). Later, during the battles at Berdjansk, Mariupol and Taganrog, Wünsche assumed command of various sub-units when their commanders had fallen, time and time again "driving his men to substantial success" 2. All the while he was still considered, officially, Divisional Adjutant.
On 15 February 1942 Wünsche was appointed commander of the Leibstandarte's Sturmgeschützabteilung, repelling all Soviet breakthrough attempts in the following weeks. That March Wünsche's command was placed as Korps reserve, where at the Muis bridgehead his command succeeded in halting all soviet attempt's at penetrating the front lines of the 73. Infanterie and 13. Panzer Divisionen. On 1 June Wünsche left the front and was sent to Kriegschule Berlin, where he successfully completed a three month General Staff training course and was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer. Resuming command of the Leibstandarte's Sturmgeschützabteilung on 1 September, shortly thereafter Wünsche was appointed commander (22 October 1942. Author) of I.Abteilung in the Leibstandarte's newly formed Panzerregiment. The Panzerregiment began forming in early January 1942, formation was completed by mid January 1943. The Panzerregiment left for Kharkov in early Feruary.
Right from detraining, SS-Sturmbannführer Max Wunsche and his troops were thrust into combat. Fighting in Blizzard condition's, with temperatures well below freezing, so began a series of battles that Wünsche would later recall as his most difficult. On 8 and 9 February, utilizing a mobile defense, I.Abteilung halted the up to then unstoppable Russian advance and held Merefa, inflicting heavy losses on the Soviets. On the 10th I.Abteilung went over to the attack with just one goal in mind: smash open the supply and communication lines to Kurt Meyer and the encircled Aufklärungsabteilung. Pushing further into the soviet lines on the 11th, further still on the 12th, I.Abteilung was credited with destroying 16 Anti-Tank guns through the deepest snows and coldest temperatures. On the night of the 13th, despite the extreme climatic and terrain difficulties, SS-Sturmbannführer Max Wünsche's Panzerabteilung succeeded in breaking open the supply and communication lines to Meyer's beleagured troops, saving them from certain anhiliation 3. Wünsche's I.Abteilung, now linked up with Meyer's Aufklärungsabteilung, formed a Kampfgruppe and pressed forward the attack, helping to smash the VI Guards Cavalry Corps on the 15th. That very same day Kharkov was abandonded. By the 22nd, through all of the local successes the Germans had regained the initiative and were focusing on what they had given up just one week earlier; Kharkov. On the 25th, the very same day Wünsche was honored with the German Cross in Gold for actions previously mentioned, he would again distinguish himself, this time worthy of the Knight's Cross.
Reconnaissance by Wünsche's Kampfgruppe revealed a strong enemy column approaching on the Division's southern flank. Wünsche on his own initiative and without waiting for orders, gave the command to his Kampfgruppe to encircle the enemy out of Jeremejwka in a northward thrust. The action was a success, with 54 heavy guns destroyed (two 12,2 cm guns by Wünsche personally) and over 900 casulties for the Russian's. It was for this battle that Wünsche was awarded the Knight's Cross on 28 February 1943. On 15 March the battle for Karkov was over, "Red Square" was renamed "Liebstandarte Square" and the city was firmly in the grasp of II. SS-Panzerkorps. The men of the Leibstandarte recieved a brief respite during the month of April, refitting around Karkov. That June SS-Sturmbannführer Max Wünsche recieved orders to transfer to a new division under going formation: the 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend", of which Wünsche was assigned to command the Panzerregiment.
On 6 June, the Allies commenced with the largest amphibious assault in history. As the Allies hit the beaches and consolidated their beachhead, thoughts turned to pushing inland. As the British and Canadian forces pushed deeper inland on the 7th they then ran smack into the 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend". In the ensuing battle's Wünsche and his Regiment were credited with destroying 219 enemy tanks 4 up to mid July, and for his resolute leadership was awarded Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 11 August 1944. A few days later, as the Allied forces encircled the German division's in what is known as the Falaise pocket, it would come to an end.
On the night of 20 August, Wünsche, along with his adjutant SS-Hauptsturmführer Isecke, SS-Untersturmführer Freitag and a wounded medical officer, all made good their escape. Travelling on foot, they encountered a enemy outpost where the injured Doctor was captured and Wünsche wounded in the calf. On the 24th, Isecke became seperated and was captured. Wünsche's group was now down to two. A short while later, Wünsche and Frietag found a German vehicle in good working order and drove through St Lambert in plain view of the Canadians that occupied the town. As fate would have it, later that day while waiting under the cover of bushes for darkness they where captured5.
Wünsche survived the war, and became a manager of a industrial plant in Wuppertal, Germany. He died in Munich on the 17th of April 1995. He was 80 years old.
http://home.att.net/~SSPzHJ/MaxWunsche.html
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Edward L. Hsiao
- Member
- Posts: 2105
- Joined: 01 Aug 2003, 09:43
- Location: Flagstaff,Arizona
Swords Recommandation
Dear Sir,
I read from one of "Siegrunen" periodicals that stated Max Wuensche highest wartime rank was SS-Standartenfuehrer and was recommended for the Swords decoration to go with his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. What happened to the Swords recommendation was unknown.
With Regards,
Edward
I read from one of "Siegrunen" periodicals that stated Max Wuensche highest wartime rank was SS-Standartenfuehrer and was recommended for the Swords decoration to go with his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. What happened to the Swords recommendation was unknown.
With Regards,
Edward
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Momchil Milanov
- Member
- Posts: 238
- Joined: 24 May 2004, 11:22
- Location: ---
das-ritterkreuz.de states that Wünsche ended the war as Standartenführer. The other sources say - Obersturmbannführer.
?
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_ ... rd=wunsche
Regards,
Momchil
?
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_ ... rd=wunsche
Regards,
Momchil