SS-Obersturmführer Oskar Wolkerstorfer: 1./SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 105

     In Linz, Austria, on November 2, 1919, Oskar Wolkerstorfer was born. While still attending primary school, he became an apprentice at Heinrich Korb, a bookstore in Linz (the company is still in business to this day), on September 10, 1933 at the age of 13. Prior to his apprenticeship, Wolkerstorfer joined the Austrian Hitlerjugend (HJ) in August 1933. At this time, the HJ was illegal in Austria but was given clandestine support by the German Sturmabteilung (SA). He did not remain in the HJ for very long as in July 1934, he transferred into the Austrian Sturmabteilung and found himself almost immediately incarcerated for fourteen days after the failed July Putsch that took place in Vienna, Austria on July 30, 1934. Despite this, exactly three years after becoming an apprentice, Wolkerstorfer was hired on as a regular employee. However, he resigned his position, joined the Allgemeine-SS (General SS) on January 1, 1937, and departed Austria for Germany. By this time, he had already earned the Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen (German Sports Badge). On June 30, 1937, Wolkerstorfer was transferred into SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS Dispositional Troops), SS-Sturmbann “N” (SS Battalion “N”) that was formed in Prittlbach, Germany. The “N” stood for Nürnberg (Nuremberg) which was the garrison city selected for the unit. SS-Sturmbann “N“ was subordinate to SS-Standarte “Deutschland“ and participated in the Anschluss Österreichs (Annexation of Austria) that took place on March 12, 1938. By this time, Wolkerstorfer had the rank of SS-Mann (equivalent to a Private) but his superiors saw much potential in him and so on April 12, 1939, he was promoted to SS-Junker (officer candidate) and upon entering SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig on November 9, 1939, he had the rank of SS-Standartenjunker (also officer candidate but received while in officer school). Wolkerstorfer performed well, graduating on December 20, 1939, and his high marks and evaluations saw him considered for the Waffen-SS (Armed SS) as an officer. This was approved and on January 1, 1940, Wolkerstorfer reported to the SS-Unterführerschule Bresla-Lissa and by April 20, 1940, he graduated as a newly promoted SS-Untersturmführer (equivalent to a 2nd. Lieutenant) with his first posting being the 2./SS-Infanterie Regiment “Der Fuhrer“, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". Interestingly, Wolkerstorfer did not receive his SS number until sometime in 1940 despite his being in the SS since 1937. When received, it was 353112.

     On February 8, 1941, Wolkerstorfer was moved to 1./SS-Infanterie Regiment Deutschland, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich" where he served as a platoon leader within one of the four companies underneath the 1st. Battalion and later, he would become the adjutant to the 1st. Battalion. Wolkerstorfer performed expertly during the campaigns in France and the Netherlands which earned him the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd. Class) on July 28, 1941. He was still with the battalion when it went into Russia during Unternehmen Barbarossa (Operation Barbarossa) which kicked off on June 22, 1941 and once again, Wolkerstorfer proved his mettle which was rewarded with the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st. Class) on October 1, 1941. He was made company commander of 15./III.Bataillon, SS-Infanterie Regiment “Der Fuhrer“ in September 1941 and the unit saw heavy combat from September through November 1942. It was during this time that Wolkerstorfer earned his third of four Panzervernichtungsabzeichen (Tank Destruction Badge) when he destroyed a Soviet T-34 tank on September 23, 1941. He had destroyed two tanks prior during combat near Moscow on December 1, 1941. These awards, plus the Verwundetenabzeichen 2. Klasse (Wound Badge in Silver), were bestowed on Wolkerstorfer while he recovered from injuries suffered during combat around Istra, Russia in November 1942. Also, on December 5, 1941, Wolkerstorfer was recommended for promotion to SS-Obersturmführer (equivalent to a 1st. Lieutenant) and this was approved.

     Following his long convalescence, Wolkerstorfer returned to his unit in February 1943 and was once again in the thick of battle soon after his arrival. In combat that occurred between February 16-25, 1943, Wolkerstorfer again proved himself, earning the Deutsches Kreuz im Gold (German Cross in Gold) which was awarded on April 9, 1943. On April 20, 1943, he would earn his fourth (and last) Tank Destruction Badge. On October 1, 1943, Wolkerstorfer was transferred into the V. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgskorps where he was put in command of 1./SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 105 (1st. Battalion, SS Reconnaissance Division 105). Four days later, he was recommended for promotion to SS-Hauptsturmführer (equivalent to Captain) which was also approved. V. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgskorps operated in the Balkans and saw combat against partisans. During this time, Wolkerstorfer was decorated with the Nahkampfspange im Silbur (Close Combat Clasp in Silver) on March 3, 1944. At some point, Wolkerstorfer became the commander of SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 505 as a report dated October 20, 1944 listed him at that position. Thus, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 105 had became a Sondertruppen der Reichsführung-SS (Special Troops of the Reich Leadership) unit, hence the change in designation to SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 505. After being wounded for the sixth time, Wolkerstorfer was awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen 1. Klasse (Wound Badge in Gold) on February 13, 1945. His name was submitted to receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) on March 19, 1945 but this decoration was not approved prior to the end of World War Two.

     The photograph depicts Wolkerstorfer when he was an SS-Obersturmführer. Visible decorations include three of his four Panzervernichtungsabzeichen on his right sleeve and the Deutsches Kreuz on the right pocket of his feldbluse. Sewn through the buttonhole on the feldbluse is the ribbon for the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse and beneath it, the ribbon for the Ostmedaille (Eastern Front Medal). On the left pocket is the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse. Other decorations that he received during his World War Two military career include the Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938 (Anschluss Commemorative Medal; received in 1939), the Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 (Sudetenland Medal; received in 1939), Verwundetenabzeichen 3. Klasse (Wound Badge in Black; received in 1941), Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge; received in 1942), Panzerkampfabzeichen (Tank Combat Badge; received in 1942), the SS-Ehrenring (SS Honor Ring; received in 1942), and the Orden der Krone von König Zvonimir, 3. Klasse mit Schwertern (Croatian: Red Krune Kralja Zvonimira III.Stupnja s Macevima; Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, 3rd Class with Swords; received in 1944).

     Wolkerstorfer passed away in his hometown of Linz on January 11, 1971.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Friedrich Hannes: 12. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"

     Somewhere on the Eastern Front, SS-Hauptsturmführer Friedrich Hannes checks to see how well a M24 Stielhandgranate (stick hand grenade) fits into the muzzle of the 76.2mm ZiS-3 gun utilized on the Soviet SU-76 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka-76) assault gun. Hannes, whose rank was equivalent to a Captain in the U.S. Army, was the commander of 12. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania", of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking”. Born on August 27, 1913, Hannes would eventually join the Waffen-SS and his membership number was 297 080. His promotion to SS-Hauptsturmführer occurred on June 21, 1944 and he would later be awarded the Deutsches Kreuz im Gold (German Cross in Gold) for his acts of bravery and combat prowess while company commander on October 9, 1944.

     The technique of using a stick grenade and shoving it down the gun barrel of an enemy tank or tank destroyer was taught to infantrymen as a means to attack enemy armor. The intent was to detonate the grenade inside the gun tube and hope the explosion caused enough damage to render the gun inoperable. A skilled “panzerknacker” (“Tank Breaker”) used the M24 stick grenade in other ways to achieve kills against enemy armor. One such way consisted of removing the wooden shaft from six grenades and using wire to secure the warheads around a seventh grenade, creating what was called a Geballte Ladung or bundled charge. The explosive power of seven grenades was able to render tanks immobile by blowing off tracks, damaging running gear, or causing engine damage if placed on the thinly armored rear deck of tanks. Even a single M24 stick grenade had the possibility of inflicting engine damage with a good placement. Another method of using the M24 consisted of lashing one grenade to a einheitskanister (a 20 liter metal fuel can...better known as a “Jerry Can”) which was ¾ full of fuel and throwing the can up onto the engine deck of an enemy tank. The resulting explosion was enough to cripple a tank. It was standard procedure for truck drivers to maintain one of these improvised anti-tank devices on their vehicles in case enemy armor broke through into rear echelon areas. The Eierhandgranate 39 (Egg Grenade Model 1939) could also be utilized to create a Geballte Ladung as well as be thrown down a gun barrel. Since it was egg shaped and depending on the elevation of the enemy tank's gun, it had the potential to roll down and detonate near the breech and if the “panzerknacker” was lucky, a round was already loaded or the grenade rolled out into the fighting compartment when the breech was opened, exploding inside the tank.

     Of course, to utilize any of the methods above required the infantryman to be very close to the target, even next to it. In an urban combat zone, tank hunters have more cover and opportunity to get close enough to utilize grenades. While still risky, more so if infantry were supporting the tanks, the odds were a bit more in favor of the tank hunter. In more open terrain, without some form of cover, attacking a tank at such close range was not likely to succeed. However, there was a variant of the M24 stick grenade, the Nebelhandgranate 39 (Nb.Hgr.39), or Smoke Hand Grenade Model 1939, and “panzerknackers” found a way to use them effectively to help them assault a tank. A six foot length of rope or cord connected two smoke grenades together. In one hand, one grenade was held facing upwards and the other facing downwards. Upon throwing, centrifugal force pulled the grenades apart, extending the rope. The target was the gun barrel of the enemy tank. The rope would catch on the barrel and wrap around it and by this time, the smoke commenced to issuing from the grenades and obscured the vision of the tank's driver and the hull machine-gunner (if the tank had one) as well as made it difficult for the commander in the turret to utilize his vision blocks to see what was happening. This allowed the “panzerknacker” to have a better chance to get up to the tank and effect an attack using explosive hand grenades or other close combat methods.