K.e.coffman (talk | contribs) |
K.e.coffman (talk | contribs) Apparently not true, see Zaloga |
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Barkmann was drafted in 1939. He joined the SS-Standarte 2 ''Germania'' regiment, a unit of the ''[[SS-Verfügungstruppe]]'', and served during the occupation of Poland and Soviet Union. He was posted for a time as an instructor of SS volunteers in the Netherlands.{{sfn|Mattson|2002|p=177}} In winter 1942/43 he was posted to SS Regiment ''Das Reich'', part of [[SS Division Das Reich]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]].{{sfn|Mattson|2002|p=177}} ''Das Reich'' was attached to [[II SS Panzer Corps]], under [[Army Group South]]. Barkmann served with the regiment during the large-scale operations against the Soviet forces' mobile spearhead under command of [[Markian Popov]] and took part in the [[Third Battle of Kharkov]]. In July 1943, his division took part in [[Operation Citadel]], the operation to eliminate the [[Kursk]] salient, later being transferred to the [[Mius]] river line. In the course of these operations, Barkmann was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross. |
Barkmann was drafted in 1939. He joined the SS-Standarte 2 ''Germania'' regiment, a unit of the ''[[SS-Verfügungstruppe]]'', and served during the occupation of Poland and Soviet Union. He was posted for a time as an instructor of SS volunteers in the Netherlands.{{sfn|Mattson|2002|p=177}} In winter 1942/43 he was posted to SS Regiment ''Das Reich'', part of [[SS Division Das Reich]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]].{{sfn|Mattson|2002|p=177}} ''Das Reich'' was attached to [[II SS Panzer Corps]], under [[Army Group South]]. Barkmann served with the regiment during the large-scale operations against the Soviet forces' mobile spearhead under command of [[Markian Popov]] and took part in the [[Third Battle of Kharkov]]. In July 1943, his division took part in [[Operation Citadel]], the operation to eliminate the [[Kursk]] salient, later being transferred to the [[Mius]] river line. In the course of these operations, Barkmann was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross. |
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In February 1944, ''Das Reich'' was ordered to France to form a part of the [[5th Panzer Army]], the armoured reserve for the expected Allied invasion. Following [[Operation Overlord]], the Allied invasion, the division reached the front in early July and fought against the American forces near [[Saint-Lô |
In February 1944, ''Das Reich'' was ordered to France to form a part of the [[5th Panzer Army]], the armoured reserve for the expected Allied invasion. Following [[Operation Overlord]], the Allied invasion, the division reached the front in early July and fought against the American forces near [[Saint-Lô]]. Barkmann was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]]. |
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After the launch of [[Operation Cobra]], alongside the [[9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen]], fought to hold open an escape route for the trapped German forces. After the collapse of the pocket, ''Das Reich'' fell back towards the [[Siegfried Line|West Wall]]. Barkmann participated in the [[Ardennes Offensive]] in December 1944 and the fighting on the Eastern Front in the spring of 1945. Barkmann surrendered to the British forces south of [[Vienna]]. |
After the launch of [[Operation Cobra]], alongside the [[9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen]], fought to hold open an escape route for the trapped German forces. After the collapse of the pocket, ''Das Reich'' fell back towards the [[Siegfried Line|West Wall]]. Barkmann participated in the [[Ardennes Offensive]] in December 1944 and the fighting on the Eastern Front in the spring of 1945. Barkmann surrendered to the British forces south of [[Vienna]]. |
Revision as of 19:23, 27 February 2016
Ernst Barkmann | |
---|---|
Born | 25 August 1919 Kisdorf, Segeberg, Holstein, Germany |
Died | 27 June 2009 Kisdorf, Segeberg, Holstein, Germany | (aged 89)
Allegiance | Germany |
Service/ | Waffen-SS |
Years of service | 1936–45 |
Rank | Oberscharführer |
Battles/wars | Operation Barbarossa Operation Citadel Ardennes Offensive |
Awards | Full list |
Other work | Fire Chief, Mayor |
Signature |
Ernst Barkmann (later Ernst Schmuck-Barkmann) (25 August 1919 – 27 June 2009) was a German tank commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He is known for the "Barkmann legend": he claimed to have halted a major U.S. Army armoured advance in Normandy on 27 July 1944 (at so-called Barkmann's corner), for which action he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The myth, "popularized by propaganda efforts of the Waffen-SS", was subsequently proven to be false.[1]
Military career
Barkmann was drafted in 1939. He joined the SS-Standarte 2 Germania regiment, a unit of the SS-Verfügungstruppe, and served during the occupation of Poland and Soviet Union. He was posted for a time as an instructor of SS volunteers in the Netherlands.[2] In winter 1942/43 he was posted to SS Regiment Das Reich, part of SS Division Das Reich on the Eastern Front.[2] Das Reich was attached to II SS Panzer Corps, under Army Group South. Barkmann served with the regiment during the large-scale operations against the Soviet forces' mobile spearhead under command of Markian Popov and took part in the Third Battle of Kharkov. In July 1943, his division took part in Operation Citadel, the operation to eliminate the Kursk salient, later being transferred to the Mius river line. In the course of these operations, Barkmann was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross.
In February 1944, Das Reich was ordered to France to form a part of the 5th Panzer Army, the armoured reserve for the expected Allied invasion. Following Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion, the division reached the front in early July and fought against the American forces near Saint-Lô. Barkmann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
After the launch of Operation Cobra, alongside the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, fought to hold open an escape route for the trapped German forces. After the collapse of the pocket, Das Reich fell back towards the West Wall. Barkmann participated in the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944 and the fighting on the Eastern Front in the spring of 1945. Barkmann surrendered to the British forces south of Vienna.
Summary of SS career
Dates of rank
- SS-Sturmmann (1 June 1940)[3]
- SS-Rottenführer (1 July 1941)[3]
- SS-Standartenjunker (?)
- SS-Scharführer (?)
- SS-Unterscharführer (1 September 1943)[3]
- SS-Oberscharführer (31 August 1944) effective as of 1 August 1944[3]
Awards and decorations
At the time of his capture in 1945, Barkmann was authorized the following awards:
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Eastern Front Medal (?)
- Wound Badge (1939)
- Infantry Assault Badge (18 February 1942)[3]
- Panzer Badge "25"
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 August 1944 as SS-Unterscharführer and Panzer commander in the 4./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"[4][Note 1]
- Honour Chevron of the Old Guard (?) Member of the Hitler youth in 1933
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ Zaloga 2015, pp. 312–313.
- ^ a b Mattson 2002, p. 177.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wegmann 2004, p. 44.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 122.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 202.
Bibliography
- Alman, Karl (2008). Panzer vor – Die dramtische Geschichte der deutschen Panzerwaffe und ihre tapferen Soldaten. Würzburg, Germany: Flechsig Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88189-638-2.
- Federl, Christian (2000). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939–1945 Die Panzertruppe (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-43-0.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
{{cite book}}
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(help); Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Mattson, Gregory L. (2002). SS-Das Reich: The History of the Second SS Division, 1944–45. Amber Books. ISBN 0-7603-1255-9.
{{cite book}}
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(help) - Ripley, Tom (2001) SS Steel Rain: Waffen-SS Panzer – Battles in the West 1944–45. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0-7603-1168-4, ISBN 978-0-7603-1168-4.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
{{cite book}}
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(help); Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Wegmann, Günter (2004). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil VIIIa: Panzertruppe Band 1: A–E (in German). Bissendorf, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2322-1.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - Zaloga, Steven (2015). Armored Champion: The Top Tanks of World War II. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-1437-2.
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(help)