Markus Faulhaber

Markus Faulhaber
Born	22 July 1914 Balingen, Germany
Died	9 May 1945 Salzach River, Austria
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1939–1945 Waffen SS
Rank	Sturmbannführer
Unit	SS-VT 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking 38th SS Division Nibelungen
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class German Cross in Gold Wound Badge in Silver Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Markus Faulhaber (1914–1945) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was given to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Life

Markus Faulhaber was born on 22 July 1914 in Balingen, Württemberg. He volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS number 113,916) and was selected to become an officer. After he had graduated from the SS-Junkerschule, he was assigned to SS-Regiment (Standarte) "Germania" in 1938.

He was taking part in the Polish Campaign, where he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class; and, as commander of 3./SS-InfRgt "Germania" (part of SS-Division Verfügungstruppe) in the Battle of France.

Still commander of 3./SS-InfRgt "Germania" (SS-Divison "Wiking"), he also took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa where he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class and the Eastern Front Medal 1941/42 awarded to all who suffered the first Russian winter of the war. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1942 while in command of the 3rd Company.

He was next involved in the formation of the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 which he commanded from June to August 1944. He was part of the teaching staff at the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz and given command of the 95th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 38th SS Division Nibelungen when it was formed from the staff and cadets at the college and eventually surrendered to the Americans (The name Nibelungen comes from German mythology, which was the name of a lineage of dwarves, who were defeated by Siegfried).

Faulhaber died on 9 May 1945. He had been ordered by the Americans to persuade other German soldiers hiding in the mountains to come out and surrender. Although already wounded, and with one arm bandaged, Faulhaber drove into the mountains with his adjutant, Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) Christen Dall. Their vehicle crashed and tumbled into the swollen Salzach River. While Dall managed to save himself, Faulhaber drowned. His body was transferred to Radolfzell, to be buried there.

^[1][2][3]

Commands

• 3rd Company SS Infantry Regiment Germania / 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
• SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 June 1944 - August 1944
• 95th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, Division Nibelungen January 1945 - May 1945 ^[3]

References

1. ^ "axis.biographical.research". Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027084643/http://geocities.com/~orion47/. 
2. ^ "ritterkreuz". http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=1372&searchword=Faulhaber. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "frontkjemper". http://www.frontkjemper.info/show_person.php?P_ID=628. 

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
• Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052
• Mitcham Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45, Stackpole Books, 2007. ISBN 0811733718

Persondata
Name	Faulhaber, Makus
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	22 July 1914
Place of birth	Balingen, Germany
Date of death	9 May 1945
Place of death	Salzach River, Austria