- Josef Allerberger
Infobox Military Person
name=Josef Allerberger
lived=September, 1924 –
placeofbirth=Steiermark ,Austria
placeofdeath=
caption=
nickname=Sepp
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
serviceyears=1942–1945
rank=Obergefreiter
unit=3rd Mountain Division
battles=World War II
*Eastern Front
awards=Iron Cross 2nd & 1st classInfantry Assault Badge Wound Badge (silver)Sniper's Badge (gold)Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Josef 'Sepp' Allerberger was a German (
Austria n)sniper in the II Battalion of the 144thGebirgsjäger Regiment of the 3rd Mountain Division on the Eastern Front of the Second World War, and was credited with 257 kills.Sent to the Eastern Front in December 1942 as a machine gunner, Allerberger was wounded at
Stavropol and experimented with a captured Soviet sniper-rifle while recuperating. Eventually he made 27 kills before being selected for sniper training atSeetaleralpe , and being assigned a K98 with 6x scope. [http://www.kgwiking.com/newsletter/Oct2004/snipers.html] Allerberger states that he used the captured 'Soviet sniper-rifle' (possibly theMosin-Nagant ) for most of his military service but later changed to the Mauser K98k. He also used the Walther Model 43 for some circumstances.During combat, Allerberger was noted for using the
Wehrmacht -taught technique of anumbrella with the cloth removed and foliage woven into the arms which he held to his front in order tocamouflage himself. [http://www.kgwiking.com/newsletter/Oct2004/snipers.html] . This camouflage was quickly assembled and lightweight and adaptable to many circumstances.He was reportedly awarded the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Field MarshalFerdinand Schörner , the commander ofArmy Group Centre , on20 April 1945 , although no official documentation ever recorded the award. However, this was not uncommon at this late point in the war.In 2005, a book titled "Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross" ISBN 1-84415-317-7 was published, written by
Albrecht Wacker based on interviews with Allerberger. The book was noted for suggesting that the Soviets had cannibalized German corpses, and graphic depictions of torture.References
* Albrecht Wacker (2005,2006), "Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross". ISBN 1844153177 [http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=1010 Pen & Sword Military.]
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