Siegfried Amerkamp

Siegfried Amerkamp (20 March 1920 – 1 September 1995) was a German Obergefreiter, in the Wehrmacht, and later in the Waffen-SS during World War II.

Early life
Siegfried Amerkamp was born on 20 March 1920 in Duisburg Hochfeld. His father was a carpenter, and after Siegfried completed elementary school, he completed an apprenticeship as a milling cutter.

Early military career
A year after the war began (3 October 1940), he was in service in Kompanie, an infantry replacement battalion, before he was convened to Kassel. After recruit training, he was transferred to the Eastern Front, where he served in infantry regiment 451 as a scorer. Here he was promoted on 1 August 1941 to the top shooters. After he distinguished himself in battle, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class on 25 January 1942. Next he was promoted to corporal on 1 February 1942. He was transferred on 5 May 1942 to the Division Fusilier Battalion 86 and received several awards for his bravery in battle. These awards were the Iron Cross 1st class on 3 September 1943, the Golden Wound Badge on 16 September 1943 and, on 5 October 1943, he received Close Combat Clasp in bronze for 15 days of intense combat. Lastly, he received the infantry assault badge. After he received these awards, Siegfried was transferred to the assault company of the Grenadier Regiment 459 and employed as a gunner and deputy group leader.

Knight's Cross award
In October 1943, his company was in an Auffangstellung, (Northwest of Chernigov and South of Gomel) the central section of the eastern front. After the enemy attacked at night the line of the two companies, the HKL moved 200 meters back. A planned counterattack of storm company failed, but the squad leader, Abdulla, told the old HVAC to break through. Abdulla divided two soldiers as the connection bracket to the company and two to hold the previous position. He and Bach secured the moat with a light machine gun, hand grenades, and melee to follow up. After firing the ammunition, they attacked the men with spades and flare guns, and they restored the connection to the neighboring company. Again of his own accord, Siegfried covered the entire company from the old position. For this feat he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 22 November 1943, and he was promoted on 1 October 1943. He received the award on 3 December 1943 from the Division Commander while in Mozyr.

1944
In July 1944, he suffered his eighth war wound at the battle of Brześć Litewski, and came to the reserve hospital Bydgoszcz, where he remained until 22 August 1944. Siegfried was awarded the close combat clasp in Silver (for 30 days of close combat) on 28 September 1944, and was promoted to Sergeant on 1 February 1945.

Capture
In March 1945, he was in Frankfurt as a main American prisoner of war, and he escaped. After he was rescued during his escape by a unit of the Waffen-SS, he transferred to the Waffen-SS and served in the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 37 as SS-Oberscharführer (Sergeant) and platoon commander until his second capture by the Americans in Tegernsee. He was released from captivity in October 1946.

Later life
Siegfired worked in his hometown of Duisburg as a grinder in a steel plant until his retirement. Siegfried Amerkamp died on 1 September 1995 at the age of 75.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (25 January 1942)
 * 1st Class (3 September 1943)
 * General Assault Badge 1st Grade
 * Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
 * Eastern Front Medal 1942
 * Close Combat Clasp
 * in Bronze (5 October 1943)
 * in Silver (28 September 1944)
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black (17 March 1942)
 * in Silver (7 May 1943)
 * in Gold (16 September 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943 as Obergefreiter, and machine gunner and deputy group leader in the Sturmkompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 459