Hans Drexel

Hans Drexel (12 November 1919 — 12 April 1962) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life
Hans Drexel was born on 12 November 1919 in Dettenhausen. He volunteered to join the SS-VT in November 1938 (SS number 372.377) and was posted to the SS Infantry Regiment Deutschland

World War II
During World War II, Drexel took part in the Polish Campaign and the Battle of France with the Deutschland Regiment. He was then selected to become an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule upon graduation in November 1940 he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and given command of a platoon in the 14th Company, SS Infantry Regiment Westland.

Drexel took part in Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union) winning his first combat award, the Iron Cross 2nd class, in July 1941. After serving on the Eastern Front during the following winter, he was promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) in January 1942.

On 3 August 1943 Drexel was given command of 10th Company, 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania the same month that he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. On 13 September he was made second in command of II. Battalion, 10th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Westland. He was in command of the battalion when it destroyed a Russian attack at Boiki on 28 September, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross. On 9 November 1943, Drezel was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and in January 1944 was posted to the 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien. He served as an advisor in the Battle Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket to Hauptsturmführer Léon Degrelle.

Post war
Hans Drexel survived the war and died on 12 April 1962 in Stuttgart.

Commands

 * 10th Company, SS Infantry Regiment Germania
 * 8th Company, 10th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Westland
 * II.Battalion 10th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Westland