Johannes Scherg

Johannes Scherg 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.

Johannes Scherg was born in Würzburg on the 16 May 1918. After finishing school and his labour service, he volunteered to join the SS in 1938 serving with the SS-VT in Munich with the SS Regiment Germaina.

World War II
At the beginning of World War II he served as a radio operator with the SS Germania Regiment for the Polish Campaign and the Battle of France.

In 1941 he was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz graduating in September 1941. Promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) he became a platoon commander in the 1st Company, 2nd SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, Das Reich Division serving on the Eastern Front.

In November 1942, he was given command of the 2nd Company, 2nd SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion and awarded the German Cross in Gold and promoted to Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant).

In July 1944, he was posted to the 4th SS Polizei Division as the commander of the 1st Company, 4th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion which was serving in Greece at the time.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross in October 1944 for his command of the 1st Company, 4th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, during the fighting in Greece and Romania. Scherg was wounded for the seventh time in January 1945 for which he received the Wound Badge in Gold.

Scherg and the 4th SS were briefly rested at Stettin, then moved to the front at Mecklenburg north of Berlin and retreated to the river Elbe at Wittenberge. Scherg was promoted to Hauptsturmführer in May 1945, and captured by the British Army at Lauenburg. He was handed over to the Americans who in turn handed him over to the French in 1947. He was held captive by the French in the Military Prison at Bordeaux until he was released in June 1951.

Johannes Scherg returned to Germany and died on 22 December 1997.