Erich Zepper

Erich Zepper was a Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant) 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
Erich Zepper was born on 27 November 1915 in Sebnitz. He joined the Reichswehr, then the Labour Service (Arbeitsdienst) and in 1937, he volunteered to join the SS-VT. He took part in the Anschluss of Austria and the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938.

World War II
Zepper was posted to the newly formed SS Division Wiking and sent to the Eastern Front for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. He was awarded the Iron Cross (2nd class) in August and the Iron Cross (1st class) in December 1941.

Zepper was awarded the Knight's Cross in December 1943, for his actions in the Dnieper sector in October 1943. The Russians attempted to build a bridgehead in the area of Kanev which threatened the whole Wiking SS corps. By now promoted to oberscharführer (Technical Sergeant) and acting Company commander, he, on his own initiative, made a daring attack with his company which prevented the Russians from getting a foothold on the bridgehead. A large number of machine guns, anti-tank guns, infantry weapons and other military material were captured and heavy losses inflicted on the Russians in this action.

Zepper was later promoted to untersturmführer. He was captured in October 1944 by the British during fighting on the Western Front.

Post war
Zepper remained a prisoner of war in British captivity until his release in 1948. He died on 28 July 2005, in Beilstein.