Josef Armberger

Josef Armberger was an Obersturmführer (Senior Assault (or Storm) Leader) in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II, the highest award for bravery of Nazi Germany.

Early life
He was born in Gugging Austria on the 26 June 1920, he spent his early life working in a Vineyard and joined the SS on 1 May 1938 and was given the SS number 372 349 he was sent to the SS disposal unit to receive officer training.

World War II
He was then posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler attached to the Anti Aircraft Battalion and took part in the Battle of France and the Balkans Campaign. During Operation Barbarossa he was wounded three times on the 11,13,14 March 1943 but remained with his troops and a short time later took over command of the 5th Flak Company. He was wounded again on the 10 April 1944 and this time sent to the SS hospital in Vienna to recover from his wounds. After recovering he returned to the LSSAH and took over command of the 8th Company, SS Panzer Regiment 1 LSSAH and moved to France.

During operations in Normandy the company was active in the areas of Saint-Lambert, Tournay-sur-Dive, and Villedieu les Bailleul, during the fighting to break out of the Falaise Gap on 19 August 1944, he showed special bravery. After a fierce fire fight with Allied tanks, SS-Obersturmführer Armberger on the 20 August as the leader of the 8th Company led them from the trap at Falaise, on the way destroying a larger number of tanks. Personally knocking out 4 Sherman tanks with Panzerfausts. Afterwards he was killed in the heavy fighting in the area northeast of Mossey / Evreux On the 31 October 1944 he received the Knight's Cross posthumously.

Josef Armberger's grave is located at the military cemetery Champigny in the department of Eure.