Hermann Alber

Hermann Karl Alber was a Sturmmann in the Waffen SS during World War II, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was awarded in recognition of extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Sturmann Alber was awarded the Knight's Cross for his action on the 2 August 1944. At 0800 hours on the road from Le Bény-Bocage, Catheolles, Montchauvet British infantry supported by five tanks started an attack. They were confronted by three Panzer IV from the 6th Company, 9th SS Panzer Regiment, and a section of the 9th Company, 20th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment which was under the command of Sturmann Alber.

Alber and his nine men attacked the feature height 221 Arcais south and kept the British infantry company and six tanks in the town of La Vaupalière which was at the bottom of heights 221 and 220 and under fire. Alber personally destroyed a Cromwell tank with hand grenades. Alber was killed at around 1930 hours that evening in the area Le Desert, Montchauvet. Hermann Alber was awarded all his decorations posthumously on the 26 December 1944: the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the Iron Cross I & II class, and the Tank Destruction Badge.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (6 August 1944)
 * 1st Class (7 August 1944)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 December 1944 (posthumously) as SS-Sturmmann and company messenger in the 9./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 20 "Hohenstaufen"