Ayame Ekdahl
SS-Obersturmbannführer Wünsche
Max Wünsche (20 April 1915 – 18 April 1995) joined the SS in 1933 where he attended the NCO training course at Jüterbog. Wünsche was selected to be an officer and attended SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz, graduating in 1936 and posted to the Leibstandarte SS. In 1938 Wünche was assigned to the Begleitkommando des Führers (SS Escort Command of the Führer).
In 1940 he returned to the Leibstandarte SS, as platoon commander in the 15.Motor Cycle Company under the command of Kurt Meyer, for the invasion of Holland and the Battle of France.
In 1941 at Operation Barrabossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, Wünsche was attached to the 1.Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Numerous times Wünsche would take to a Fieseler Storch and fly over enemy held teritory on reconnaissence missions.
In 1942 Wünsche was given the command of the LSSAH Sturmgeschütz (Assault Gun) Battalion, involved in stopping Soviet attempts to break through the German lines.
In 1943 Wünsche resumed command of the I/Battalion, SS-Panzer Regiment 1 LSSAH. His new battalion's first action was at Kharkov, fighting in blizzard conditions, they halted the Soviet advance and held the town of Merefa. They went on to relieve the encircled 1.SS-Reconnaissance Battalion LSSAH, still commanded by his old commander Kurt Meyer. Wünsche and his battalion succeeded in breaking through the lines to Meyer's beleaguered troops, saving them from destruction. Together the two battalions formed a Kampfgruppe and continued the attack, defeating the Soviet VI Guards Cavalry Corps at Kharkov.
In 1944 Max Wünsche was transfered to the 12.SS-Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, and took command of the 12.SS-Panzer Regiment when the Allies landed in Normandy. The 12.SS-Panzer was later trapped in what became known as the Falaise pocket, Wünsche, his adjutant SS-Hauptsturmführer Georg Isecke, SS-Untersturmführer Fritz Freitag and a wounded medical officer, escaped out of the pocket on foot.
Awards:
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Wound Badge
Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze
German Cross in Gold
Commons: Bundesarchiv.
SS-Obersturmbannführer Wünsche
Max Wünsche (20 April 1915 – 18 April 1995) joined the SS in 1933 where he attended the NCO training course at Jüterbog. Wünsche was selected to be an officer and attended SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz, graduating in 1936 and posted to the Leibstandarte SS. In 1938 Wünche was assigned to the Begleitkommando des Führers (SS Escort Command of the Führer).
In 1940 he returned to the Leibstandarte SS, as platoon commander in the 15.Motor Cycle Company under the command of Kurt Meyer, for the invasion of Holland and the Battle of France.
In 1941 at Operation Barrabossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, Wünsche was attached to the 1.Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Numerous times Wünsche would take to a Fieseler Storch and fly over enemy held teritory on reconnaissence missions.
In 1942 Wünsche was given the command of the LSSAH Sturmgeschütz (Assault Gun) Battalion, involved in stopping Soviet attempts to break through the German lines.
In 1943 Wünsche resumed command of the I/Battalion, SS-Panzer Regiment 1 LSSAH. His new battalion's first action was at Kharkov, fighting in blizzard conditions, they halted the Soviet advance and held the town of Merefa. They went on to relieve the encircled 1.SS-Reconnaissance Battalion LSSAH, still commanded by his old commander Kurt Meyer. Wünsche and his battalion succeeded in breaking through the lines to Meyer's beleaguered troops, saving them from destruction. Together the two battalions formed a Kampfgruppe and continued the attack, defeating the Soviet VI Guards Cavalry Corps at Kharkov.
In 1944 Max Wünsche was transfered to the 12.SS-Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, and took command of the 12.SS-Panzer Regiment when the Allies landed in Normandy. The 12.SS-Panzer was later trapped in what became known as the Falaise pocket, Wünsche, his adjutant SS-Hauptsturmführer Georg Isecke, SS-Untersturmführer Fritz Freitag and a wounded medical officer, escaped out of the pocket on foot.
Awards:
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Wound Badge
Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze
German Cross in Gold
Commons: Bundesarchiv.