Franz Staudegger

Franz Staudegger (12 February 1923 – 16 March 1991) was a German Waffen-SS tank commander during the Second World War. He is known for being "panzer ace" and the first Tiger tank commander awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was part of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).

Franz Staudegger
Born	(1923-02-12)12 February 1923 Unterloibach, Bleiburg, Corinthia, Austria
Died	16 March 1991(1991-03-16) (aged 68) Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Waffen SS (1940–1945)
Years of service	1940–1945
Rank	SS-Unterscharführer
Unit	SS Division Leibstandarte 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Battles / wars	World War II Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kursk Operation Citadel Western Front Western Allied invasion of France Battle of Normandy
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Early life

Franz Staudegger was born on 12 February 1923, in Unterlaibach, Carinthia (Austria). His father was an innkeeper, and he had three brothers. Franz finished school in Klagenfurt and Spanheim in 1940 and volunteered for the Waffen-SS at just 17 years of age. He was accepted into the reserve training battalion of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).

World War II

During his first battle with the 1st Company of the LSSAH, Staudegger was wounded and received his first decoration, the black Wound Badge. In March 1942, he was promoted to SS-Sturmmann. After recovering from another injury, he was sent for tank training and joined a company equipped with Tiger tanks at the end of 1942. Upon completing his training, he returned to the LSSAH and became a commander of a Panzer III tank in a light platoon led by Michael Wittmann. After being promoted to SS-Unterscharführer on 20 January 1943, Staudegger fought as a tank commander in the Battle of Kharkov. After the city was captured, he was entrusted with commanding a Tiger tank in the platoon of SS-Untersturmführer Helmut Wendorff, and he was later awarded the Iron Cross Second Class (20 March 1943), as well as the Silver Tank Combat Badge (1 April 1943).

On 8 July 1943, during Operation Citadel, a group of 50–60 Soviet T-34 tanks attacked their position. His decisive actions helped weaken enemy forces and alter their tactical plans, and earned him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, making him the first Tiger tank commander to receive the honor. Nazi propaganda credits Staudegger with the destruction 22 enemy tanks. Historian Christopher Lawrence notes that the details of the event are unsupported by unit reports.

Staudegger ended the war in the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion which was present at the Battle of Normandy in 1944 under the command of Michael Wittmann, and was later involved in the Battle of the Bulge.

Later life and death

Franz Staudegger survived the war, and later worked as a railway official and an insurance clerk. He passed away in Frankfurt on 16 March 1991. Staudegger was respected by both his crew and his company, but he never achieved the widespread fame of his colleague Michael Wittmann.

Awards

• Wound Badge, black (3rd class)
• Iron Cross 2nd Class (20 March 1943)
• The Silver Tank Battle Badge (1 April 1943)
• Iron Cross, 1st class (6 July 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (10 July 1943)