Egon Franz

Egon Franz
Born	19 August 1921 Mittellangenau, Sudetenland
Died	1945
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Unterscharführer
Unit	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Close Combat Clasp in Silver Eastern Front Medal 1941/42

Egon Franz was a Unterscharführer 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.

He was born in the Sudetenland on the 19 August 1921. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the SS Division Wiking. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in October 1944 when a platoon commander in the 3rd Company, 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Germania.

There is some confusion over when he died, the official record states he died from severe wounds near Jungbusch. However other sources indicate he was murdered while in Czech captivity, in August 1945.

Further reading

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Mitcham, Jr.Samuel, Retreat to the Reich, Stackpole books 2007. ISBN 081173384X
• Henschler Henri & Fay Will, Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-45 Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811729052
• Mitcham Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45,Stackpole Books, 2007. ISBN 0811733718