Franz Augsberger

Franz Augsberger
Franz Augsberger (left), Fritz Klingenberg
Born	(1905-10-10)10 October 1905
Died	19 March 1945(1945-03-19) (aged 39) near Neustadt, Oberschlesien
Allegiance	First Austrian Republic (to 1938) Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Waffen-SS
Rank	SS-Brigadeführer
Commands	3 Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade; 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz Xaver Josef Maria Augsberger (10 October 1905 – 19 March 1945) was a high-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was killed in action in March 1945.

Born in Austria in 1905, Franz Augsberger join the Sturmabteilung (SA) on and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1930. He was in charge of the NSDAP's propaganda until June 1933, when the NSDAP was declared illegal in Austria. Augsberger moved to Germany and joined the SS in 1932. In 1934 Augsberger joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS Dispositional Troops; SS-VT). He attended and then taught at an SS training school until March 1939, when he was transferred SS regiment Der Führer.

Augsberger was appointed commander of a regiment in the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord. In April 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. In October 1942 Augsberger was appointed commander of 3 Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade. In 1944 the brigade was enlarged to form the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian), with Augsberger remaining the unit's commander. Augsberger commanded the division during the long retreat of the German forces on the Eastern Front. In early March he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by filed marshal Ferdinand Schörner. On 19 March, he was killed in action during an attempt to break out of a subsequent encirclement at Oppeln.

Awards

• German Cross in Gold on 30 May 1942 as SS-Sturmbannführer in the SS-Infanterie-Regiment 7 (motorized)
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (9 March 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 March 1945 as SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS and commander of the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr. 1)

See also

• Occupation of Estonia by Nazi Germany

References

Bibliography

• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)