Hubert-Erwin Meierdrees (sometimes spelled as Meierdress)
Date of Birth: 11.12.1916 - Wesel, Rheinprovinz (German Empire)
Date of Death: 02.01.1945 - near Dunaalmás, Komárom-Esztergom (Hungary)
Buried: Soldatenfriedhof Wien-Zentralfriedhof, Plot: 1. Row: 6. Grave: 9 (Meierdrees was buried next to Walter Nowotny before out of political reasons he was re-interred on 3 October 1947)
NSDAP Number.: 3 601 911 (04.04.1934)
SS Number: 265 243 (01.08.1934)
Height: 187cm (6.1f)
Parents: Hermann Meierdrees (father)
Spouse: Anneliese
Battles and Campaigns: Invasion of Poland (1939), Battle of France (1940), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Battle of Demyansk (1942), Battle of Kharkov (1943), Battle of Kursk (1943), Battles on the Mius Front (1943), Battles around Warsaw (1944), Battle of Modlin (1944), Operation Konrad I (1945)
Promotions:
01.08.1934 SS-Anwärter
01.04.1938 SS-Junker
11.09.1938 SS-Standartenjunker
01.02.1939 SS-Standartenoberjunker
20.04.1939 SS-Untersturmführer
09.11.1940 SS-Obersturmführer
20.04.1942 SS-Hauptsturmführer (RDA 20.04.1941)
30.01.1944 SS-Sturmbannführer
Career:
15.02.1933 - 01.08.1934 Hitlerjugend
04.04.1934 entered the NSDAP
01.08.1934 entered the SS-VT (SS-Verfügungstruppe) - LSSAH
01.04.1938 - 19.04.1939 SS-Junker-Schule Braunschweig
01.02.1939 - 31.03.1939 Zugführer-Lehrgang Dachau
01.05.1939 Zugführer in 13.Sturm / SS-Standarte 'Der Führer'
12.06.1939 Batterie-Offizier in 4.Batterie / SS-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Verfüngungstruppe (later renamed SS-Sturmgeschüz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Division)
00.09.1939 campaign in Poland
20.10.1939 Adjutant I.Abteilung / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
00.05.1940 campaign in France
00.06.1941 campaign in Russia
15.01.1942 Kommandeur Kampfgruppe with the remnants of the SS-Totenkopf-StuG-Batterie
18.02.1942 severely WIA
21.02.1942 flown out of the Demjansk pocket in a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
01.04.1942 SS-Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment - München
26.10.1942 - 14.11.1942 Panzerkommandant-Lehrgang in Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf
20.11.1942 Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf"
20.08.1943 severely WIA for the 5th time at Hill 167.5, North East of Kolontajew on the Dniepr river and sent to Lazarett
20.09.1943 SS-Panzer-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Regiment
20.01.1944 Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / 3.SS-Panzer-Division 'Totenkopf'
02 or 04.01.1945 KIA in the explosion of his Panther '101' with his gunner, his loader and driver escaped with serious wounds near Biscke - Dunaalmás - Komárom trying to break the encirclement of Budapest :
-SS-Obersturmführer Alfred Quilitz, gunner KIA
-SS-Unterscharführer Kurt Sörhmann, radio operator WIA
-SS-Sturmmann Sepp Tittel, loader and second radioman KIA
-SS-Mann Sepp Hirsch, driver WIA
Awards and Decorations:
00.02.1934 Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer
00.00.1935 Julleuchter der SS
00.00.193_ DRL-Sportabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.193_ SA-Sportabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.193_ Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft Abzeichen in Gold
00.00.193_ SS-Ehrenring (Totenkopfring)
00.00.1939 Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
00.00.1939 SS-Dienstauszeichnung IV.Stufe (4 Jahre)
15.11.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse, for bravery during the Polish campaign
00.00.1941 Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
15.01.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse. On 15 January 1942, the Soviets launched a major attack which threatened to sever the main highway at the town of Bjakowo. Meierdress, seeing the threat, formed an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe (battle group) from his StuG battery (down to less than 100 men) and assorted engineers, SS-police troopers and Artillery reconnaissance troops which were located in and around the town. With his kampfgruppe, Meierdrees held the town against repeated assaults by much larger forces.
00.00.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
13.03.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Obersturmführer and Führer Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division "Totenkopf". The Ritterkreuz recommendation of Erwin Meierdrees reads as follows: “SS-Obersturmführer Meierdrees, commander of the Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Division, has participated in the Polish campaign, the western campaign and the campaign against the Soviet Union. On the 15.11.1939 he was decorated with the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse, and on the 15.01.1942 with the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse. Meierdrees was serving as part of Kampfgruppe Bochmann when the Russians penetrated friendly lines south of Staraya Russa at the beginning of January 1942, and in response to this development Meierdrees was initially deployed northeast and southeast of the city. His numerous bold attacks brought valuable relief to the hard-pressed Heer units in this area, and heavy losses were inflicted on the foe in the process. After the Kampfgruppe commander became a casualty SS-Obersturmführer Meierdrees rallied the remnants of the Gruppe and proceeded to conduct a determined defense of the village of Bjakowa (located on the Staraya Russa—Demyansk road). Since the end of January Meierdrees has held this village in a heroic struggle against overwhelming enemy attacks despite being encircled from all sides. Whenever the Russians fought their way into the village with strong tank and aircraft support they were always forced to retreat from their gains in the face of the bravely fighting troops under the bold and skillful leadership of SS-Obersturmführer Meierdrees. The defenders of Bjakowa continue to stand their ground under the guidance of their heroic commander. The holding of this village is of critical importance for the integrity of Fortress Demyansk, as the capture of this village would place another section of the road into enemy hands and bring them one step closer to linking up with those Russian forces pushing southwards from Gortschizy. I ask that SS-Obersturmführer Meierdrees be awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on account of his heroic struggle and the success he has achieved.”
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.04.1943 Demjankschild
00.00.1943 Panzerkampfabzeichen
05.10.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #310, as SS-Hauptsturmführer and Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf". The Eichenlaub recommendation of Erwin Meierdrees reads as follows: 1.) During the attack against the Uljanowka agricultural estate on the 01.03.1943 our Panzers were unable to advance due to the threat from a strong Pakfront. SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees bypassed this Pakfront with his Panzer and attacked it from the flank with magnificent spirit. He personally crushed 4 heavy anti-tank guns beneath his tracks, and his brave deed opened up the enemy’s front for a pursuit thrust by our forces. 2.) During the early morning hours of the 03.03.1943 Meierdrees and his Panzer-Abteilung had a surprise encounter with a Russian column stretching 7 km in length (consisting of mostly artillery and anti-tank guns) whilst advancing towards Schljachowaja. SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees immediately attacked this column on his own initiative, and by driving at the very spearhead of the attack he gave his troops the highest example of dutifulness and personal bravery. The success was total. Several artillery detachments, over 40 anti-tank guns and several hundred trucks together with abundant quantities of assorted war materiel were destroyed or captured. The 15 T-34s that were escorting the Russian column were all destroyed in the process. 3.) On the 07.07.1943 the enemy commenced their anticipated flanking thrust from Ternowka towards the Radin—Schopino road with strong infantry and tank forces. In response SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees engaged the attackers as the first friendly unit to do so (they therefore did not even have infantry support at first). Whilst driving amongst his point Kompanie he identified a large assembly of about a regiment’s worth of Russian infantry in the Dolshik ravine. These were presumably awaiting the arrival of their own armoured forces, which were located about 1.5 km to the east at the time. SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees immediately ordered his light Kompanie to attack these infantry. He personally led the Kompanie into the opposing ranks, and the foe was routed with heavy losses. After this he led both of his medium Kompanien in an attack against the hostile armoured forces. By skillfully inserting his forces into battle it was possible to destroy 5 tanks in a very short time (of which he personally took out 3). The remaining tanks pulled back to the east at top speed. This determined and energetic intervention by SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees prevented the Russians from blocking the road. 4.) SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees and his Abteilung repeatedly distinguished themselves during the seizure and defense of the Psel bridgehead. During the attack against the hutment near Kljutschi on the 12.07.1943 his Abteilung assailed a strongly fortified Russian defensive system which was occupied by infantry forces that were quite ready for defense against armour. As the rest of the Abteilung rolled over the trenches and proceeded to engage the enemy infantry further in the rear, the Panzer of SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees was immobilized. He proceeded to bail out, rally the other bailed out crews of his Abteilung and then clear out the hostile positions in man-to-man close combat. 5.) During the attack against Hill 213.9 (on the Mius) Meierdrees and his Abteilung were amongst those in the first wave. He led his men forwards with indefatigable aggressiveness, and did not waver from even the strongest defensive fire. During this fighting his Panzer was knocked out twice, forcing him to bail out and engage in infantry combat with his crew. On the 01.08.1943 he rolled out with his Abteilung for the fifth time, and finally he and his men managed to circumvent the hostile anti-tank/artillery fire and take control of the hill. Strong infantry counterthrusts that were supported by tanks were repulsed. 6.) During the establishment of the Kolontajew bridgehead on the 19./20.08.1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees and his Abteilung distinguished themselves once again. Disregarding the strong enemy artillery and anti-tank fire that was falling on the village, he drove through the hostile gunfire, captured Hill 167.5 (located NE of the village) and held it against the strongest of opposing pressure. Here SS-Hauptsturmführer Meierdrees was wounded for the fifth time.”
00.09.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold. WIA 18.02.1942 + 20.08.1943. Awarded after his fifth serious wound late August 1943 at the Dniepr line in the Ukraine. Exact date unknown.
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Hubert-Erwin Meierdrees was born in Wesel in Rhenish Prussia into a middle class family. His father was a Customs Tariff Secretary. When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, Meierdrees was still in school. He joined the Hitlerjugend when all Scout organizations were dissolved and replaced by the Nazi-run organization. As soon as he was old enough, Meierdrees applied for NSDAP membership, which he was granted on 4 April 1934 (Nr.3 601 911). Soon after, he applied to join the SS, to which he was admitted on 1 August 1934 (Nr.265 243). He was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, the SS' élite guard formation, serving as an enlisted man.
In April 1938, Meierdrees was given the opportunity to attend the SS-Junkerschule (the SS officer training school) at Braunschweig. He performed well during the intensive study and training, showing particular interest in the artillery and panzer parts of the course. On 20 April 1939, he graduated as an SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) specializing in artillery. On 1 May 1939, he was posted to command of a platoon in the 13th (Infantry gun) company of the newly formed SS-Standarte Der Führer.
In mid 1939, Adolf Hitler authorized the formation of an SS-Verfügungs-Division, comprising all three SS-VT Standartes, SS-Standarte Deutschland, SS-Standarte Germania and SS-Standarte Der Führer (The Leibstandarte was to form its own unit). Meierdrees was assigned to command of an artillery battery SS-Verfügungs-Artillerie-Regiment under SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Herbert Otto Gille. The Polish Crisis of August 1939 put these plans on hold, and the SS-Standarten were deployed for action during the upcoming offensive, Fall Weiss. The SS-Verfügungs-Artillerie-Regiment was subordinated to Panzer-Division Kempf, based in East Prussia.
On 1 September 1939, the Invasion of Poland began, sparking the Second World War. Meierdrees fought with the Panzer-Division Kempf through the campaign, seeing heavy action in the initial battles for the Mlava Position. At the conclusion of the campaign, Panzer-Division Kempf was disbanded, and the SS-VT formations began forming into the SS-Verfügungs-Division, to be commanded by SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser. For personal bravery in combat during the Polish campaign, Meierdrees was awarded the Iron Cross second class.
On 20 October 1939, Meierdrees was transferred to the staff of I./SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment, part of the now forming SS-Division Totenkopf commanded by SS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke. Meierdrees served with the Totenkopf during the Invasion of France. As a member of the artillery regiment's staff, Meierdrees did not see any frontline combat during the invasion, but did gain valuable experience in the running of an artillery battalion. On 12 June 1940, Meierdrees secured a combat command. He was placed in charge of a platoon of StuG IIIs in the artillery regiment's assault gun unit, SS-Sturmgeschütze-Batterie Totenkopf. He saw a little action during the mopping up of the last French forces. On 9 November 1940, Meierdrees was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant).
The Totenkopf was assigned to Army Group North for Operation Barbarossa, the plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union. On 22 June 1941, Barbarossa began and the Totenkopf began its advance. Initially, Army Group North did not assign the Totenkopf any real frontline combat, but it was soon thrown into action. Meierdrees, as a StuG platoon commander, led his assault guns aggressively and was soon building a reputation as a highly skilled armour commander. Meierdrees' unit saw heavy action during the assault towards Leningrad, the objective of Army Group North. By December 1941, the Germans had breached the Stalin Line and were at the gates of Leningrad.
Several strong Soviet assaults launched at the height of winter caught the exhausted Germans off guard. The Totenkopf managed to hold its section of the line near Demjansk in ferocious fighting. By early January 1942 Totenkopf's position was located in a salient which protruded into the Soviet lines. The Soviets, hoping to sever the German supply lines and encircle the forces around Demjansk, launched ferocious attacks at the flanks of the salient. During this period, Meierdrees and the remnants of the StuG Battery performed fire-brigade missions, halting all Soviet attempts.
On 15 January 1942, the Soviets launched a major attack which threatened to sever the main highway at the town of Bjakowo. Meierdress, seeing the threat, formed an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe (battle group) from his StuG battery (down to less than 100 men) and assorted engineers, SS-police troopers and Artillery reconnaissance troops which were located in and around the town. With his kampfgruppe, Meierdrees held the town against repeated assaults by much larger forces.
Heavy Soviet attacks further to the south, launched on 8 February, sliced through the flanks of the Demjansk salient, trapping Totenkopf and five other divisions, over 100,000 men, in a kessel (pocket).
The Totenkopf, exhausted from the winter fighting, was severely understrength. Meierdress' kampfgruppe, down to only 30 men, continued to hold the line at Bjakowo, now the closest point to friendly lines. For his actions during these battles, Meierdrees was awarded the Iron Cross, first class.
In early February, the Soviets captured Bjakowo, cutting off the Totenkopf, including Meierdress' force from the main German force, II. Armeekorps, encircled around Demyansk itself.
On February 18, Meierdress was seriously wounded. After Meierdrees' incapacitation, Totenkopf's SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Franz Kleffner took over the command at Bjakowo. On February 19, he led the survivors in an assault which resulted in a breakthrough to the main force, an action for which Kleffner won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On 21 February, Meierdress was flown out of the pocket in a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch.
Severely wounded, Meierdress was sent back to an SS Field Hospital, where it was feared that he would die. By early March, his condition had stabilized. On 13 March 1942, Meierdress was awarded the Knight's Cross in recognition of his courage and resourcefulness while encircled near Bjakowo. The SS newspaper, Das Schwarze Korps published a story on his actions.
In late March, Meierdress was discharged from the hospital, but was deemed unfit to rejoin the division, which was still heavily engaged in the Demjansk Pocket. Instead, he was posted to the Waffen-SS artillery replacement regiment, SS-Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment. On 20 April, he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain). Meierdress remained with the regiment, training replacements in the use of StuGs. He showed a skill and enthusiasm for training the young artillerymen.
Due to Wehrmacht internal power struggles in the 1930s, although StuGs were armoured fighting vehicles, they came under the command of the artillery, with the remainder of the Panzers being controlled by the Panzerwaffe. In October 1942, the Totenkopf was pulled out of the line and moved to France to be reformed as a panzergrenadier division. Meierdress, having shown skill in the command of StuGs, was given the opportunity to take the Panzer commander's course at Panzertruppenschule II at Wünsdorf. He accepted the offer and on 14 November, he graduated and was posted back to now reformed SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf as commander of I. Abteilung of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.
With help from Heinrich Himmler and Paul Hausser, all SS Panzergrenadier Divisions were to receive a full panzer regiment, rather than the usual abteilung (detachment). This meant that SS Panzergrenadier Divisions were Panzer divisions in all but name. In December 1942, the situation in Stalingrad meant that the division was needed in the east. It was entrained and sent to the region around Kharkov, where it would form a part of SS-Obergruppenführer Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps.
The division arrived at the front in late February 1943, and, together with the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich was thrown into action in Generaloberst Erich von Manstein's counter offensive to retake Kharkov. Earlier in January and February, the Das Reich and Leibstandarte had seen heavy fighting in defence of the city, inflicting some losses on the Red Army. Despite the best efforts of the SS-Panzerkorps, the Red Army was still advancing on the SS-Panzerkorps' flanks. Fearing encirclement, Hausser disobeyed Hitler's orders and authorized a full withdrawal from Kharkov.
The Totenkopf arrived in time to take part in the counteroffensive. The Soviet spearhead was formed by Mobile Group Popov. The SS-Panzerkorps was divided into a number of smaller Kampfgruppes, and Meierdress' Abt formed the nucleus of one of the Totenkopf's kampfgruppes, providing flank defence to the main assault by elements of the Leibstandarte. During the battle, the Totenkopf's commander, Theodor Eicke was shot down and killed while performing battlefield reconnaissance. In the desperate fighting to retake the city, Meierdress performed well, his unit inflicting some casualties on the enemy, and playing a major role in the annihilation of Mobile Group Popov, taking part in the recapture of Belgorod.
After the victory at the Third Battle of Kharkov, the SS-Panzekorps was rested and refitted in preparation for the major offensive against the Kursk salient, Operation Citadel.
The attack was launched on 4 July 1943, after a massive Soviet artillery barrage fell on the German assembly areas. The SS-Panzerkorps was to attack the southern flank of the salient as the spearhead for Generaloberst Hermann Hoth's 4. Panzer-Armee.
The Totenkopf led the advance on the SS-Panzerkops western flank, Meierdress' Abt, together with II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 under SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Biermeier, advanced in a panzerkeil (wedge) across the hot and dusty steppe. Despite encountering stiff Soviet resistance and several pakfronts (groups of anti-tank guns), the Totenkopf's panzers continued to advance, albeit at a slower pace than had been planned. Hausser ordered his SS-Panzerkorps to split in two, with the Totenkopf crossing the Psel River northwards and then continuing on towards the town of Prokhorovka.
By July 10, the Totenkopf was in a position to cross the Psel in force, then all three SS Panzergrenadier Divisions could strike towards Prokhorovka. Elements of the Totenkopf's SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke had finally forced a crossing of the Psel and established a weak bridgehead.
By July 11, Meierdress had led his Abt across the Psel on hastily constructed pontoon bridges, reinforcing the tenuous position. The forces in the bridgehead were subjected to several furious Soviet attacks, but with the support of Meierdress' panzers they held their ground and resumed the division's advance northwards. In the afternoon of 12 July, near the village of Andre'evka on the south bank of the Psel, the Soviets launched a major counterattack against the Totenkopf's SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 Thule and the division's StuG Battalion.
SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Priess, the Totenkopf's commander, ordered Meierdress' abteilung to advance and support the beleaguered forces. The PzKpfw IIIs and PzKpfw IVs of Meierdress' unit were supported by the Totenkopf's Tiger I company, 9(schwere)./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. In ferocious combat with the lead units of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army, Meierdress managed to halt the Soviet assault, destroying many Soviet T-34s, but at the cost of the majority of his remaining operational panzers.
On 14 July, Hitler called off the operation.
On 22 July, the Totenkopf was entrained for the Mius-Front, where Generaloberst Holldit's reformed 6. Armee was under heavy Soviet attack and close to collapse. The Leibstandarte, which was heading to the Italian front, left its vehicles behind. These were used to partially refit both the Totenkopf and the Das Reich.
Upon arrival at the Mius-Front, Totenkopf and Das Reich were immediately thrown into action. In the rocky ravine-crossed terrain, Meierdress led the understrength SS-Panzer-Abt in several ferocious counterattacks which prevented several breakthroughs. By late June, Totenkopf and Das Reich had succeeded in stabilising the front to some extent.
The launch of the Soviet Operation Rumyantsev on the southern flank of the Kursk salient meant that the Totenkopf and Das Reich were sent back north to deal with the threat to Kharkov. Meierdress' now exhausted abt was ordered into the line near Belgorod, where it was engaged in a ferocious defensive battle in an attempt to stem the tide. The divisions halted the advance of Rumyantsev, and it seemed as if the line would be stabilized. However, strong Soviet forces soon outflanked the two divisions and forced them to fall back to Kharkov. The threat to the divisions' flanks was too great, and on 23 August the Totenkopf and Das Reich abandoned the city, narrowly avoiding encirclement. Despite the best efforts of the two SS-Panzergrenadier divisions, on 23 August Kharkov had fallen. Army Group South began a fighting withdrawal to the Dnieper.
Meierdress continued to lead the abteilung in constant fire-brigade actions, preventing breakthroughs and flanking maneuvers as the slower formations of the Totenkopf fell back. By early September, the totenkopf reached the Dniepr. Elements of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank army had forced a crossing at Kremenchug and were soon threatening to break through the Dniepr line. Totenkopf was thrown into action against the bridgehead, with the panzer regiment leading many attacks. In late September, Meierdress was seriously wounded in combat against the bridgehead. He was evacuated to an SS-Field Hospital where he recuperated. As this was his fifth serious wound, he was awarded the wound badge in gold. In recognition of his actions in Kharkov, Kursk, the Mius and the retreat to the Dnieper, Meierdress was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross. These were personally awarded to him by Adolf Hitler on 5 October 1943.
After his recovery, Meierdress was posted to the SS-Panzer-Ausbildungs-und-Ersatz-Regiment, helping train new panzertroops who would be dispersed as replacements to the SS panzer divisions. In January 1944, he was deemed ready for active service and was sent back to his old command with the Totenkopf, arriving on 20 January. On 30 January, he received a promotion to SS-Sturmbannführer (Major).
The Totenkopf was engaged in heavy defensive fighting east of the Dnieper near Krivoy Rog. The Soviets had been attempting to capture Krivoy Rog, which formed a linchpin in the German lines, since November 1943. Meierdress assumed control of his old abteilung, and immediately led them into battle against Soviet probing attempts towards the city. In February 1944, 56,000 German troops were trapped in the Korsun Pocket. The Totenkopf was sent towards Cherkassy to assist in the relief attempts. Meierdress led his panzer troops in attacks towards the city of Korsun, attempting to secure a crossing across the Gniloy-Tilkich river. The 1. Panzer-Division, fighting alongside the Totenkopf, achieved a linkup with the encircled forces.
After a fierce fight near Kirovograd the Totenkopf fell back behind the Southern Bug River, in the second week of March, taking up new defensive positions. During this period, Meierdress performed his usual task of fire-brigade commander, dealing with threats as they arose. After two weeks of heavy fighting alongside the Heer's Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland west of Ivanovka, the German lines again fell back, withdrawing to the Dniestr on the Romanian border near Iaşi.
In the first week of April, Totenkopf gained a moments respite as it rested in the area near Târgul-Frumos in Romania. The division received replacements and new equipment, Meierdress' abt receiving a component of Panthers to replace some of the outdated PzKpfw IVs. In the second week of April, heavy Soviet attacks towards Targul Frumos meant that Totenkopf was back in action, playing a role in the decisive defensive victory. Meierdress' Panzers were the main force employed by the Totenkopf in efforts to halt the Soviet spearheads. By 7 May, the front had quieted and the Totenkopf went back to the business of reorganising. Meierdress' abt was again brought up to strength. In early July, the division was ordered to the area near Grodno in Poland, where it would form a part of SS-Obergruppenführer Gille's IV.SS-Panzerkorps, covering the approaches to Warsaw near Modlin.
The Totenkopf arrived at the Warsaw front in late July 1944. After the launch of Operation Bagration and the collapse of Army Group Centre, the central-Eastern front was a mess, and the IV. SS-Panzerkorps was one of the only formations standing in the way of the Soviet attacks. On 1 August 1944, the Armia Krajowa, rose up in Warsaw itself, sparking the Warsaw Uprising. A column of Totenkopf Tigers was caught up in the fighting, and several were lost. The Totenkopf was not involved in the suppression of the revolt, instead guarding the front lines, and fighting off several Soviet probing attacks into the city's eastern suburbs. Meierdress' panzers played a major role in these defensive victories.
In several furious battles near the town of Modlin in mid August, the Totenkopf, fighting alongside the 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and the Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 1 Hermann Göring failed to arrest the Soviet 3rd Corps. Meierdress' abt, now totally equipped with Panthers, fought in this battle. The terrain around Modlin is excellent armour terrain, and Meierdress exploited this to his advantage, engaging Soviet tanks from far range.
The efforts of the Totenkopf, Wiking and Hermann Göring allowed Germans to hold the Vistula line and establish Army Group Vistula. In December 1944, the IX. SS-Gebirgskorps was encircled in Budapest. Hitler ordered the IV. SS-Panzerkorps to head south to break through to the 45,000 Germans and Hungarians trapped in the city. The corps arrived late December, and was immediately thrown into action.
The relief attempt, codenamed Operation Konrad I, was a joint attack by the Wiking and Totenkopf from the town of Táta attacking along the line Bicske-Budapest. Meierdress' abt. was to form one of the Totenkopf's spearheads.
The operation got underway on 1 January, and the unexpected attack resulted in large gains for the Germans. Meierdress' unit fought their way towards the city, destroying many Soviet tanks. Despite this initial success, the Red Army reacted quickly, and on 3 January defence had solidified near the town of Biscke. On 4 January, Meierdress' unit was subjected to a ferocious enemy counterattack by a large Soviet armoured force. Meierdress' Panther, after knocking some armour, was hit, and exploded. While his loader and driver escaped with serious wounds, Meierdress and his gunner were killed in the explosion. Despite two subsequent offensives, the German garrison at Budapest was never reached and the survivors surrendered on 12 February 1945. The defeated Germans capitulated soon. It was, however, proved that the Germans were no match for the Red Army's assault.
SS
members having fun at the beach. The bald one with glasses at left - and
wearing Sporthemd - is SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve Kurt Brasack
(Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division
"Totenkopf"), while at right is the latter Ritterkreuzträger Erwin
Meierdrees (Adjutant I.Abteilung / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment /
SS-Division "Totenkopf"). The picture was probably taken in 1939-1940
Erwin Meierdrees as SS-Obersturmführer. After the Campaign in France in 1940, he was placed in charge of a platoon of StuG IIIs in the artillery regiment's assault gun unit, SS-Sturmgeschütze-Batterie Totenkopf. On November 9, 1940, Meierdrees was promoted to SS-Obersturmfuhrer (First Lieutenant).
Erwin Meierdrees wearing double death's head patches and cufftitle. The "Totenkopf" cufftitle indicate his previous service with the 1.SS-Totenkopf Standarte "Oberbayern".1%20in%20'42%20in%20the%20Demjansk-area%20where%20Meierdress%20is%20wearing%20a%20feldbluse%20(M42).jpg)
This
photo shows two officers from the SS-Division "Totenkopf" (motorisiert)
in Demyansk, spring 1942. Standing in the center is SS-Obersturmführer
Hubert-Erwin Meierdrees (Chef Sturmgeschütz-Batterie "Totenkopf"), while
sitting in the car while smoking is SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Baum
(Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Totenkopf-infanterie-Regiment 3).
.jpg)
Ritterkreuz award ceremony for SS-Obersturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Führer Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division 'Totenkopf') while he was still in convalescence in the hospital, 13 March 1942. Meierdrees received the Ritterkreuz for his tenacious defence during the Soviet's siege of Demyansk pocket. On 18 February 1942 he was seriously wounded and on 21 February was flown out of the pocket in a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. Severely wounded, Meierdrees was sent back to an SS Field Hospital, where it was feared that he would die. By early March, his condition had stabilized. On 13 March 1942, Meierdrees was awarded the Ritterkreuz in recognition of his courage and resourcefulness while encircled near Bjakowo. The SS newspaper, Das Schwarze Korps published a story on his actions. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.
New Ritterkreuzträger SS-Obersturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Führer Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division 'Totenkopf') in a picture taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Dürr, April 1942. He was presented with the Ritterkreuz on 13 March 1942 by Generaloberst Ernst Busch while still in convalescence in the hospital. Meierdrees was awarded the Ritterkreuz in recognition of his courage and resourcefulness while encircled near Bjakowo, Demyansk Pocket. The SS newspaper 'Das Schwarze Korps' published a story on his actions. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.
SS-Obersturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Führer Sturmgeschütz-Batterie / SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment / SS-Division 'Totenkopf') wearing ushanka, traditional Russian fur hat. The picture was taken in April 1944.
SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees with his father, Hermann Meierdrees, who worked as a Zoll (customs) official with the rank of Oberzollsekretär.
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SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf") during the Third Battle of Kharkov, February-March 1943.
%20gives%20order%20to%20attack.jpg)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (left, Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf") gives order to attack in the command cupola of his Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.K mit 5 cm Kwk 38 L/42 during Kharkov campaign, February-March 1943. Standing at right is his adjutant, an unidentified SS-Untersturmführer. This PzBefWg III of Totenkopf's first Panzer-Abteilung's headquarters company shows a pristine new coat of white paint at the beginning of Kharkov operations. There is an even coat of camouflage over the whole vehicle, covering even the national insignia, leaving only a part of the driver's plate and the turret side unpainted to expose the divisional sign and turret numbers.
SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (left, Kommandeur I.Abteilung /
SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf") and
SS-Obersturmbannführer Kurt Meyer (Kommandeur SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1
/ SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") consult a
map during the attack of SS-Panzerkorps on the city of Kharkov, when
Totenkopf and Leibstandarte officers met in the village of Peresechnaya
near Kharkov on 3 March 1943. That day, Meyer's Kampfgruppe, which
included Max Wünsche's I./SS-Panzer Reg.1, linked up with elements of
the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf", including Meierdress'
I./SS-Panzer Reg.3. A lot of photos were taken that day, as Meierdress
posed with the "celebrities" from Leibstandarte: Meyer, Wünsche, and
Fritz Witt in particular. "Panzermeyer" had just in the past few days
returned from Hitler's HQ, where he had received the Eichenlaub that he
is wearing in this picture, which were awarded on February 23, 1943.
Also in this picture, both Meierdrees and Meyer wore one-piece
panzerkombi for tank troops. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.%20Meierdress.jpg)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (black uniform, Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf") observing Russian tank movements during the stabilisation of the frontline in the Donetsk/Dnjepr region, April 1943.
Panzer officers of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf" in conversation. On the far left is SS-Obersturmführer Waldemar Riefkogel (Chef 1.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"), then with the sunglasses is SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Biermeier (Führer II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"), and on the right is SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"). The picture was taken in 1943
%20&%20Meierdress,%20Erwin%20just%20before%20Kursk.jpg)
Officers of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf" celebrating the Summer Solstice in the Eastern Front. On the right hand side of the photograph is SS-Obersturmführer Waldemar Riefkogel (Chef 1.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"), in the middle is SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"), while the SS-Obersturmführer on his right is not identified. The picture was taken on 20-21 June 1943 just before Unternehmen Zitadelle (Battle of Kursk).
Three Panzer officers of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf". From left to right: SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"), SS-Sturmbannführer Georg Bochmann (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"), and SS-Obersturmführer Waldemar Riefkogel (Chef 1.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"). The picture was probably taken in autumn 1943.
Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) congratulates and shakes hands with SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf") during the audience which were held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, 13 October 1943. Abteilungskommandeur Meierdrees received the Eichenlaub #310 on 5 October 1943 for his many heroic deeds during the Battle of Kursk and the months after that. The other recipients of the Eichenlaub in Totenkopf were (in order of awarding): Theodor Eicke, Georg Bochmann, Otto Baum, Hermann Priess, Karl Ulrrich, Helmut Becker, Max Simon, and Fritz Biermeier.
,%20in%20Germany%20after%20being%20awarded%20the%20Oakleaves,%20attending%20a%20HJ%20event%201.jpg)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf") in Germany after being awarded the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz by Hitler. Konstantinos Laios photo collection. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.
SS-Sturmbannführer Erwin Meierdrees (right), Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf", speaking to an officer of the SS-Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 3 "Totenkopf" in front of a burning vehicle. In this picture, Meierdrees is clutching a MP 40 (Maschinenpistole 40) for precautions against the enemy. The picture was taken during the raging battles near Warsaw, summer 1944.
SS-Sturmbannführer Erwin Meierdrees (right), Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf", receives report from one of his Kompaniechef. The company commander, who allegedly come from 2nd Company, is wearing a SS-Erbsenmuster camouflage pattern jacket (a.k.a. pea-dot pattern) with the shoulder boards of SS-Hauptsturmführer. In the background is a Soviet T-34/85 #220 tank that "fell victim to our Panther and Panzerfausts" (original caption). There is other photo that shows another Russian T-34 tank with a different turret number (#210), and it appears that these tanks were not destroyed but were repurposed by the Germans to fight their former master. This photo was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Hermann Grönert on 29 August 1944 on the outskirts of Siedlce, Poland, during heavy fighting against Soviet troops east of Warsaw, and is one of a series of photos he took that day (Grönert also captured the fighting that took place through his film camera). In this particular battle, the unit led by Meierdrees succeeded in destroying many enemy tanks and armored vehicles.
SS-Sturmbannführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf") during the raging battles near Warsaw, summer 1944. Screenshots from "Die Deutsche Wochenschau", German Weekly News.
Befehlpanther
I01 of SS-Sturmbannführer Erwin Meierdrees (Kommandeur I.Abteilung /
SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf" / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division
"Totenkopf") in Nowo Miastro, Poland, a few days before he was KIA at Dunaalmas,
Hungary, 2 January 1945. Posing beside the tank is SS-Unterscharführer Kurt Söhrmann, radio operator in
Meierdrees's Panther. After
the war, Söhrmann was interviewed about the last action of his
commander, about which he remembered the following: "The
commander looked down at his watch and said: “Sepp, let’s go”. It was
06:45 hours in the morning. All of the sudden, a terrible, loud
explosion occurs in the fighting compartment and there is a bright flash
of red light and intense heat. The turret has been hit. Somehow Sepp
and I manage to bail out of the Panther and fall onto the road. Sepp
tries to remount the Panther but the tank continues to roll forward. The
turret crew are all dead. // Meierdrees was lifted out of the turret.
Also killed were Quilitz and Sepp Tittel. Sepp and I stand and look down
at our highly esteemed commander and weep..."
A photo depicting Kurt Söhrmann (center), Kurt Arp and one other former soldier of Erwin Meierdrees,'s battalion at the grave of their former commander in Vienna, in the early 2000s or late 90s. It is interesting to note that while Meierdrees was initially buried next to the famed pilot Walter Nowotny (KIA 8 November 1944 while flying the Me-262 at Achmer, with General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland present), he was later moved to a different location in the cemetery, for unknown reason.
The grave of Erwin Meierdrees today. Located at Soldatenfriedhof Wien-Zentralfriedhof, Austria, Plot: 1. Row: 6. Grave: 9
(Meierdrees was buried next to Walter Nowotny before out of political
reasons he was re-interred on 3 October 1947).
Ritterkreuz recommendations for Erwin Meierdrees.
Newspaper cut-outs about Erwin Meierdrees.
Dienstlaufbahn (SSO) file of Erwin Meierdrees. For some unknown reason, the portrait in the first page shows Wilfried Richter and not Meierdrees!
Condolence letter from Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler to Erwin Meierdrees's wife.
The only biographical book about Erwin Meierdrees, authored by Konstantinos Laios. You can order the book through Amazon HERE.
Source :
NARA Archive U.S.A.
Bundesarchiv photo collection
KL Archive photo collection
Pierre Tiquet photo collection
Michael D. Miller photo collection
Richard Meierdrees photo collection
Christophe Blanluet photo collection
"Erwin Meierdrees: Panzer Kommandeur " by Konstantinos Laios
http://www.2kompanie.org/hubert-erwin-meierdress.html
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2018/11/foto-beutepanzer-tank-rampasan.html
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/1779/a045476fc242349265165c77569a88c3/
http://charkow-43.ucoz.ru/photo/personalii/erwin_meierdress/70
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J27465,_Erwin_Meier-Dress_vor_russischem_Panzer.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/groups/691098008051629/posts/1625566741271413/
https://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5347
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=42936&start=15
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/campaign-against-soviet-union-eastern-front-theater-of-war-news-photo/542400121
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/
http://www.kriegsberichter-archive.com/index.php?/category/51
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Hubert-Erwin_Meierdress
http://sylviolassance.blogspot.com/2013/11/meierdress-hubert-erwin-1112191602011945.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/21806/Meierdrees-Hubert-Erwin-aka-Meierdress.htm
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/908886-ss-themed-magazine-newspaper-covers/page3#post6955314
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