Johannes Evangelist "Hans" Röger
Date of Birth: 13.07.1920 - Lauingen, Bayern (Germany)
Date of Death: 12.04.2009 - Geislingen an der Steige, Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
Promotions:
14.02.1940 Kriegsfreiwilliger
01.06.1940 Gefreiter
01.05.1941 Obergefreiter
16.07.1943 Unteroffizier
30.08.1944 Feldwebel
15.01.1945 Oberfeldwebel
Career:
14.02.1940 Enlisted into the Austrian 45. Infanterie-Division
00.01-02.1941 Transferred to the Austrian 100. Jäger-Division
00.02.1942 Wounded in action
00.00.194_ Zugführer in 1.Kompanie / Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
Awards and Decorations:
31.10.1941 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
01.12.1941 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
15.03.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
00.00.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
27.09.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
30.08.1944 Nahkampfspange in Bronze
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange in Silber
21.09.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Unteroffizier and Zugführer in 1.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" / Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"
00.00.1945 Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber (three)
15.03.1945 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
18.04.1945 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
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Röger signed as a Kriegsfreiwilliger on 14 February 1940 and was enlisted into the Austrian 45. Infanterie-Division. Promoted Gefreiter on 1 June 1940, he fought in the French campaign. He then transferred to the Austrian 100. Jäger-Division in early 1941 and promoted to Obergefreiter on 1 May 1941, fighting with them in the first eight months of Barbarossa. He was engaged in almost ceaseless action from the invasion until wounded in February 1942. He was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse on 31 October 1941, Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen on 1 December 1941, and Ostmedaille on 15 March 1942, but did not receive the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz until 27 September 1943.
Röger transferred as a volunteer to Infanterie-Division "Grossdeutschland" (mot.) sometime in 1942 where he established a reputation as an outstanding scout, ‘Panzerknacker’ (tank killer) and NCO in their first Battalion of Füsilier-Regiment under Major Hans-Dieter von Basse.
Promoted to Unteroffizier on 16 July 1943, he fought in all Grossdeutschland’s campaigns from Kursk-Dnieper-Romania-Kurland-East Prussia. One reconnaissance mission went down in the Division’s history annals. Near Jassy/Targul Frumos in Romania, April 44, Röger and another man dressed as shepherds over their uniforms and drove sheep thru enemy lines. Smiling and mumbling ‘Good morning’ in Russian to the amused Frontovniks, they assessed the enemy’s positions and equipment. On returning to his lines, Röger destroyed a railway bridge used by enemy tanks. He was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse for the daring feat.
After moving north to the Baltics as Grossdeutschland counterattacked in an attempt to reach Armee Gruppe Kurland, Unteroffizier Röger was the spearhead of his Battalionn’s advance at Wilkovishken, Lithuania, August 1944. His SPW came under fire causing casualties. He rallied the remaining men, jumping from the Sd.Kfz.251 with Mp40, overran the enemy infantry position, capturing a 15.2cm howitzer and transport vehicles. He then held the position against a determined counter attack from the enemy. For initiative and courage he was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 21 September 1944. The Nahkampfspange in Bronze was earned on 30 August 1944 with promotion to Feldwebel.
The death throes of Grossdeutschland saw Röger in East Prussia. Now Oberfeldwebel on 15 January 1945, he turned his skills to tank busting. On 2 February 1945 he destroyed three Soviet T34/85 tanks and was engaging another when a fellow NCO grabbed Röger’s panzerfaust, saying "You’ve already got three, give another a chance!"
The NCO then mounted a BMW750 combination and roared off to attack a JS 2 tank! Röger still destroyed his 4th Soviet tank later that day. He also developed a knack of destroying MG/mortar positions using a panzerfaust as a mortar, delivering plunging fire into buildings or bunkers.
Röger was seriously wounded just before being admitted to the Honour Roll of the German Army on 15 March 1945. Evacuated from East Prussia to Bad Elster, Saxony, he received the Verwundetenabzeichen in Silver on 18 April 1945. He fled the advancing Red Army early May 1945, reaching US lines at Hof, Bavaria. There he remained a POW until his early release on 12 July 1945.
Hans Röger was a remarkable soldier, a real personality within his Regiment and Grossdeutschland and an exemplary NCO. The type that was the spine of the German army of World War II.
Source :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154669364299
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/38925/R%C3%B6ger-Johannes-Evangelist-Hans.htm
https://twitter.com/BuddNicholas/status/1019655187303149568
