SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") presenting the Ritterkreuz to SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), 14 May 1944. On the left of the photo (not visible) is the future Ritterkreuzträger Paul Senghas.
After the fighting for Kovel (April 1944), a number of men of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” were given awards for their achievements. This began with the division commander, SS-Gruppenführer Herbert Gille, who was the 12th member of the German armed forces to receive the Brillanten to the Ritterkreuz, and worked its way down. Many of the division’s bravest officers were presented with awards for their achievements and those of their men.
In addition to Franz Hack, a battalion commander of imposing size in SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment “Germania”, the regimental commander, Fritz Ehrath, the future Nahkampfspange in Gold recipient, Werner Meyer, a company commander in SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 “Wiking”, Willi Hein, the tank hunter, Gerhard Fischer, and the tanker who was the first to break through the Soviet encirclement, Karl Nicolussi-Leck, all received the coveted Ritterkreuz.
Franz Hack (3 February 1915 - 9 June 1997) formally received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 May 1944 as SS-Sturmbannführer and Kommandeur III.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking".
Hack’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows:
“During the night attack on 17 April 1944 against Hill 189.5 and the high ground south of it (1.5 km southwest of Kovel), SS-Sturmbannführer Hack, commander of the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. Germania, particularly distinguished himself through his outstanding bravery before the enemy.
The enemy was entirely aware of the importance of Hill 189.5, from which it was possible to have a commanding view of Fortress Kovel, the only supply road that led to the city as well as the entire area to the north and northwest of the place. With this in mind they had heavily fortified the hill, and its defenders would fight bitterly for it.
The capture of this commanding enemy position was very much necessary in order to fully bring about the relief of Fortress Kovel. Due to the strong enemy defenses both here and on the eastern and western flanks, the only way this could be achieved was by a night attack.
After assembling at Gleisdreieck (west of Kovel), Bataillon Hack received the order to thrust southwards along the Kovel—Wlodzimicrz railway line in a night attack. The enemy strongpoints along both sides of the railroad would be seized via surprise attack, and thereafter the enemy position on Hill 189.5 would be attacked, captured and held.
The surprise attack against the first strongpoint at the railway bridge, conducted by 2 assault groups, became pinned down in the Soviet barbed wire obstacles. Fire support by heavy weapons was no longer possible as both our troops and the enemies’ were now too close together. Knowing that everything depended on the success of this first phase of the attack, Hack rushed to the forefront of both assault groups. He bombarded enemy resistance nests that had been cleverly positioned between the bridge abutments with 5 Panzerfausts. Then, after a hand grenade salvo, he was the first to penetrate into the enemy strongpoint with one of the two assault group leaders.
Through this exemplary and ruthless commitment to the battle, Hack brought the two assault groups forward and cleared out the enemy positions while personally participating in the fighting with his own machine-pistol and hand grenades.
Here he was wounded by hand grenade splinters in the face and right hand. However Hack continued the attack undaunted by his wounds, capturing the second strongpoint during the breakthrough. After a swift assembly of the Bataillon’s follow-up units he began the assault against Hill 189.5, where the Soviets were prepared to defend with grim determination.
However the enemy couldn’t resist the attacking spirit of the Bataillon, with the commander himself fighting in the forward line. After a short, hard close-quarter battle the enemy was thrown out of his positions at Hill 189.5 and forced to retreat to the south. In order to facilitate the continuation of the friendly attack, Hack initiated a swift pursuit thrust further south along the railway line on his own initiative, wresting control of one Soviet strongpoint after another. By first light the Bataillon had captured and occupied the enemy positions at the overpass 400 metres to the southwest of Hill 188. An enemy counterthrust launched shortly afterwards from the southwest was defeated, and over the course of the day the newly conquered position was prepared to take on further enemy counterattacks.
Only now, after he had organized the defense, did Hack allow himself to be treated for his wounds. Through his prudent leadership and personal daring he has a decisive share in the success of this offensive operation, one which was of great importance for the relief of ‘Fortress’ Kovel.
Hack has been wounded six times in this war, and is a holder of the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, Nahkampfspange in Bronze and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold.
Hack is worthy to be awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.”
SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (right, Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") congratulates SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") for his newly awarded Ritterkreuz, 14 May 1944.
SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (left, Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") is being congratulated by his Regimentskommandeur, SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr, after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony which were held on 14 May 1944.
SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack as Kommandeur of III.Bataillon (gepanzerte) / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking". The picture was possibly taken after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Hack, 14 May 1944.
From left to right: SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Dorr (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") and SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"). The picture was possibly taken after the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Hack, 14 May 1944.
Source :
"The Face of Courage. The 98 Men Who Received the Knights Cross and the Close-Combat Clasp in Gold" by Florian Berger
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Hack,_Franz
https://www.forosegundaguerra.com/viewtopic.php?t=13119&start=165
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/8802/Hack-Franz-Waffen-SS.htm
https://twitter.com/bartutarih/status/956596957845311489/photo/1
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