Sylvester Stadler

Infobox Military Person
name=Sylvester Stadler
born=birth date|1910|12|30|df=y
died=death date and age|1995|8|23|1910|12|30|df=y


caption=Sylvester Stadler
placeofbirth=Fohnsdorf
placeofdeath=Augsburg-Haunstetten
nickname="Vestl"
allegiance=flag|Nazi Germany
branch=
serviceyears=1935 - 1945
rank=Brigadeführer und generalmajor der Waffen-SS
commands=
unit=
battles=World War II
awards=Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
laterwork=

Sylvester Stadler (December 30, 1910 - August 23, 1995) was a "Brigadeführer" in the Waffen-SS, a commander of the 4. Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer", 9. SS-Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen" and a winner of the "Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern". He was one of the youngest German generals during World War II, being only 34 years old when the war ended in 1945.

Early life

Stadler was born in Fohnsdorf, Austria, on December 30, 1910 and trained to become an electrician before joining the Schutzstaffel (SS) in 1933. In 1935 and 1936 he attended officer's school at the SS-Junkerschulen in Bad Tölz, Bavaria. He became a company commander in June 1939, and a battalion commander in March 1942.

"Der Führer" and Oradour-sur-Glane massacre

In May 1943, Stadler was made regiment commander of the Panzer-Grenadier regiment "Der Führer" (part of the elite 2. SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich"). On 10 June 1944, part of "Der Führer" regiment, lead by SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Diekmann, conducted a massacre in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane in France, in which 642 villagers were killed. Although Stadler ordered a court martial for Deikmann, the SS officer responsible, his reputation was tarnished. Deikmann himself was killed in combat before he could face trial.

The "Hohenstaufen"

On 10 July 1944, Stadler was made commander of the elite 9. SS-Panzer division "Hohenstaufen". Along with Kurt Meyer ("Panzermeyer") Stadler was among the youngest divisional commanders in the German armed forces. The "Hohenstaufen" fought in Poland, France, at the Eastern Front, in Normandy (at the defense of the infamous Hill 112 and at the Falaise pocket), at Arnhem ("Operation Market Garden"), in the Ardennes offensive and in Hungary. He surrendered his division to the United States Army in Austria in May 1945.

Military decorations

Stadler was several times wounded severely. His personal bravery won him the Close Combat Clasp in gold as a divisional commander in 1944.In 1943, Stadler was awarded the Knight's Cross ("Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes") after the German recapture of Kharkov – a strategically located city south of Kursk in the Soviet Union – during Spring 1943. The Knight's Cross was upgraded with Oak Leaves following the Battle of Kursk (the "Eichenlaub" - Nr. 303 - was presented to Stadler personally by Adolf Hitler). The award was upgraded once more just before the end of the war with Swords ("Schwertern" - Nr. 152), presented to him by Sepp Dietrich.

* German Cross in Gold (1942)
* Eastern Front Medal (1942)
* Iron Cross Second (1939) and First (1940) Classes
* SS-Honour Ring (?)
* Close Combat Clasp in Gold (12 Dec 1943)
* Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (?)
* 2 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
* Knight's Cross (6 Apr 1943)
* Oak Leaves (16 Sep 1943)
* Swords (6 May 1945)
* Waffen-SS Long Service Award (?)
* Wound Badge in Black (?), Silver (?) and Gold (?)
* Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht

Personal life and death

Stadler married in 1936 and had two sons. He died on 23 August 1995 in Augsburg-Haunstetten, Bavaria.

References

* Berger, Florian. "Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold".Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2004. ISBN 3-9501307-3-X.