Franz Staudegger

Franz Staudegger (12 February 192316 March 1991) was a German Waffen-SS tank commander during the Second World War. He is known for being "panzer ace" and the first Tiger tank commander awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was part of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).

Early life Franz Staudegger was the son of an innkeeper and was born on 12 February 1923, in Unterlaibach, Carinthia (Austria). He joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) at the age of 17 and was accepted into the reserve battalion of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH). Nazi propaganda credits Staudegger with the destruction of 22 enemy tanks. Historian Christopher Lawrence notes that the details of the event are unsupported by unit reports.

Later life and death Franz Staudegger survived the war, and later worked as a railway official and an insurance clerk. He died in Frankfurt on 16 March 1991. Staudegger was respected by both his crew and his company, but he never achieved the widespread fame of his colleague Michael Wittmann.

Awards

Wound Badge, black (3rd class) Iron Cross 2nd Class (20 March 1943) The Silver Panzer Badge (1 April 1943) Iron Cross, 1st class (6 July 1943) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (10 July 1943)