"On the 16.09.1944, during an attack by Kampfgruppe Prager, a company of
the I/8 was sent on a flanking maneuver to the right in order to
envelop the enemy’s toughly defended river position South of Sag. As the
attacks from the front and left offered no promises for success, and
because the terrain on the right was favorable for an attack, an
additional company from the I/8 was deployed on the right to engage
the enemy in their flank and rear. However the attack still only made
slow initial progress in the face of tough enemy resistance. The attack
was only re-energized after SS-Haupsturmführer Auer had personally taken
over the main attacking company on the right. The company thrust into
the flank and rear of the strongly fortified enemy river position and
rolled it up from the flank.
With this the enemy’s toughly defended Timisul position, held by about 7
companies, was captured. This success was first and foremost due to the
personal boldness, bravery and prudence of SS-Hauptsturmführer Auer. On the 17.09.1944 SS-Hauptsturmführer Auer and his battalion thrust
forwards in the area East of Temeschburg while once again under the
command of Kampfgruppe Prager. This kampfgruppe had the task of stop the
enemy from linking up along the line Temeschburg—Lugoj. SS-Hauptsturmführer took up positions in the East with elements of his battalion to provide flank protection for the kampfgruppe. However,
following a good initial success, the enemy succeeded in using their
superior forces (supported by tanks and artillery) to cut off Auer’s
force from the rest of the kampfgruppe. But Auer and his men was in turn
able to withstand the enemy onslaught with exemplary bravery and
perseverance. Auer went on to conduct a skillful breakout back to the kampfgruppe during the night with only minimal friendly losses. On the 24.09.1944 Auer and his bataillon were employed on the left wing
of the friendly attacking group in order to guard its open left flank. To this end the battalion dispatched elements to attack Sandra (30 km
northwest of Temeschburg), however the attack bogged down West of Sandra
in the face of overwhelming enemy forces. In response
SS-Hauptsturmführer Auer gathered up a company and the reserve zug on
his own initiative, and with this force he led a thrust into the enemy
flank and captured Sandra. The resolution and personal bravery of this battalion commander was decisive. He and his weak forces then held
Sandra against all enemy attacks despite becoming temporarily encircled.
By doing this Auer facilitated the success of our own thrust to the
north along the route Essag—Periam, which itself led to the cutting off
of those Russian forces in the area Southwest of the Maros (Southeast of
Temeschburg). Auer thus decisively contributed to the defeat of the
Russian’s thrust from the Southeast.
SS-Hauptsturmführer Auer is worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on October 31st, 1944 as SS-Hauptsturmführer of SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 8 in the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division.
Another deadly enemy elite,
Brian
Julleuchter der SS awarded in 1935.
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