"SS-Obersturmführer Armberger served with the 1 SS Panzer Division
‘LSSAH’ from the 15.06.1941 up until his heroic death on the 20.08.1944.
During this time SS-Obersturmführer Armberger was a shining example for
officers, NCOs and men alike; he received 9 wounds and was named in the
Honour Roll Clasp of the
German Army on the 17.06.1944 for his
outstanding bravery during the defense of
Stanislau.
SS-Obersturmführer Armberger once again effected a disproportionate
influence on the combat during the fighting along the Invasion front in
the summer of 1944.
English armored forces launched a surprise thrust along the
Carouges—
Ranes road on the 13.08.1944, and at around 15:00 they occupied
the village of
le Menil-Angot. With this the enemy succeeded in
blocking the retreat road to the north for those friendly forces that
had gathered in the Champ—Jouide Bois area. The enemy was reinforced
with additional tanks from the area east of le Menil-Angot and St.
Martin, and after this they sought to elongate their blocking line to
the East and West.
With this situation in mind, SS-Obersturmführer Armberger received a
mission from the commander of the 2 SS Panzer Regiment 1 ‘LSSAH’. His
task was to reconnoiter the enemy force in the le Menil-Angot area with
his 5 remaining operational
Panzer IVs and 2 armored cars from the
Heer.
SS-Obersturmführer Armberger set out in a swift advance and succeeded in
clearing the enemy infantry groups that were occupying the
Carrouges—Ranes road. He reached the Southern edge of le Menil-Angot,
and here his armored group became engaged in a heavy firefight with the
enemy security forces. The enemy furthermore sent in 8 fighter-bombers,
and their bombing/strafing attacks rendered impossible any further
advance by our armored spearhead without the latter sustaining heavy
losses. New enemy forces came into action at the same time as the
fighter-bombers, and SS-Obersturmführer Armberger’s armored group came
under attack from enemy tanks and anti-tank guns. 2 Panzer IVs were lost
in the firefight.
SS-Obersturmführer Armberger thereupon decided to break off the battle. He would leave his remaining panzers to secure the road fork South of le
Menil-Angot while he continued his reconnaissance mission on foot with a
few comrades.
In order to fulfill this intent, he and his company squad leader
rounded up some of his crew and went forwards against the enemy security
position. His objective was to eliminate the enemy tanks on the village
edge with close combat weapons and thereby enable his panzers to launch
a renewed attempt against the village.
Despite several unsuccessful attempts he showed great perseverance under
the very difficult conditions. He eventually succeeded in working his
way into combat range, and from here he personally destroyed 4 enemy
tanks in quick succession with
panzerfausts. Throughout this time he put
his own life at great risk in order to successfully carry out his
ordered mission under any circumstances.
The enemy took heed of his losses, and after this they pulled back their
position to a point about 300 metres deeper into the village. From
there they were unable to use their weaponry to dominate the road that
led southwards from le Menil-Angot. Our own forces were thus able to
carry out their ordered withdrawal movements without interference. The preconditions for this successful maneuver were established by the
bold actions and singularly brave initiative of SS-Obersturmführer
Armberger.
SS-Obersturmführer Armberger also distinguished himself on multiple
other occasions during the division’s hard battles along the invasion
front. On the 20.08.1944, following his 9th wound, he was struck by a
direct artillery hit during the breakthrough battles South of
Falaise
and died a hero’s death. Here as well he led at the point of his company against the far superior enemy. This fate overtook him after he
had left his vehicle in order to conduct a foot reconnaissance for the
operation of his company.
His death signaled the end of a heroic soldierly life that had served
as a model of bravery and courage for all members of the regiment." from his
Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on October 31st, 1944 as
Obersturmführer of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 of the
1 SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler".
Another deadly enemy elite,
Brian
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