| Ernst Barkmann |
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EARLY LIFE Barkmann was born on 25 August 1919 in the town of Kisdorf in the ''kreis'' of Segeberg in Holstein . His father was a farmer, and after attending school, Barkmann followed in his father's footsteps and began working on the family farm. Barkmann closely followed rise of the NSDAP and Adolf Hitler , and soon like most Germans, was soon a supporter of the new leadership. In late 1935, he applied for service in the élite Waffen-SS . On 1 April 1936 , Barkmann was inducted into the SS and posted to SS-Standarte ''Germania'' for training. After several months of training, Barkmann was given the rank of SS-Mann and joined the Standarte's III.Bataillon, based at Radolfzell . EARLY WAR CAMPAIGNS The standarte was posted to East Prussia where it was to act as a part of 14.Armee . With the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939 , Barkmann saw action with this formation in the Polish September Campaign , serving as a machine gunner with the 9./III.Bataillon. He was fought well during the campaign, receiving a promotion to SS-Rottenführer. He was wounded during the campaign, and received the Wound Badge in black. In October1939, the ''Germania'' was used to form a part of the SS-Division (mot) ''Verfügungstruppe'' . In May 1940, Barkmann took part in the Invasion Of France as a part of the division, earning the Infantry Assault Badge during this campaign. In late 1940, the ''Germania'' was detached from the division to form a cadre for a new division, the SS-Division (mot) ''Germania'' . The division was to comprise a large number of European Volunteers . Barkmann served with the division during Operation Barbarossa , before being seriously wounded near Dnieprpetrovksk in July, 1941. He spent the remainder of 1941 convalescing, and received the Wound Badge in silver. In early 1942, Barkmann was posted as an instructor to a unit in The Netherlands tasked with training European SS volunteers. KHARKOV - KURSK Barkmann requested a transfer to the newly formed Waffen-SS panzer arm. In winter 1942/43 he was sent back to the Eastern Front to join the second company of I./SS-Panzer-Regiment ''Das Reich'', a part of 2.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division ''Das Reich'' . Upon arrival at the front, Barkmann was posted as gunner to ''SS-Rottenführer'' Alfred Hargesheimer's PzKpfw III Ausf J/1 tank. The ''Das Reich'' was attached to ''SS-Obergruppenführer'' Paul Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps , under the overall command of ''Generaloberst'' Manstein's Army Group South . The SS-Panzerkorps was to form the vanguard of Manstein's efforts to halt the Soviet advance near Kharkov . Barkmann served with the regiment during the large-scale mobile operations to anihilate Mobile Group Popov . During these battles Barkmann proved to be an excellent gunner, and for his actions he was awarded the Iron Cross second class. He was promoted to SS-Rottenführer and given command of his own Panzer III. He took part in the ensuing Third Battle Of Kharkov , scoring several kills. In July 1943, division next took part in Operation Citadel , the operation to destroy the Kursk Salient . Barkmann, saw action during the mammoth tank battles around Prokhorovka . During the offensive, several Heer divisions had been equipped with the state-of-the-art Panther Ausf D tanks. Their combat debut was poor, with many vehicles suffering mechanical probems before entering combat. Despite this, the Panther was soon to become an excellent weapon, and lethal in the hands of Barkmann. After the failure of the offensive, the division fell back towards the Mius river line, where along with 3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division ''Totenkopf'' it was engaged in ferocious defensive battles. In August, Barkmann was transferred to the fourth company, equipped with the new Panther D's which had by now overcome their teething problems. As a commander in 4./I./2.SS-Panzer-Regiment ''Das Reich'', Barkmann was responsible for the destruction of many enemy tanks. NORMANDY - -BARKMANN'S CORNER The ''Das Reich'' remained on the Eastern front until January 1944. Early in February, the division was ordered to France to refit and to form a part of Panzergruppe ''West'' , the armoured reserve for the expected allied invasion. Leaving its remaining armour behind for other divisions to use, the ''Das Reich'' was posted to the Bordeaux region. With the exception of several skirmishes with partisans, the refit was uneventful. Barkmann, along with the rest of the division's panzer regiment, was equipped with new model Panthers. Operation Overlord , the expected allied invasion, was launched on 6 June 1944 . When the division was released for action by Führer headquarters, it was placed on high alert and remained in Southern France in case of secondary invasions there. When it became clear that the Normandy invasion was the major allied effort, the Division was ordered north to the front. The division's transit to the front was marked by heavy Jabo and partisan attacks. Barkmann and the panzer regiment were not involved with the massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane , perpetrated by a Panzergrenadier unit of the division. The division finally reached the front in early July and was thrown into action against the American forces near St. Lô . Barkmann, in his Panther (Nr. 424) saw heavy fighting against American M4 Sherman s and M5A1 Stuarts in the Bocage . The narrow sunken roads and impassable Hedgerow s of the bocage meant that the German could establish a deadly defensive line and that the American materiél advantage could not be exploited. Barkmann, operating with his platoon or even as a lone panther, caused heavy casualties to the advancing Americans, destroying many tanks and armoured vehicles. On the morning of July 27 , Barkmann found himself in his Panther cut off from the rest of his company. While attempting to reach his unit, he was stopped near the village of Le Lorey where he was told by German infantrymen that the Americans were closing in with a large armoured column. Barkmann positioned his Panther under a stand of Oak s near the crossroads where the American tanks would have to pass. As the column came into sight, Barkmann knocked out the two lead Shermans and a fuel tanker truck. Next he destroyed two Shermans which had attempted to bypass the burning tanker. The Americans called in Fighter-bombers , which damaged Barkmann's Panther and wounded two of his crewmen. Barkmann's next victims were two Shermans that had used the noise of the fighter-bombers as cover to sneak up on the damaged Panther's flank. As Barkmann's crew repaired the Panther, two more Shermans were knocked out. Finally, before leaving, Barkmann destroyed one last Sherman. During the engagement, which has come to be known as ''Barkmann's Corner'', Barkmann knocked out nine Shermans and several other American vehicles and halted an American armoured attack. For his actions, he was awarded the Knight's Cross . After the launch of Operation Cobra , the ''Das Reich'' avoided encirclement in the Falaise Pocket and, alongside the 9.SS-Panzer-Division ''Hohenstaufen'' , fought to hold open an escape route for the trapped German forces. After the collapse of the Pocket, the ''Das Reich'' fell back towards the West Wall . During the retreat, Barkmann was involved in many desperate rearguard actions, destroying many American vehicles. ARDENNES |
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