Germany, Waffen-Ss. The Official Recommendation For The Oak Leaves To Ss-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Vogt, Regiment 23 "Norge". 1945

The recommendation for awarding the Oak Leaves to Vogt consists of 7 pages, measuring 208 (w) x 297 (h) mm. Due to the late stage of the war, the paper is thin and of lower quality, resulting in light fraying of the edges. The pages contain two punched holes, and were stapled together at the top left. Remaining near very fine.

The recommendation is accompanied by a period picture postcard showing Vogt in the rank of SS-Obersturmführer, wearing the Knight’s Cross. It measures 105 (w) x 147 (h) mm, with minimal scuffing of the edges, remaining extremely fine.

The recommendation was written on February 10, 1945 by Commanding General of the 4th SS Panzer Corps, Herbert Gille (1897–1966), a recipient of the KC with Diamonds. It was received by the office of Reichsführer-SS Himmler on March 7. The document does not contain any handwritten signatures. Gille states that beginning on January 5, 1945 Vogt and the battalion he led supported the armoured group of SS Panzer Division “Wiking” in their attempt to fight through the Vertes mountains in an effort to attack the Russian forces besieging Budapest. Vogt’s unit, in holding a position, became isolated and had to fight off superior Russian forces in close combat encounters for 3 days before support units arrived. Even after additional German forces had arrived, the fighting continued for another 4 days during which Vogt successfully kept defending the position. On January 25, Vogt was tasked to take the town of Pettend, which he achieved in only 3 hours of close combat. Vogt then managed to defend the town against superior Russian forces for 2 additional days. The next day, the group was forced to retreat after all anti-tank ammunition had run out. Vogt managed to lead a successful breakout and returned his unit to safety. During the 3 days of fighting, 74 tanks were destroyed, of which Vogt personally destroyed 3, using a Panzerfaust. On the last page, Himmler approves the recommendation.

Footnote: Fritz Vogt was born on March 17, 1918 in Munich. He joined the SS in 1935 and successfully trained to become an officer. Vogt took part in the Polish campaign where he distinguished himself as a platoon leader, becoming the first in his battalion to be awarded the Iron Cross II Class on September 23, 1939. He was also the first to be recommended for the Iron Cross I Class, which he received during the French campaign, on May 28, 1940. Vogt was awarded the Knight’s Cross on September 4, 1940 in the rank of SS-Obersturmführer, leading a unit of a reconnaissance battalion. When the German forces had passed through the Netherlands on their way to France, Vogt’s unit had received the mission of capturing and holding a bridge across the Maas-Waal canal. Vogt had been able to establish a bridgehead, conquer a chain of bunkers, and capture 200 Dutch soldiers.

In the days that followed, Vogt had led over twenty additional successful patrols that made contact with the enemy. On one of these, he had been able to capture 650 French soldiers with just 30 men. The Knight’s Cross was awarded for continuous acts of bravery in the face of the enemy. In 1941 Vogt took part in the Balkan campaign, as well as the Battle of Greece. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold in February of 1942. Later that year, Vogt was sent to the Russian front. In late October of 1943, he became the commander of the 1st Battalion of Panzer Grenadier Regiment 23 “Norge”, fighting at Leningrad. During the Russian winter offensive his unit suffered heavy casualties and was withdrawn to Germany to be replenished. In late 1944 Vogt was sent to Hungary in support of the 5th SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking. He was awarded the Oak Leaves on March 16, 1945. Vogt died of wounds received in battle on April 3, 1945 near Graz, Austria.