NAMEN: Werner Burkhard Egon Adler
GEBURTSTAG: 1. Oktober 1913 VOM: Jägerndorf, Silesia DIENSTGRAD: Unterfeldwebel EINGETRAGEN: 3. Oktober 1934 WEHRNUMMER: Jägerndorf 13/1/81/11 AUSZEICHNUNGEN: Schützenschnur 1. Grad – 19. Dez. 1934 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse – 31. Okt. 1939 Dientsauszeichnungen 4. Klasse – 31. Okt. 1939 Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse – 17. Juli 1940 Infantrie-Sturmabzeichen – 17. Juli 1940 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz – 17. Juli 1940 Ostmedaille - 25. Mai 1942 FORTSCHRITTE: Soldat – 21. Feb. 1935 Gefreiter – 10. Jun. 1935 Obergefreiter – 24. Aug. 1936 Unteroffizier – 31. Okt. 1939 Unterfeldwebel – 14. Mai 1941 |
Werner B.E. Adler was born 1. Oktober 1913 in Jägerndorf, Silesia. His father, Burkhard Adler, had served in the Imperial German Army during the Great War, attaining the rank of Feldwebel prior to the end of the war. Upon returning home to his wife, Aloisa, and their son, he contented himself with raising his sheep and instilling the same sense of Germanic patriotism in his son that his own father had instilled in him.
Werner grew up idolizing his father’s service with the Hirschberg Jägers. Every winter was spent hunting and climbing in the nearby Altvatergebirge. He dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps to serve his country.
With the rise of Hitler, Burkhard came to frown upon service in the military. However, with the growing political situation, and growing rumors of the re-institution of mandatory military service, Werner enlisted in the Reichsheer on 3. Oktober 1934, two days after his 21st Birthday.
Following his training, where he distinguished himself by being awarded the Schützenschnur 1. Grad (Marksmanship Lanyard 1st Grade), Werner was sent to the 7. Infantrie-Regiment of the 8. Infantrie-Division. He showed great aptitude in his leadership abilities and was quickly promoted to Gefreiter. Through his organizational prowess and planning skills he was further promoted to Obergefreiter and put in charge of his Gruppe, one month prior to the division being reorganized as the 28. Infantrie-Division.
1. September 1939 saw the beginning of Operation “Fall Weiß”, the invasion of Poland. Action was swift and had relatively low casualties. With the conclusion of hostilities, the Division was moved to Aachen, on the German-Belgian border.
It was here that Werner was awarded the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse (War Merit Cross 2nd Class), Dientsauszeichnungen 4. Klasse (Four Year Service Medal), and promoted to Unteroffizier. By this time, planning was already underway for Operations “Fall Gelb” and “Fall Rot”, the invasion of France.
As part of Operation “Fall Gelb”, on 10. Mai 1940, the 28. Infantry Division pushed through Belgium in to France toward Dunkirk. Uffz. Werner Adler led his Gruppe swiftly across the Meuse River on 4. Juni 1940. During a night time push toward Lille, his Gruppe came under heavy fire from strong resistance. Under attack from all sides, a grenade was thrown in to their position. Taking immediate action, Uffz. Alder quickly grabbed the grenade to throw it back, but was too slow. While he was able to throw the grenade, it went off sooner than expected, leaving him with a small, but serious shrapnel wound to the back of his head. He continued to fight through until Lille fell on 31. Mai, 1940. He and his men were treated for wounds until France capitulated less than a month later.
After the capitulation, they remained in Lille where he was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross Second Class), the Infantrie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge), and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Black Wound Badge). He and his men enjoyed nearly a year of uneasy peace before being transferred to Eastern Prussia.
While in the East, preparing for the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation “Barbarossa”, Werner was again promoted. Unterfeldwebel Adler once again took charge of his Gruppe of seasoned männer and led them in to the Motherland on 22. Juni 1941.
In early November, 1941, following heavy fighting and heavy losses on the march to Moscow, the division was transferred back to France where the division was again reorganized and Werner was transferred to the 83. Infantrie-Regiment/28. Leichte-Infantrie-Division. At this time, Werner and his men began training to become elite Jäger troops. Additionally, Werner was awarded the Ostmedaille (Eastern Front Campaign Medal) in recognition for his participation in the initial fighting of the Eastern campaign.
As the new year began, Werner and his highly trained Jägers were sent to the Crimean Peninsula to spearhead the final assault on Sevastopol. On 1. Juli 1942, three days before the fall of Sevastopol, the division was reorganized, for the final time, as the 28. Jäger-Division.
Werner grew up idolizing his father’s service with the Hirschberg Jägers. Every winter was spent hunting and climbing in the nearby Altvatergebirge. He dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps to serve his country.
With the rise of Hitler, Burkhard came to frown upon service in the military. However, with the growing political situation, and growing rumors of the re-institution of mandatory military service, Werner enlisted in the Reichsheer on 3. Oktober 1934, two days after his 21st Birthday.
Following his training, where he distinguished himself by being awarded the Schützenschnur 1. Grad (Marksmanship Lanyard 1st Grade), Werner was sent to the 7. Infantrie-Regiment of the 8. Infantrie-Division. He showed great aptitude in his leadership abilities and was quickly promoted to Gefreiter. Through his organizational prowess and planning skills he was further promoted to Obergefreiter and put in charge of his Gruppe, one month prior to the division being reorganized as the 28. Infantrie-Division.
1. September 1939 saw the beginning of Operation “Fall Weiß”, the invasion of Poland. Action was swift and had relatively low casualties. With the conclusion of hostilities, the Division was moved to Aachen, on the German-Belgian border.
It was here that Werner was awarded the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse (War Merit Cross 2nd Class), Dientsauszeichnungen 4. Klasse (Four Year Service Medal), and promoted to Unteroffizier. By this time, planning was already underway for Operations “Fall Gelb” and “Fall Rot”, the invasion of France.
As part of Operation “Fall Gelb”, on 10. Mai 1940, the 28. Infantry Division pushed through Belgium in to France toward Dunkirk. Uffz. Werner Adler led his Gruppe swiftly across the Meuse River on 4. Juni 1940. During a night time push toward Lille, his Gruppe came under heavy fire from strong resistance. Under attack from all sides, a grenade was thrown in to their position. Taking immediate action, Uffz. Alder quickly grabbed the grenade to throw it back, but was too slow. While he was able to throw the grenade, it went off sooner than expected, leaving him with a small, but serious shrapnel wound to the back of his head. He continued to fight through until Lille fell on 31. Mai, 1940. He and his men were treated for wounds until France capitulated less than a month later.
After the capitulation, they remained in Lille where he was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross Second Class), the Infantrie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge), and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Black Wound Badge). He and his men enjoyed nearly a year of uneasy peace before being transferred to Eastern Prussia.
While in the East, preparing for the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation “Barbarossa”, Werner was again promoted. Unterfeldwebel Adler once again took charge of his Gruppe of seasoned männer and led them in to the Motherland on 22. Juni 1941.
In early November, 1941, following heavy fighting and heavy losses on the march to Moscow, the division was transferred back to France where the division was again reorganized and Werner was transferred to the 83. Infantrie-Regiment/28. Leichte-Infantrie-Division. At this time, Werner and his men began training to become elite Jäger troops. Additionally, Werner was awarded the Ostmedaille (Eastern Front Campaign Medal) in recognition for his participation in the initial fighting of the Eastern campaign.
As the new year began, Werner and his highly trained Jägers were sent to the Crimean Peninsula to spearhead the final assault on Sevastopol. On 1. Juli 1942, three days before the fall of Sevastopol, the division was reorganized, for the final time, as the 28. Jäger-Division.