Warriors of Market Garden

SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl-Heinz Euling

SS-Haupsturmführer (SS-Captain) Karl-Heinz Euling joined the Waffen-SS in 1938, fighting in Poland and Russia before being promoted to captain on 9 November 1943. He was transferred from the Eastern Front to France as a member of the staff of the II. SS-Panzerkorps. Fighting in Normandy, Euling was promoted to command the first battalion of 22. SS-Panzergrenadierregiment of the 10. SS-Panzerdivision ‘Frundsberg’. Euling led the remnants of his battle-hardened unit out of the maelstrom of Normandy and back to the comparative safety in Holland.

At the onset of Operation Market Garden, Euling led his men back into the thick of the heaviest combat, launching a night attack against the British paratroopers at the Arnhem road bridge. However, Euling’s men were out-numbered and out-gunned and the attack was repulsed.

Euling’s orders changed and he immediately left for the ferry at Pannerden and led his men to Nijmegen. Responsible for the main defense of the road bridge in Nijmegen, Euling worked with Baumgaertel’s SS-Pioneers to erect the best defenses that could be mustered, fortifying the approaches to both bridges.

The Allied attack in Nijmegen ground down Euling’s command and both bridges were eventually lost after heavy fighting, but Euling did not give up the fight. He gathered the last sixty men in his command and advanced through the night, out of Nijmegen. He stealthily moved his men through Allied units and crossed the Waal River to safety.

For his heroic bravery during and following the fighting in Nijmegen, Euling was awarded the Knight’s Cross on 15 October 1944.

Major Hans-Peter Knaust

Major Hans-Peter Knaust led his men from the Wehrkreis VI Panzergrenadier Training and Replacement Battalion ‘Bocholt’ into the Arnhem Bridge battlefield before dawn of the second day of the battle. His men were a mix of men recovering from wounds and new recruits. Knaust himself was returning to action with a wooden leg, having been gravely wounded on the Russian Front.

Placed under the command of 10. SS-Panzerdivision, Knaust’s first mission was to launch direct attacks against Frost’s troops at Arnhem Bridge. As the grim battle for the bridge wound down to its brutal conclusion, Knaust’s troops were pulled off the front line and reinforced for their second mission: fighting south of Arnhem against the expected British advance from Nijmegen. They were also directed against the feared attack by the Polish paratroops for control of the south end of the Arnhem bridge, but ran into troops of the British 30 Corps before engaging the Poles.

Knaust’s personal style of leadership had a direct impact on the reduction of the British hold on Arnhem Bridge and in blocking the road into Arnhem as Operation Market Garden ended. Knaust was respected and admired by his men, who marveled at his near suicidal disregard to enemy fire on the front line. His service on the Russian Front and his gallant battlefield manner inspired his men to greater devotion to duty in the midst of some of the most desperate fighting in the West.

For his actions in the battles around Arnhem, Knaust was awarded the Knight’s Cross on 28 September 1944. For further gallantry in later actions he was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and ended the war as an Oberstleutant (Lieutenant Colonel).

SS-Sturmbannführer Hans-Georg Sonnenstuhl

When the new 9. SS-Panzerdivision was formed, SS-Obergruppenführer (SS-General) Wilhelm Bittrich chose his personal friend, Hans-Georg Sonnenstuhl to command one of the artillery battalions. After Normandy, Bittrich promoted Sonnenstuhl to command all the artillery in 10. SS-Panzerdivision.

On 17 September 1944, as the highest ranking officer in the region, SS-Sturmbannführer (SS-Major) Sonnenstuhl commanded the northern push to retake the bridge.

Once the bridge was retaken and reopened Sonnenstuhl followed the push south, commanding art