Jurgen Wagner
Germany- Family and Early Life
- Education and Military Career
- Nazi Involvement and SS Career
- Military Campaigns and Command
- Capture, Trial, and Execution
Family and Early Life
Ernst Wagner was born on 22 October 1910, in Weißenfels, Germany, into a military family. His father, Ernst Wagner Sr., was a Prussian major who later became a general of infantry and commander of the 17th Army Corps.
Education and Military Career
Wagner received his early education in Weißenfels, Münster, and Erfurt. In 1915, he entered the cadet corps in Naumburg and later transferred to Berlin-Lichterfelde. After participating in the Ruhr uprising as a member of the Freikorps Münster in early 1920, he joined the 12th Regiment in Quedlinburg as an officer candidate in March 1921.
Nazi Involvement and SS Career
Wagner's involvement with the Nazi Party began with his membership in the SS on 15 June 1931. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an SS-Oberscharführer in March 1932 and an SS-Sturmführer in April 1933. He served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler from October 1933 to 1934, participating in the purge of the SA.
Military Campaigns and Command
During World War II, Wagner fought in the Polish, French, Yugoslav, and Russian campaigns. He commanded the 11th SS Panzer Regiment from July 1939 to October 1940 and the 9th SS Grenadier Regiment Germania from June 1942 to November 1943. In October 1943, he took command of the Netherlands Brigade, which was later expanded into the 23rd SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division Nordland.
Capture, Trial, and Execution
Wagner surrendered to the Anglo-American forces on 8 May 1945. He was subsequently extradited to Yugoslavia, where he was tried and sentenced to death for war crimes. He was executed by hanging in Belgrade on 27 June 1947.
