There is a seller on Ebay thats offering several signed photos of Sepp Allerberger who was Germanys 2nd highest scoring sniper in WWII. Anyone have any current info on him, Is he still alive? The seller is selling them at $50.00 each so I would have to think a bit before a purchase is made but I suppose it would be considered scarce seeing that he was a sniper awarded the KC. Let me know what you think.

I have a book that was written by Albrecht Wacker, that is titled "sniper on the eastern front". It is about allenberger, In fact its the memoirs of sepp allenberger. It was published in 2005, so he may still be alive, the cover doesn't say. It is an excellent read , and i highly recommend it.

I have seen/read several references to this "sniper" and his RK.
His name does not appear in the official
OdR listing of RK winners by Fellgiebel nor
is it traceable in the late/last minute awards
in the Bundesarchiv nor are there any traceable
docs concerning this.
"Elite of the Third Reich"
Seiler (Yank in UK)

This is the question that I have for the seller:
Sir:
If you please, could you define or rephrase "Autograph is an authentic real hand signed not an autopen or copy of the original signature". Does this mean signed by the person in the photo pre 1945 or by someone else post war?
Thanks
John
We Shall see!

So far....
Dear blairbunker,

Nothing is signed pre 1945 and the photo is signed by in individual stated in the description.
Thanks
- vetski58
The answer is still too vague, and assuming IN was meant as “an” the answer still skirts the question of was this photo signed and/or autographed by the actual person in the photograph itself? Is the autograph that of the person in the photograph or just by ANY undetermined individual?
Thank you

So far,I still find NO official record of his RK
award.
In Felgiebils list of over 8000 listed,
(He was Chairman of OdR)he cites numerous claims were made but deleted as false by Bundesarchiv right up to the wars end.
Several claimed/wore RK openly/falsely up
thru the ,80s when the OdR researched the files.
So where do I find this listing??
Would welcome any response!
Seiler (Yank in UK)

In the book, mentioned above, Allerberger states he was awarded the sniper badge in gold on March 2 1945. He later says he was awarded the Iron cross first class and the Knights cross for his single action on 2 April 1945 while attached to 8/144.

Thanks Dave.Maybe Snipers badge but in further research,his recommendation for the RK was turned down.He was never awarded.Confirmed by OdR as a no no.
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Well so far 3 signed photos have sold for $49.95 each. I was not one of them and do not plan to do so. My signed Ernst Barkmann photo I know is genuine because I received it from him. This one seems risky to me.

Gentlemen, I have no records so i can't dispute you on this as i only have quotes from the book. He himself said it was unusual as the Knights cross was normally awarded to officers and NCO's. However towards the end of the war, he himself said that they were sometimes "passed out" to raise moral.

To quote from the book. From a file read to him from the commanding generals Oberst.
" Army Group Centre HQ, 20 April 1945
To Obergefreiter Josef Allerberger!
I am greatly honoured to award you, on the Fuhrer's instruction on the occasion of 20 April 1945, th Knights Cross of the Iron cross and a gift hamper. From the reports of your commander i understand that you have provided repeated examples of outstanding military conduct and bravery. I wish you much luck and a safe homecoming.
Heil Hitler!
Generalfeldmarschall Schorner.
Apparently he received it along with a Josef Roth on the same day. He said they were two Iron cross second classes, converted to Knights Crosses.
Whatever happend, it makes for some interesting study and a good thread topic.

Wishfull thinking methinks.!
Felgiebel "Elite of the Third Reich" himself an RK holder,was Chair of the Awards Commission
at the OdR (Holders of the RK Assoc).Due to many so called wearers postwar,the OdR researched an earlier authors work on the same subject.With WaST,Bundesarchiv Navy,Luft Assocs
ALL the docs were researched.ALL the paperwork was reviewed/researched,corrected through the whole award system/docs.Corrections were made.
Awards in the Field by unauthorised individuals were revoked.Some well into the post-war years.
This publication is THE official listing by grade by name by unit by date/place.Even those who changed their name post war.Allerberger is not/was not an awardee.His description of the ceremony is even a pipe dream.
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Go figure, what a guy won't say to write a book. Just curious, does this listing mention his commrade who supposedly received it the same day as he : Josef Roth ?

Here is a link that is interesting. Its an interview with this fellow and the number #1 german sniper of the war.

http://www.geocities.com/faunto2000/german_sniperinterview.htm

There are eight Roth,s.Nobody named Josef.
All are Officers or senior NCO,s Most are Luft.
Allerberger also says RK,s went to Officers.There are dozens of e.m awardees.
A phoney IMO
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Hi lar,
Interesting article.All were technically profficient for sure and I cannot fault that.
Of the three individuals mentioned,one,
Hetzenauer (the highest scorer)was awarded the Knights Cross.Dated 17:4:45 confirmed.ranked as Gefr.Scharfschutze,in 7./G.J.R.144 "sharpshooter"
Cheers
Seiler(Yank in UK)

Hi Gentlemen,

This is a pic of Allerberger wearing his knightscross! Now, unless the pic was "doctored" it quite clearly prooves he received one, albeit unofficial and not authorised! It may have been revoked postwar by the Odr, but I`m pretty convinced that he received one none the less. JMO...

Cheers,
Dion

Allerberger was NEVER awarded nor presented with the RK.Period.
Doenitz was still signing approvals until the famous "Edict" from him as Fuhrer on the date of "The Act of Surrender" providing ALL supporting Docs were in order (thru the Approvals System.He confirmed in 1970 that this would have been May 7th.,45.
Sorry but I quote the original OdR analysis.
Strange he says they used a 2nd Class X but it actually looks OVERSIZE??
Cheers
Seiler

PS
Interesting pic,nevertheless.
Seiler (Yank in UK)

quote:

Originally posted by Seiler:
Allerberger was NEVER awarded nor presented with the RK.Period.
Cheers
Seiler

Schörner presented the RK to both Allerberger and Roth in March 45, however both were stated as unconfirmed recipients later.
So Schörner stepped over the line of what he could do, but still that does not revoke the fact that Roth and Allerberger were awarded the RK's. As this fine pic of Allerberger proves.

By the way, Allerberger was still alive in 2006.

Best Regards,

The OdR AND the Bundesarchiv confirm they were NEVER approved nor awarded,whatever Schorner did.
Thats OFFICIAL.No records exist nor radio traffic of any kind regarding this.
The highest scoring sniper was a Russian female
with over 400 "Kills".
FIN.
Seiler (Yank in UK)

I always thought Simo Hayha from Finland was the highest scoring sniper with over 500? But upon further looking alot was "unofficial"

Now that is interesting.
The Russian who set up the Sniping School..
Vasily Zaystev was their so called Ace with
400+ credited "kills" with 150 in Stalingrad.
Ludmila Pavlechenko (Ms) with 300 credited "kills"
The engagement rules were no more than 400mtrs
for "Rural" engagement and 100mtrs for "Urban"
conditions.Where can I find info on the Finn?
Cheers
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Seiler, not much out there but here are a couple of sites:

http://mosinnagant.net/finland/simohayha.asp

http://www.soviet-empire.com/ussr/viewtopic.php?t=33713...d551b3c738c9d07aa70c

Thanks.Much appreciated.
Seiler (Yank in UK)