Fritz Eckstein was born on the 27th of January 1923, as the son of merchant Adolf Eckstein and his wife Maria, in Schwaikheim, provincial Waiblingen/Württemburg. The first born of three children, his sister and brother were born in 1926 and 1929 respectively.
Eckstein attended grade school (Volksschule) in his birthplace until the age of 14, afterwards he worked for one year with his father in Stuttgart. Then for two and a half years, beginning on the 1st of October 1937, he trained in the sales department of an iron wholesale company.

Eckstein began his ten year affiliation with the Hitler Youth on the 1st of May 1933 at the age of 10, in which he was active until he voluntary applied for service in the Waffen-SS in the spring of 1940 at age 17. He was called up on the 6th of June and received his basic training with the 2. Kompanie of the Ersatz unit of SS-Regiment "Der Führer". From Der Führer he went to the Leibstandarte, fighting at the front during the Balkan Campaign, and then the Russian Campaign from 17. November 1941 until Karkov 1943. During this time he was twice promoted, to SS-Sturmann on the 1st of August 1940 and SS-Rottenführer on the 1st of June 1942. He was also decorated with the Iron Cross second class¹, and received the Wound Badge in Black².

SS-Rottenführer Fritz Eckstein, just slightly over 21 years of age, returned to the front in the beginning of 1944, fighting in Russia as a member of the old "Prinz Kompanie" (1./SS-Panzerjägerabteilung 1 LAH) until April, when he was then transferred alongside his entire unit to the 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend". Eckstein served as a Richtschütze in the 1. Kompanie of the Division's Panzerjägerabteilung. This unit, SS-Panzerjägerabteilung 12, was not fit for combat at the invasions outset and the Abteilungs first elements did not reach the front until mid July, at the earliest.

The soldiers of SS-Pz.Jg.Abt. 12 "HJ" quickly proved their worth, owning the lions share of the Division's success in repulsing the Allied Operation "Totalize" (8.-10. August). Eckstein served as the Richtschütze (gunner) in the Panzerjäger IV commanded by SS-Oberscharführer Rudolf Roy³. After knocking out 8 enemy tanks on the 8th of August, Eckstein was awarded the Iron Cross first class. He destroyed a further 13 enemy tanks on August 9th and within 5 days knocked out a total of 26⁴.

Fritz Eckstein was promoted to SS-Unterscharführer on the 1st of November 1944 and a proposal to award him with the Knight's Cross was submitted by the Kommandeur of SS-Panzerjägerabteilung 12, SS-Hauptsturmführer Günter Wöst, on the 6th. The proposal reads⁵:

SS-Rottenführer Eckstein was awarded the E.K. I on 8.8.44 for his outstanding bravery during the attack of an enemy tank formation near St. Aigan, where he alone destroyed eight enemy tanks.
On the morning of 9.8.44 enemy tanks penetrated into the rear of Kampfgruppe Waldmüller through the gaps in the HKL near Soignolles and from Hill 111 dominated all supply lines.
A Panzerjäger 39 with SS-Rottenführer Eckstein as the gunner engaged the numerically superior enemy tanks in combat. Despite extremely difficult circumstances SS-Rttf. Eckstein knocked out nine English tanks within a short period of time. For that reason it was possible for the supply columns to pass through to the Kampfgruppe again.
At twilight, a formation of enemy tanks launched a surprise attack on the Kampfgruppe while it was disengaging. Eckstein destroyed four of the attacking tanks. The Kampfgruppe was able to conduct the disengagement without losses.
Consequently, on this day alone SS-Rottenführer Eckstein knocked out 13 enemy tanks and within 5 days increased his total number to 26 English tanks.

The recommendation was quickly approved by both Hubert Meyer⁶ and Sepp Dietrich. As one of only two Waffen-SS Panzerrichtschütze to be so decorated⁷, SS-Unterscharführer Fritz Eckstein was officially awarded the Knight's Cross on the 18th of November 1944, approximately 1 month after his Panzerkommandant Rudolf Roy. The award was given to him by Sepp Dietrich in late November alongside the Kommandeur of SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 26, SS-Obersturmbannführer Bernhard Krause, who also received the Knight's Cross in the same award ceremony.

Fritz Eckstein fought and served in SS-Panzerjägerabteilung 12 until capitulation, eventually commanding his own Panzerjäger. He survived the war and died on the 4th of April 1979 at the age of 56, in his hometown Schwaikheim.

1. There is some discrepancy in the precise date this decoration was awarded to him. The Knight's Cross Proposal in Eckstein's personal file gives 1. January 1941. On page 86 of Jost Schneiders "Verleihung Genehmigt! Their Honor Was Loyalty!", the date 1. November 1941 is given. In January 1941 the Leibstandarte had not been in action for roughly 6 months time. By November 1941 the unit was involved in heavy fighting during its advance towards Rostov. Therefore the November date seams more likely. Back

2. Eckstein had a bullet lodged in his right cheek and suffered from a case of frostbite in his lower extremities. Back

3. The existing documentation clearly shows that Eckstein was Rudolf Roy's Richtschütze, not the gunner of the Kompaniechef, SS-Obersturmführer Georg Hurdelbrink, as has been previously stated in other sources. Eckstein's Panzerkommandant, SS-Oberscharführer Rudolf Roy, was decorated with the Knight's Cross on 16.10.44. Back

4. Vorschlag Nr. 4059 für die Verleihung des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes. Back

5. Vorschlag Nr. 4059 für die Verleihung des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes. Submitted by SS-Hauptsturmführer Günther Wöst on 6.11.44.
Wöst was the former Kompaniechef of 3./SS-Pz.Jgr.Abt 1 LSSAH, and in this post was decorated with the German Cross in Gold on 6.5.43. In April 1943 the entire Panzerjägerabteilung of the Leibstandarte was transferred over to the 12. SS-Pz.Div. "HJ" as one unit, and at that time 3./SS-Pz.Jgr.Abt. LSSAH became the new 3./SS-Pz.Jgr.Abt. 12 HJ. Wöst remained Chef of the 3.Kompanie until taking command of the Abteilung on 18.8.44, following the capture of the Kommandeur, SS-Sturmbannführer Jakob Hanreich. Further details on the career of Wöst can be found here. Back

6. Hubert Meyer, the Division's first General Staff officer, approved the award at the Divisional level for the captured Divisionskommandeur, SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer, who at the time was labeled as 'missing'. Back

7. The other tank gunner decorated with the Knight's Cross was SS-Rotternführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll. Woll was the Richschütze in the Panzer commanded by Michael Wittmann, and was credited with over 80 kills. Woll went on to command his own Panzer and survived the war. He died in Germany in 1996 at age 74. Extensive details on Wittmann, Woll, and the units they served in, can be found in: Michael Wittmann and the Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte, by Patrick Agte. Back