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August Sorko | |
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| Born | 8 August 1891 Klagenfurt, Cisleithania, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 19 July 1941 (aged 49) Komsomolske, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Austrian German |
Franz August Sorko (8 August 1891 – 19 July 1941) was an Austrian lieutenant colonel who served in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He participated in the German invasions of Poland (1939), Norway (1940), Yugoslavia (1941), and the Soviet Union (1941) as the commander of the 2nd Battalion (nicknamed the "Sorko Group" or the "Sorko Battalion") of the 137th Mountain Jäger Regiment.[1] Sorko died on the Eastern Front on 19 July 1941, almost a month into Operation Barbarossa.[2] Afterwards his death was used by the Nazis for propaganda purposes.[3]
Life
Franz August Sorko was born on 8 August 1891 in Klagenfurt, Austria-Hungary. He was the son of a merchant.[3]
Sorko joined the 4th Landwehr Infantry Regiment on 10 October 1912 at the age of 21. During World War I, he fought in Galicia and later on the Italian front, where he took a shot to the lung. In 1915 he was promoted to Leutnant and in 1916 Oberleutnant. He was awarded several medals for his bravery and leadership during the war, including the Silver Medal for Bravery (1st class) and the Order of the Iron Crown (3rd class).[3]
After the war, Sorko fought in the Austro-Slovene conflict in Carinthia, leading his men to victory in Ferlach, Sankt Margareten im Rosental, and Eisenkappel. For this he was awarded the Carinthian Cross for Bravery. In 1921 he was promoted to Hauptmann and later he was promoted to Major. After the Anschluss, Sorko joined the Wehrmacht, leading the newly-formed 137th Mountain Jäger Regiment. That same year, Sorko, now an Oberstleutnant, took part in the occupation of the Sudetenland.[3]
During the Polish Campaign, Sorko fought at the Battle of Lwów, where he distinguished himself, earning the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class. Sorko proved himself once again at the Battle of Narvik in Norway, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In 1941 he was promoted to Oberst. He participated in the attack on Yugoslavia from Bulgaria.[3] He was later promoted to Oberstleutnant.
Sorko took part in Operation Barbarossa. He died in Komsomolske on 19 July 1941.
Gallery
References
- ↑ https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Gebirgsjagerregimenter/GJR137-R.htm
- ↑ "Gau Kärnten" (1941-08-01). Völkischer Beobachter. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "August Sorko, der Sieger von Helemoboten" (1941-07-30). Völkischer Beobachter. Archived from the original on 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-07.