Franz Kühn – 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” – Most Succesful Sniper of GvB (!) – Scharfschützenabzeichen in Gold

Interesting postwar veteran grouping belonging to Franz Kühn (born 6 May 1926), a former member of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38 of the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen.” Included are two original postwar photographs bearing his signature, together with an accompanying signed letter dated 06.04.2000 from Siegen, Germany, in which Kühn sends the photographs to a correspondent.

The wartime clipping identifies him as SS-Unterscharführer Kühn, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, and describes him as “Der erfolgreichste Scharfschütze der Division” (the division’s most successful sniper). According to the article, Kühn had achieved 20 confirmed sniper kills, making him the leading sniper of the division at that time. The article further notes that his success inspired additional sniper activity throughout the division and that he had recently returned from a period of special leave.

Research published by collectors and historians of the division records Kühn’s service with the 3. Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, his progression through the ranks to SS-Unterscharführer, and his recognition for sniper actions during the bitter fighting around Bliesbrück in January 1945. Contemporary divisional reports reportedly credited him with at least 20 confirmed sniper kills by February 1945, while later accounts state that he was awarded the Scharfschützenabzeichen in Gold during the final months of the war.

The 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” fought exclusively on the Western Front and saw heavy combat in Normandy, the retreat across France, the Metz sector, Operation Nordwind, the Saar-Palatinate fighting, and the final defensive battles in Germany during 1944–45. Kühn’s documented sniper activity occurred during the division’s desperate defensive operations in early 1945 under divisional commander SS-Standartenführer Fritz Klingenberg.

One of the signed photographs shows Kühn in Waffen-SS uniform wearing his Iron Cross 1st Class, while the second signed photograph depicts him together with another decorated veteran. The accompanying signed letter provides excellent provenance and directly links the photographs to Kühn himself. Such veteran-sourced material is highly desirable, especially when it can be connected to a documented and identifiable soldier featured in wartime divisional publications.

A scarce and historically interesting veteran grouping relating to one of the best-known snipers of the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen.”