Fritz Langanke
Encyclopedia
Fritz Langanke was a Obersturmführer
(First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Langanke was born on 15 July 1919, in Gelsenkirchen
. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 10th Company, Germania Standarte in 1937. In 1938 he transferred to the newly formed Panzer Reconnaissance platoon, as a radio operator, and later as a vehicle commander.
He was awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class in December 1940 and the 1st class award in December 1941. In 1942 he transferred to the Panzer Battalion and served as a Panzer commander in the Reconnaissance Platoon. In late 1943 the division was reformed and Langanke was assigned to I.Battalion, SS Division Das Reich 2nd Panzer Regiment as an Ordonnance officer until the Normandy Landings. For his part in ensuring that hundreds of soldiers and their equipment managed to escape from the Falaise Pocket
. Fritz Langanke was recommended for the Knight's Cross on August 7, 1944. Which he was awarded on the 27 August 1944. He took command of the 2nd Company on December 25, 1944 and remained at this post till the end of the war.
Langanke survived the war and, as of 2011, lives in Gelsenkirchen.
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
(First Lieutenant), in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Langanke was born on 15 July 1919, in Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
. He volunteered to join the SS and was posted to the 10th Company, Germania Standarte in 1937. In 1938 he transferred to the newly formed Panzer Reconnaissance platoon, as a radio operator, and later as a vehicle commander.
He was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class in December 1940 and the 1st class award in December 1941. In 1942 he transferred to the Panzer Battalion and served as a Panzer commander in the Reconnaissance Platoon. In late 1943 the division was reformed and Langanke was assigned to I.Battalion, SS Division Das Reich 2nd Panzer Regiment as an Ordonnance officer until the Normandy Landings. For his part in ensuring that hundreds of soldiers and their equipment managed to escape from the Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
. Fritz Langanke was recommended for the Knight's Cross on August 7, 1944. Which he was awarded on the 27 August 1944. He took command of the 2nd Company on December 25, 1944 and remained at this post till the end of the war.
Langanke survived the war and, as of 2011, lives in Gelsenkirchen.