Rudolf Lehmann (SS officer)
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Lehmann was a Standartenführer
(Colonel) in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
.
Lehmann was trained as a SS officer at the Waffen SS officers school in Bad Tölz
in April 1935.
He was then posted to the Germania Regiment as a platoon commander.
While serving with the Germania, Lehmann became the commander of the armored car platoon, on promotion in April 1940, he was given the command of the 14th Company of the Germania Regiment, until being transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
in October 1940.
Lehmann was recommended for the Knight's Cross by Theodor Wisch
. The award of the Knight's cross was for his leadership of a battle group in the Zhitomir area of the Ukraine
during December 1943.
In late 1944, Lehmann moved to the 1st SS Panzer Corps as chief of staff. He remained at this position until March 1945, when he was given a divisional command of the Das Reich and led the Division through Operation Frühlingserwachen
the battles around Vienna
, while in command of the Das Reich he was awarded the Oakleaves to the knight's Cross.
Wounded during the fighting in Austria
, Lehmann ended the war recovering from his injuries.
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
(Colonel) in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
.
Lehmann was trained as a SS officer at the Waffen SS officers school in Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and administrative center of the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.- History :Since the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz...
in April 1935.
He was then posted to the Germania Regiment as a platoon commander.
While serving with the Germania, Lehmann became the commander of the armored car platoon, on promotion in April 1940, he was given the command of the 14th Company of the Germania Regiment, until being transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard. Initially the size of a regiment, the LSSAH eventually grew into a divisional-sized unit...
in October 1940.
Lehmann was recommended for the Knight's Cross by Theodor Wisch
Theodor Wisch
Theodor Peter Johann Wisch was a German Waffen-SS general and a commander of 1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler during World War II. He held the rank of SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS. He was also a winner of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub...
. The award of the Knight's cross was for his leadership of a battle group in the Zhitomir area of the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
during December 1943.
In late 1944, Lehmann moved to the 1st SS Panzer Corps as chief of staff. He remained at this position until March 1945, when he was given a divisional command of the Das Reich and led the Division through Operation Frühlingserwachen
Operation Frühlingserwachen
Operation Frühlingserwachen was the last major German offensive launched during World War II. The offensive was launched in Hungary on the Eastern Front...
the battles around Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, while in command of the Das Reich he was awarded the Oakleaves to the knight's Cross.
Wounded during the fighting in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Lehmann ended the war recovering from his injuries.
Awards
- Iron Cross 2nd Class: November 15, 1939
- Iron Cross 1st Class: May 29, 1940
- German Cross - Gold: November 2, 1943
- Knights Cross: February 23, 1944
- 862nd Oak Leaves: May 6, 1945