Rudolf Lehmann (SS officer)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Rudolf Lehmann
File:RUDOLF LEHMANN.jpg
Born 30 January 1914 (1914-01-30)
Heidelberg, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Died 13 September 1983 (1983-09-14) (aged 69)
Ettlingen, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1933–45
Rank Standartenführer
Service number NSDAP #3,143,188
SS #111,883
Unit <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Commands held <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Panzerspähzug platoon Germania
  • 14th Company SS Germania
  • 2nd SS Panzer Division
Battles/wars World War II
Awards <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>

Rudolf Lehmann (30 January 1914 – 13 September 1983) was a Standartenführer (colonel) in the Waffen-SS who was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Rudolf Lehmann was born on 30 January 1914 in Heidelberg, Germany. He joined the Waffen-SS, attending officers training school in Bad Tölz in April 1935. He was then posted to the Germania Regiment as a platoon commander.[citation needed]

World War II

While serving with the Germania, Lehmann became the commander of the armored car platoon. He was transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in October 1940.[citation needed]

In late 1944, Lehmann moved to the 1st SS Panzer Corps as chief of staff. He remained in this position until March 1945, when he was made divisional commander of the Das Reich. He led the division through Operation Spring Awakening, the battles around Lake Balaton and Vienna. He was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross.[citation needed]

Later life

After the war, Lehmann authored volumes I and III of the apologetic unit history of the Leibstandarte produced under the auspices of HIAG, a lobby group and a revisionist veteran's organisation established by former high-ranking Waffen-SS personnel. The works were published in 1977–1982 by the right-wing publishing house Munin-Verlag.

Lehmann died on 13 September 1983, in Ettlingen.

Awards

References in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
13 March 1944 In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen der letzten Tage haben sich im Raumöstlich von Tarnopol die 1. SS-Panzerdivision "Leibstandarte SS AdolfHitler" unter der stellvertretenden Führung des Obersturmbannführers Lehmann und die thüringische 7.Panzerdivision unter Oberst Dr. Mauß hervorragend bewährt.[7] During the heavy defensive battles of the past few days in the area east of Tarnopol, the first SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" under the deputy leadership of Obersturmbannführer Lehmann and the Thuringian 7.Panzerdivision under Colonel Dr. Mauss have proved themselves to be excellent.

Notes

  1. No credible evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "862" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Lehmann was member of the AKCR.[6]

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 Thomas 1998, p. 17.
  2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 273.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 287.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 499.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 103.
  6. Scherzer 2007, p. 184.
  7. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 56.

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Gruppenführer Werner Ostendorff
Commander of 2nd SS Division Das Reich
9 March 1945 – 13 April 1945
Succeeded by
SS-Standartenführer Karl Kreutz