Rudolf Lehmann (SS officer)

Rudolf Lehmann
Born	30 January 1914 (1914-01-30) Heidelberg, Germany
Died	13 September 1983 (1983-09-14) (aged 69) Ettlingen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1933–1945
Rank	Standartenführer
Unit	1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich 1st SS Panzer Corps
Commands held	Panzerspähzug platoon Germania 14th Company SS Germania 2nd SS Panzer Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knights Cross with Oakleaves Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class German Cross in Gold

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.

World War II

While serving with the Germania, Lehmann became the commander of the armored car platoon. On being promoted in April 1940, he was given the command of the 14th Company of the Germania Regiment. He was transferred to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in October 1940.

Lehmann was recommended for the Knight's Cross by Theodor Wisch on account of 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 in this position until March 1945, when he was made divisional commander of the Das Reich. He led the division through Operation Frühlingserwachen, the battles around Vienna. It was while he was in command of Das Reich that he was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross. Wounded during the fighting in Austria, 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

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.	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.

Later life

Lehmann survived the war and died on 13 September 1983, in Ettlingen.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Military offices
Preceded by SS-Gruppenführer Werner Ostendorff	Commander of 2nd SS Division Das Reich March 9, 1945 - April 13, 1945	Succeeded by SS-Standartenführer Karl Kreutz