Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein
Encyclopedia
Hans Albin, Freiherr von Reitzenstein was a Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel), 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.
Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein was born in Berlin
on the 4 March 1911.
He joined the Allegemeine-SS in 1931 and transferred to Leibstandarte in 1933.
He was transferred to the SS-VT for the Polish Campaign in command of the 1st Company, SS Infantry Regiment Deutschland (2nd SS Division Das Reich
). He was wounded during the Polish Campaign and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz
, to recover.
In December 1940 he was posted to the new SS Division that was being formed from the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark
, Belgium
, the Netherlands
and Norway
, as the commander of 5th Reconnaissance Battalion, Wiking Division.
In 1942 he was transferred to the Das Reich Division and assumed command of the 2nd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, which was stationed in Russia
. He remained in command of the Reconnaissance Battalion until March 1943, when he replaced Herbert Ernst Vahl as the commander of the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment.
He was in command of the Panzer Regiment for the Battle of Kursk
(Operation Citadel), during which he was awarded the Knight's Cross for the Regiment's actions at Belgorod
, the Mius, Kharkov and Kolomak, when they destroyed 839 tanks, 18 assault guns, 334 anti-tank weapons and 32 other guns.
Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein, committed suicide
on the 30 November 1943, due to events surrounding the rape and death of a female Russian volunteer (see HiWi
for SS volunteer system).
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Lieutenant Colonel), 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.
Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein was born in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on the 4 March 1911.
He joined the Allegemeine-SS in 1931 and transferred to Leibstandarte in 1933.
He was transferred to the SS-VT for the Polish Campaign in command of the 1st Company, SS Infantry Regiment Deutschland (2nd SS Division Das Reich
2nd SS Division Das Reich
The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich was a Waffen-SS division during World War II. It is considered to be an elite formation amongst the thirty-eight divisions fielded by the Waffen-SS....
). He was wounded during the Polish Campaign and posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tolz
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...
, to recover.
In December 1940 he was posted to the new SS Division that was being formed from the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, as the commander of 5th Reconnaissance Battalion, Wiking Division.
In 1942 he was transferred to the Das Reich Division and assumed command of the 2nd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, which was stationed in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He remained in command of the Reconnaissance Battalion until March 1943, when he replaced Herbert Ernst Vahl as the commander of the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment.
He was in command of the Panzer Regiment for the Battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
(Operation Citadel), during which he was awarded the Knight's Cross for the Regiment's actions at Belgorod
Belgorod
-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
, the Mius, Kharkov and Kolomak, when they destroyed 839 tanks, 18 assault guns, 334 anti-tank weapons and 32 other guns.
Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein, committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on the 30 November 1943, due to events surrounding the rape and death of a female Russian volunteer (see HiWi
Hiwi (volunteer)
Hiwi is a German abbreviation. It has two meanings, "voluntary assistant" and "assistant scientist" .- :...
for SS volunteer system).
Promotions
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, April 20, 1943