Ludwig Kepplinger
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Kepplinger was a Sturmbannführer
(Major), 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.
on the Danube
.
When he had finished school, he joined the 7th Alpenjäger Regiment of the Austrian Army, but was dismissed because he was considered politically unreliable.
He moved to Bayern and joined the Austrian Foreign Legion, which was taken over by the SS-Verfügungstruppe
in 1935.
In 1938 he became a Oberscharführer
(Staff Sergeant) and platoon commander in the 6th Company of the SS Standarte Deutschland which was based in Munich
.
During the Anschluss
when Austria was incorporated into the Greater German Reich, Kepplinger was part of the II. Battalion, SS-Standarte Der Führer which moved in to Vienna
and by the time of the Western Campaign he had been promoted to Hauptscharführer
.
and an important rail and road bridge across the IJssel
river. Upon arriving at the bridge they noticed that it had been prepared for demolition. Despite being shelled from a nearby Fort, Kepplinger and 2 other men managed to reach the other side of the bridge and attacked the defenders with hand grenades which enabled the SS Regiment Der Führer, to break through and proceed with the advance. When the regiment reached Arnhem
, Kepplinger was severely wounded being shot in the abdomen and thigh.
For these actions Kepplinger was awarded both the Iron Cross
first class and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
being the first NCO
in the Waffen SS to be awarded the Knight's Cross.
After recovering from his wounds he was given command of the 10th Company, SS Regiment Westland of the new Wiking Division.
When Kepplinger was serving in the Caucasus
he was once again wounded and returned home to recover. After recovering from his wounds for a second time he was promoted to Obersturmführer
(First Lieutenant) and given command of the II.Battalion, 17th SS Panzer Regiment, 17th SS Panzer Division Götz von Berlichingen.
In April 1944, he was given command of the 17th SS Panzer Regiment, which was equipped with Sturmgeschütz
assault guns.
Kepplinger and the 17th SS Panzer, arrived in Normandy
on the 7 June 1944 to counter the Allied invasion.
On the 6 August 1944, Kepplinger was killed in the town of Villiers-Charlemagne
which was under artillery fire, the car he was traveling in was hit, with Kepplinger being instantly killed.
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
(Major), 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.
Early life
Ludwig Kepplinger was born on the 31 December 1911 in LinzLinz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
on the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
.
When he had finished school, he joined the 7th Alpenjäger Regiment of the Austrian Army, but was dismissed because he was considered politically unreliable.
He moved to Bayern and joined the Austrian Foreign Legion, which was taken over by the SS-Verfügungstruppe
SS-Verfügungstruppe
The SS-Verfügungstruppe was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the NSDAP. By 1940 these military SS units had become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS....
in 1935.
In 1938 he became a Oberscharführer
Oberscharführer
Oberscharführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between the years of 1932 and 1945. Translated as “Senior Squad Leader”, Oberscharführer was first used as a rank of the Sturmabteilung and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions required by growing SA membership...
(Staff Sergeant) and platoon commander in the 6th Company of the SS Standarte Deutschland which was based in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
During the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
when Austria was incorporated into the Greater German Reich, Kepplinger was part of the II. Battalion, SS-Standarte Der Führer which moved in to 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...
and by the time of the Western Campaign he had been promoted to Hauptscharführer
Hauptscharführer
Hauptscharführer was a Nazi paramilitary rank which was used by the Schutzstaffel between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank was the highest enlisted rank of the SS, with the exception of the special Waffen-SS rank of Sturmscharführer....
.
World War II
In May 1940 Kepplinger was part of a 18 man unit that was given the task of capturing the Dutch fort of WestervoortWestervoort
Westervoort is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. The town has two rivers inside its borders, the Rhine and the IJssel. It is a forensic town closely linked to Arnhem, the capital of Gelderland, which is situated on the west bank of the IJssel river, the east bank being occupied...
and an important rail and road bridge across the IJssel
IJssel
River IJssel , sometimes called Gelderse IJssel to avoid confusion with its Hollandse IJssel namesake in the west of the Netherlands, is a branch of the Rhine in the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel...
river. Upon arriving at the bridge they noticed that it had been prepared for demolition. Despite being shelled from a nearby Fort, Kepplinger and 2 other men managed to reach the other side of the bridge and attacked the defenders with hand grenades which enabled the SS Regiment Der Führer, to break through and proceed with the advance. When the regiment reached Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, Kepplinger was severely wounded being shot in the abdomen and thigh.
For these actions Kepplinger was awarded both 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....
first class and 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...
being the first NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in the Waffen SS to be awarded the Knight's Cross.
After recovering from his wounds he was given command of the 10th Company, SS Regiment Westland of the new Wiking Division.
When Kepplinger was serving in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
he was once again wounded and returned home to recover. After recovering from his wounds for a second time he was promoted to Obersturmführer
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) and given command of the II.Battalion, 17th SS Panzer Regiment, 17th SS Panzer Division Götz von Berlichingen.
In April 1944, he was given command of the 17th SS Panzer Regiment, which was equipped with Sturmgeschütz
Sturmgeschütz
Sturmgeschütz is a German word for "assault gun", usually abbreviated StuG. The vehicle was a leading weapon of the Sturmartillerie, a branch of the German artillery tasked with close fire support of infantry in infantry, panzer, and panzergrenadier units...
assault guns.
Kepplinger and the 17th SS Panzer, arrived in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
on the 7 June 1944 to counter the Allied invasion.
On the 6 August 1944, Kepplinger was killed in the town of Villiers-Charlemagne
Villiers-Charlemagne
Villiers-Charlemagne is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France....
which was under artillery fire, the car he was traveling in was hit, with Kepplinger being instantly killed.