| Herburt Kuhlmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 April 1915 Harburg, Hamburg, Germany |
| Died | 9 November 1985 |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1936–1945 |
| Rank | Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) |
| Unit | Wiking 2nd SS Division Das Reich 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge in Gold Infantry Assault Badge Eastern Front Medal |
Herbert Kuhlmann (17 April 1915 — 9 November 1985) was a Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen-SS. He was born in Harburg Germany on 7 April 1915. He graduated SS Junkerschule at Braunschweig in 1936 with the SS Number 118 826. He was first posted to the Wiking (Germania & Westland) before joining the Das Reich in 1942. He was appointed the commander of the 8th Light Company, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, 2nd SS Division Das Reich upon the formation of their Panzer Battalion, on the 10 February. He eventually took command of the I./Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 1, LSSAH.[1] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the 13 February 1944, for his role in the breakout from the Cherkassy encirclement.[2] while in command of this Panzer Battalion. He was eventually given command of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend [3]
During the Ardenness offensive he was in command of his own Kampfgruppe,[4] which consisted of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, 560 SS Panzerjager Battalion, Panzer Grenadier Battalion, Self propelled Artillery Battalion and an engineer company.[5]
After the fall of the Reich, Kuhlmann made his way to South America to start a new life in Argentina. Like many within Buenos Aires' underground Nazi community, he built a fortune in business, joining the upper echelons of Buenos Aires society.[6] The wealth and successful business-ventures of Nazis who escaped to Buenos Aires after the war was thanks in most part to the support and protection made available by the highest ranking officials within the Argentine government. Perhaps the greatest support to Kuhlmann and his fellow Nazis came directly from the Argentine President and Nazi-sympathizer, Juan Perón, husband of the much loved, late Eva Perón.[7] Kuhlmann helped many other Nazis into hiding in establishing their new lives in Argentina. One of the most infamous among those he helped was Adolf Eichmann, the Third Reich's leader of the Final Solution. Kuhlmann provided Eichmann with a lease to a modest home in Buenos Aires' largely German suburb of Olivos,[8] after Eichmann had spent years living in extreme isolation in the Argentine province of Tucumán,[9] 700 miles north of the capital. Kuhlmann, on the other hand, managed a much more plush residence for himself, behind the walls of a palatial mansion in Palermo Chico, the embassy row of Buenos Aires.[10]
Contents |